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Name: |
Tallyman
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Subject: |
Oil Change
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Date:
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3/12/2008 9:32:16 AM
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For those of you who have a four-cycle outboard: what are marinas charging for an oil change and gear lubrication? I have been quoted a ridiculous price. Thanks.
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Name: |
danioro
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Subject: |
Oil Change
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Date:
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3/12/2008 9:43:27 AM
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Try Mitchell Marine in Eclectic. (334-857-2934) I have a Honda 200 4 stroke that they have always maintained well and I feel reasonably.
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Name: |
Kizma Anuice
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Subject: |
Oil Change
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Date:
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3/12/2008 9:53:15 AM
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Can someone quote prices? What about the same service for I/O's?
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Name: |
Tallyman
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Subject: |
Oil Change
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Date:
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3/12/2008 10:50:56 AM
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It would be helpful to hear some quotes.
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Name: |
BhamGirl
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Subject: |
Blue Creek
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Date:
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3/12/2008 10:57:46 AM
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On a mercury they charge $195 for everything.
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Name: |
Pontoonfisher
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Subject: |
Oil Change
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Date:
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3/12/2008 12:08:53 PM
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The marinas screw you over. Changing the gear lube and the engine oil in an outboard is as easy as changing the oil in your car. It probably takes less than half an hour to do both. Check your owners manual or buy a service manual. Why not save some money and get the satisfaction of doing it yourself. If they claim the service takes more than an hour they are sticking it to you, especially if you bring the boat in on a trailer. It takes an hour to change the gear lube, change the oil, change the fuel filter and change the plugs.
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Name: |
Jim Dandy
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Subject: |
Oil Change
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Date:
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3/12/2008 12:56:11 PM
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I bought an oil extractor from Overtons for around $40. Have used it for years. Takes me around half an hour to drain and change the filter.
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Everyone is correct. It is very easy to do yourself. But if you would still rather have it done, I recommend you contact CAT. Last winter he was giving EXCELLENT rates for winterizing, and he was coming to you. I have another friend 'in the business' and he charges TWICE what CAT was charging plus a $75 service call if he came to you. I have known him 18 years and love him like a brother, but money is money. I would recomend CAT whom I have only 'met' once, but harrass DAILY!
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Name: |
CAT BOAT
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Subject: |
QUOTES/ADVICE
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Date:
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3/12/2008 4:10:27 PM
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Yes, changing your oil in a Marine engine is easy. Inboard or outboard. That being said, marine engines operate in a much harsher inviroment than there automotive sisters and brothers. Most are run at higher rpm ranges and under much more load for extended periods of time. They live in a very moist engine compartment, get rained on and pretty much have a terrible life and need a considerable amount of TLC. Here is what I recommend EACH and EVERY spring.>>>> Engine oil and filter change. (if you put alot of hours on your engine, you'll need another oil change before summer is over) Fuel filter/water sep. changed. Raw water pump Impeller changed. Drive oil changed. <<<< And this is just basic stuff, more on high performance and s/c models. And don't forget to check the ignition system, plugs wires cap and rotor just in case. This service would cost between $248.00 and $345.00, depending on Drive configuration and model. If you do all of the above, you should have a great summer of boating and not end up on the downwind end of a tow rope. I can't tell you the amount of boats that come to the shop with Impellers that have failed, bits and pieces of it all in the cooling system, power steering fluid and oil coolers, and have not been changed for couple or three years. (Let alone when that happens it ruins a day on the lake and the customer wants it back asap). While we are on this subject, when you go to a Good Marine repair facility, you can be assured that some sort of checklist has been done, and your bow lights work, your stern lights work, your fireext. is in charged, all fluid levels topped off, bilge inspected for oil leaks or water leaks, belts tight, engine mounts tight, etc. etc. etc. (and your kill switch works properly in case you get pitched out of the boat while under power... have you checked yours lately) Now, for all you do it yourselfers..... Remember when you just change your on oil it only takes an hour or so, but if you stop short of everything, and then some of what I have mentioned here it is only a matter of time before your day will be ended early from some sort of failure. All this will take a professional shop about 3 - 4 hours. My opinion (of course) is take it to a professional, clean, marine repair facility and pay a fair price. Now, if any of you that change your own oil, and do half of what I have suggested here I can assure you a job at Cathouse Marine. Steve
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Name: |
CAT BOAT
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Subject: |
Above post....
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Date:
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3/12/2008 4:23:40 PM
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That sounded like I was venting, but I was'nt. That is how serious our service is.
