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I was looking at the pictures of your Whalers, a-a-a-a - They’re a little different then mine. When you see my whaler you might be surprised that such a thing could ever happen to a whaler!!

Well I use it primarily for camping and fishing but I can sleep on it if I need to. It does every thing I need it to do and I don’t have to put much work in to it or be too carful of it. I’m formulating plans to make it more passenger friendly. If I decide to re-do it, it will be in the spring of 2008 at which time I will have the inside of the hull sandblasted and covered with, like pickup truck bedding, they have a marine version which is warrantied for life and can be made any color I will keep the original color of course. The consol will be about two feet wide and made of white oak. White oak front side decks with white oak railings with stainless steel hardware rising to about a foot from the side decks. The rear rails will remain standard. It will have cushioned bench seating with a front seat in front of the anchor well. White oak is my wood of choice because I have a lot of it. And I have just been given a fifty foot high four foot diameter white oak log. When I’m not fishing or doing religious services I do wood work.

I now plan to leave Houghton Lake for Houghton Hancock Wednesday Aug. First. And cross over from there to Rock Harbor where I will check in, weather permitting. I like to cross at night and I think it is the best part of the trip.

I have just got a GPS and figured my gas mileage - about five miles to the gallons so with 36 gallons I can go between 150 and 180 miles. And maybe even more if I slow down which when taking a long trip I do.

Well I look forward to seeing you guys up there but when you see what I have for a Whaler you may ask me to go some place else.

God Bless,
Chaplain Hoagy