Hi John, Maybe the negative comments about the NYMPH's rowing characteristics have to do with it's tracking. I found that problem originally in mine too, when I was rowing by myself, but if you know what causes it (not enough skeg in the water - or weight too far forward in the NYMPH) then the solution is easy. Either: Add material to the skeg so that it is deeper (adding another 2" at the transom should be about right), and with skeg in the water, it tracks beautifully. Or, throw the case of beer in the stern and not in the middle of the boat. Then the stern sits lower in the water; the skeg does it's job to keep the NYMPH tracking properly, and everyone is happy. Or reset the oarlocks further aft to move your weight aft. The aim is to keep the skeg in the water so that it can do it's job of keeping the NYMPH tracking properly. Any of these solutions work. The beer case in the stern is the easiest, but since I like to row by myself, and don't carry a case of beer every time I go rowing, I had to go the physical modification route, and increase the depth of the skeg. Connie