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Name: |
LifeTime Laker
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Subject: |
QUOTES/ADVICE
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Date:
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3/12/2008 7:32:33 PM
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Very sage advice CAT. That is exactly why I recommend you over someone I have known longer and are much closer too. I think we all know that I call them as I see them. His folks are not as professional as yours AND more expensive. I would think/hope that the DIYer's would keep a constant vigil on the things you mentioned, espeicially now that you have told them all the things that NEED to be done. Especially the impeller and KILL SWITCH. Having been thrown from a boat at about 60mph I can attest the fact that KILL SWITCHES SAVE LIVES. It happened right in front of Veazeys Marina on a busy holiday weekend. Boats EVERYWHERE. Imagine a boat running wide open in circles in that narrow area between the marina and the little island across the way. Had I not been connected to the kill switch it would have been a catastrophe that would still be talked about, and this was July 3rd, 1988. For those of you that are wondering, the steering cable broke. The torque whipped the boat around and I hit the water 30ft or so from the boat. I instictively grabbed the seat as I went out. It ripped from the deck of the boat and was still plastered to my butt when I hit the water (that is according to the witnesses), and I still had the steering wheel in my hand when I came to UNDER WATER.
Bottom line, if you aren't a decent mechanic it is best to have the boat serviced by a pro at least once a year. Nothing worse than coming down for a vacation, or just a long weekend and having the boat quit early on. Is a professional service a guarentee that it won't happen. Absolutely not, but it GREATLY REDUCES the chances.
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Name: |
Tallyman
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Subject: |
QUOTES/ADVICE
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Date:
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3/12/2008 8:35:32 PM
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So how does one contact the Cat?
I am a lawyer, not a mechanic, so I don't fool with things I do not understand. Changing oil is on the top of the list of things I would not know how to do.
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Name: |
LifeTime Laker
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Subject: |
QUOTES/ADVICE
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Date:
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3/12/2008 8:41:17 PM
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He advertises on this site and has a site of his own at www.cathouseperformancemarine.com. Or you can click any CATBOAT post and use the email icon. But i would bet you will be getting an email from him. If not I will have to send him to a Zig Ziegler course somewhere...lol. He is kinda like a stray cat, he keeps turning up looking for food.
URL: Cat House Marine.
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Name: |
Tallyman
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Subject: |
QUOTES/ADVICE
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Date:
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3/12/2008 8:42:45 PM
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How does one contact Cat Boat?
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Name: |
Maverick
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Subject: |
So Cat Making House Calls?
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Date:
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3/12/2008 10:45:20 PM
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As I have 3 boats which need to be summarized and like your thoroughness in the above post.
That is, you get what you pay for and I would rather pay for a thorough service then find myself broken down anytime.
But right now the MasterCraft is not at the lake and the pontoon is in the lake and I need to get it out to clean up, etc.
So my question is are you making house calls?? And providing the impellers, if not I can get no problem??
If you are making house calls email me a quote please, as would rather keep the money in the family. Looking at early to mid April.
Just as long as you PROMISE not to sabotase my boats. LTL's and Nauti's I can understand - LOL.
Engines are:
2000 135 Volvo (needs to be upgraded to a 496 or add nitro, I think) 1997 350 Chevy 1996 40 HP Force (I think)
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Name: |
CAT BOAT
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Subject: |
mav.....
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Date:
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3/13/2008 12:01:09 AM
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You need more help than I can give.......
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Name: |
Maverick
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Subject: |
Cat
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Date:
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3/13/2008 12:32:12 AM
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Here I am trying to be a nice guy and help out a local business employee folks, place food on the table for his family and cloth his young ones and what happens.
Guess I will just call my normal guy then. And ask him to use my Cathouse Marine t-shirt as the dipstick cleaner.
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Name: |
Pontoonfisher
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Subject: |
QUOTES/ADVICE
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Date:
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3/13/2008 8:14:57 AM
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I agree with everything that Cat has to say. He sounds like a reputable mechanic. All this work is still very easy to do yourself, impellar included. Being a man of limited financial resources I have a hard time paying someone $250.00 to $350.00 for work I can do for myself with $50.00 worth of parts and a couple hours of my time. If you have any mechanical skills at all this work can be done yourself. Even changing a water pump is a breeze. You don't even have to pull your boat out of the water to do all this work. I have dropped the lower unit on our 90 HP Mariner outboard all the time while the boat is in the water to change the water pump.
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Name: |
CAT BOAT
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Subject: |
Cat
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Date:
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3/13/2008 8:50:46 AM
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Play nice Mav. I'll be there.
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Name: |
cg
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Subject: |
Above post....
