15 Laying the keel

On this particular boat, laying the keel ties it all together. Whitehall rowing boats are known to track true and row effortlessly. In no small part that is because of the stem tying into the keel tying into the skeg in a seamless integrated mechanism which cuts the water and guides the boat.
In fact you will find that the Boston and New York Whitehall boats track so well that you will need to slow down to turn your craft.