---

Thanks for the reply, Silentpardner. Your message really makes me feel good about what I have done with this old boat but there is no way I could have made the progress I have made without the help of the members here. There is so much useful information and support from Whaler owners who have been there, done that and gone back for seconds, I never felt like I was alone in my project. In addition, the boat was ignored for several years but it still had strong bones. The only real setback (or delay in the works) was a transom drain that would not dry out. Everything else was pretty solid and its first cleaning in several years increased its value x2. :) You can't beat those old Whalers. They are definitely tough as nails.

There is still a long way to go with my project so you will still see me asking more than a few questions.

Thanks again for your support and anytime you are near Smith Mt. Lake next year, let me know and we'll go freshwater striper fishing. With a little good luck, I hope to have her rigged up and ready to go by around June or so.

John