Great points, and great ideas there.
I've never cap-sized the boat! Gulp. I wish I could see a video of you doing it! I should try it myself. As you say, perhaps just a button to reset the boat would be the easiest solution.
You were very close to the end. :D
I want to add everything you mentioned! I played through with my friend Jim yesterday (the other half of Secret Exploration Society who made the music), and many of these same suggestions came up... flotsam and jetsam, a sun and moon that rise and set... I'll try to come back and add things like that!