Great set of pics, Tim! Thanks for posting. 
The ship does appear to balance well in the water. I've never been game enough to test any of mine this way - I would always worry (unnecessarily, perhaps) about it capsizing and losing some men overboard. The most 'daring' thing I ever did was take the Playmobil Nessie for a swim on the shores of Loch Ness. 
Creve Coeur's lake looks like a beautiful spot, though I'm very glad you didn't capture any of the dead fish on your photos. Would have spoilt the mood completely! 
I was worried about capsizing initially and I kept really close to the shallows. But, the boat kept upright well. I had the klickies wedged onto their little pegs on the deck. Center of balance is crucial--in a bathtub, I capsized the boat pretty easily just by moving one figure to the other side.
Creve Coeur Lake is beautiful, considering our lack of alternatives. The county extended a bike trail out their a couple of years ago, so the lake is newly discovered territory for me. I believe it is manmade reservoir, but am not certain.
