[Mr Rogers]

I get the feeling the ‘reporter’ is a friend of the Professor...and taking what she says at face value.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080319114619.htm

I think the Kon-Tiki was probably more accurate, and certainly underwent a more severe test!

http://www.amazon.com/Kon-Tiki-Across-Pacific-Thor-Heyerdahl/dp/0848805275/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242398819&sr=1-1

[SunkenCiv]

:’) Pretty sure it did. And the professor probably never heard of Heyerdahl in any coherent way.

[Paladin2]

I'm not a trained Marine architect, but I believe that rafts are quite stable, though they do have two stable modes (not unlike my small sailing catamaran); right side up and upside down.

Having personal experience on the Charles River and coastal areas of the open ocean, I'd suggest that conditions on the open ocean can provide a more severe test of craft stability than the Charles.