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Date:
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3/13/2008 9:10:20 AM
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"we are serious about service"...... what a joke!!!! do not waste your time or money, and if you do, you better check your repair very close before you pay. "we are serious about service".....thats funny.
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Name: |
CAT BOAT
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Subject: |
CG...
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Date:
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3/13/2008 9:52:25 AM
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Speaking of checking close before paying..... Last fall, you were broke down on the river. I had you a distributor delivered to you ($135 worth)while you were broke down up river. Provided assistance, installed it, and you never paid one penny. Later that day, your trim did not work, and I repaired your trim so that you could continue your day. Again, you never offered to return or replace any part. As a matter of fact, you have not spoken to me or called after that day. Now, there are 5 members of this board/forum that were with you that day. Should I call them out? If you are not the cg that I think you are, then nevermind this post.
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Name: |
Maverick
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Subject: |
Cat
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Date:
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3/13/2008 10:33:23 AM
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OK I will play nice.
But you have to admit that one hurt a little bit.
Can you say OUCH !!! GOT YA !!!!
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Name: |
cg
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Subject: |
back at ya
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Date:
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3/13/2008 1:02:49 PM
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you mean the distributor your worker let water get in and rust out, do not try to blame your sorry work on me, the only way water got in my distributor is from your shops careless work......now.....the trim pump that you said YOU rebuilt and charged me 400 dollars for and all you did was flip the wires, I had it tore down, all parts were old, no new parts!...all you did on the river was flip the wires again!....and that same day on the river when you were in my boat and ken said you see that leak at the gimbal ring and you looked and saw it and said...and I quote "guess we did not do the job we were suppose again"and you did nothing about it or said nothing like oh I guess I owe you some money back...why? from that comment on I decided...well if you were going to cheat me like that, then, what goes around, comes around. now you know how it feels to be cheated. call out anybody you want, who cares!! I know better! take the distributor cost out of the 400 for the fake trim pump job, or take it out of the cost of a gimbal ring and seal, which one makes no diff to me, but you are right you will not get a penny from me. just remember I was broke down on the river because of no work or sorry work from your shop! okay try and turn this around so you smell better. If you did not want to do the work, you should have said so, not cover it up, all I ever wanted was my boat fixed right, for the money I paid you, it's just that SIMPLE. you know I was told that I could trust you, know that person looks like a fool, to bad. you are not the only marine shop in alabama, you need to act like it. 100 miles is not far at all to drive for go work, I will drive it in a heartbeat for good work.
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Name: |
CAT BOAT
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Subject: |
Sorry...
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Date:
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3/13/2008 2:05:57 PM
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Bobby, I had no idea you were carrying around those feelings. We have always tried to take care of you at the shop. You have a lot of friends there, and we enjoyed your company very much. If I remember correctly, you and I agreed to use some used parts so that it would save you some money on that particular repair. Normally I don't like doing that, but for some people there are exceptions. I don't remember a conversation that went as you say when we were out on the river that day. If you were stranded tomarrow, I would offer you the same as last time. Anyway, all that being said, a phone call would have been better, or perhaps telling me face to face how you felt. If I had a problem or miscommunication with you, I would given you a call.
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Name: |
cg
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Subject: |
catboat and others
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Date:
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3/13/2008 5:12:25 PM
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I need to man up and say that we did have a miscommunication problem and that steve and I were on two very different pages and neither one of us knew what page the other was on, and my page looked like greek to him, alittle communication on my part could have cleared it up, before it got out of hand. I am sorry for that. steve you are a good person and I know you are serious about your work. again, I am sorry for the miscommunication on my part, I think I need to take a english class, no more greek in the twilight zone. cg
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Name: |
Jim Dandy
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Subject: |
catboat and others
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Date:
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3/13/2008 5:19:26 PM
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Good resolution. Hopefully other matters can be handled in the same way on the forum.
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Name: |
LifeTime Laker
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Subject: |
catboat and others
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Date:
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3/13/2008 6:09:28 PM
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I'm with you Jim. That was my thought exactly. Others need to take a lesson form the two of them. Sometimes adults just have to agree to disagree. That doesn't mean start name calling and attacking. I have been guilty of it in the past but turned over a new leaf last year and made my apologies to the forum. Unfortunately there are still certain members who choose to hold grudges and lash out at me when I choose to post my opinions. I understand a LOT of my opinions are not popular with some forum members, but that is no reason to start the personal attacks.
Way to 'man up' guys. Now all that is left is to kiss and make up! Edge get your camera ready. I can't wait till you get THOSE pics posted...lol.
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