Rick, FWIW: In Yugoslavia the fishermen row their fishing boats standing up and they row facing forwards. They push on the oars to go forward, and this solves the old rowing problem: how can you see where you are going if you continuously have to look backwards? For short distance maneuvering an M15, this might be the best solution, but the height from the water to the cockpit coaming means you need very long oars if you want any rowing efficiency. ( long oars also make it difficult to get into a slip - which is why the continuously rotating HONDA 2 HP "oar" is so handy) Of course shorter oars might work too, but then you need round oarlocks ( or thole pins with a lanyard across the top of them) so that the oars can't jump out on the stroke. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Throw a couple of gallon jugs of water in the forward compartment as a temporary test for weight distribution. Your filled Porta-potti is too close to the CG of the M15: the water jugs forward adds to the lever arm from the CG - less weight = greater effect on boat trim. That's why my heaviest anchor; longest chain and rode live all the way forward; and where my motorcycle battery for GPS and CD power will also reside. Connie Connie Connie