I was so anxious to get the report in that I did not even tell you how the boat performed.

I put in at Thomas Pond in Maine right off route 302 between Raymond and Naples. This is a small pond. The wind was not too strong and the boat appeared to slice through the water great. I actually thought that the boat was going very fast - faster than my 15 foot Old Town canoe that I owned 8 years ago. It was faster than my 8 foot sit on top kayak. What I enjoy very much is the ballanced movement of rowing a boat. You just sit square and pul on the oars and the thing goes. Navigating through a tight spot is more challenging because you have to look over your shoulder as you do it. I was afraid the seats would not hold me but they did not even budge. I also had my 4 year old son on the same seat and it held up well. The boat is sturdy yet it flexes at the oar blocks little bit when one pulls very hard. I still don't know about the wood pro finish. It appears to be kind of gummy. Hopefully it will harden better with time. My kids loved the boat. My 10 year old son loves to row.