Here is another example of a use of your umbrellas. We use this whenever we have a following wind. If the breeze is strong enough, we move faster than paddling or using the electric trolling motor - Dave & Barb Kaldahl

Bill, You're right about the camo pattern, but since I haven't mounted either umbrella holder you don't have to include that. The seat is all I need.

The story behind the need of another seat is a novel in itself, but I'll try and give you the readers digest version.

A buddy firefighter and I though we would do some float fishing up the Delaware. The day started bad when in my rush to get going, I locked my keys in the truck. No big deal for I had left the windows open slightly for ventilation. After about 45 minutes of scratching our heads we were able to find a branch long enough to reach the unlock button and open the doors o.k. Now we're ready for some serious fishing, looking for deep pools for maybe a muskie. No more than15 minutes down river we spy a likely looking spot. Not realizing the speed of the current (and it pains me greatly to admit this) I try to slow us a bit by dragging the mushroom anchor. But no sooner it touches bottom it snags for keeps (felt like it grabbed a '57 Chevy). I'll withhold the ugly part and tell that the canoe was hung up for 2 1/2 hours. We along with some help from locals, were able to get the vol. fire rescue boat out of Phillipsburg to come down river and get the canoe free and out of, what I thought was going to be its grave. Try and imagine the scene of two veteran professional firefighters trying to explain to two young vol. fire/rescue guys how in the Lords name we did this.

I do hope you find this amusing, for only now I can look back and laugh and also take the great amount of kidding that I get at the firehouse, but at the time it was one of the worst days I have had in a very long time. The sum loss at the end was 4 rods (2 mine, 2 his), my tackle box (with some really good lures), the seat in question, and the accessory bag into which was put, the first aid kit, signal whistle, and the temp. registration papers, receipt for the canoe along with a few other odds and ends.

But the one thing I can tell you is that with all the bouncing around in the river for those 2 1/2 hours and all the stress that was placed on the canoe, there is and was no noticeable damage. Now when I say it was bounced around you would have to have a video of it to be able to appreciate what I mean by "force". Think of this, the force of the current was strong enough that when we got it freed we found out that the paddles and the cooler where trapped in the canoe, even though it was spinning and being dragged under for all that time. Oh yeah, we didn't lose the rod holders either, those clamps hold great. If given another hour the anchor line would have snapped, for it was frayed almost to the breaking point. Again a sign of the waters force. I laugh now but the truth is that we had a close one that day and I aid this to 30 years of firefighting tales of close ones.

Trying to keep this  within the Reader's Digest Length, I'll spare you the continuing tale of woe of trying to get back to the truck and turning the alarm off with a soaked controller. Yes, it was quite a day. But with the grace of the Lord none was hurt and rods and reels can be replaced. At the time, in the river, I didn't realize the danger. I only wanted to get the canoe free. Even to the point of actually going back out in the river and making a single attempt at freeing it. Only after the canoe was out and we were drying out, did we learn from the local folks who had helped us contact the fire/rescue, that they lose people at that point in the river at least a couple times a year. The Lord was watching us that day and I'll be giving thanks to him on this one for a long long time.

After humbling myself before you by telling you what a bone head I can be, let me ask you to please put a rush on the seat, we're going on vacation second week of August and I have some more fishing stories to experience (hope that puts a smile on your face).

Thanks Bill,
Good Health and God Bless - Ron