Mark, I respect your opinion, and most of the time I'll agree with ya, but this one I'll differ from ya. The river runner is really just an extention of the skeg that extends to the back beyond the prop allowing it to kick the motor up and over objects, while trying to keep debri out of the prop rotation. I dont see how it can be any worse than having a bare skeg, in fact it may actually increase the strength of the skeg as it tapers down to the thin part towards the bottom (which is where most of the damaged skegs I've seen are broken at). I really dont forsee breaking a skeg by using one, and if it saves one prop it has payed for itself. Thats just my opinion, take it or leave it.