We had towed it many times without incident prior to this trip. Losing it the once was a significant downer though, and I don't see towing it again unless it was a short trip in protected waters. I expect I'll end up with an inflatable at some time due to the sheer convenience of being able to stow it. In the meantime , my 7.5 Nutshell fits on deck and can get the dog to shore. Like you, I like rowing. We've never had an outboard on the dinghy (I own a couple) because I love the peacefulness of rowing around a quiet cove. Now that we are in the Northumberland Strait things are a little different. Most places are marinas with not very many anchorages available at first glance. Judging by the tiny anchors on the local boats, most use the marinas. Several boaters I've met here don't even own a dink. WTF? I think we'll be looking for some spots to dig in and we'll want a dinghy to do some beach runs at least. We are having a wonderful summer here in The Maritimes and I hope you are getting the great wx in Maine as well. Best regards, David