OK. I just got off the phone with Fishermans Marine in Portland, I talked with a very nice guy by the name of John who said that if I bring the boat back to him, that they will repair/replace it, but that if it were his boat that this happened to, he'd take it up with the manufacturer directly. He was in total agreement that the manufacturer not only had to replce th boat, but that if they were worth a $hit, they would make things right with the rod and reel. He gave me the company's number, I called it and left a message. It's Sunday today, so I dont expect anything, but come tomorrow I expect to get a call or an E-mail letting me know exactly what's going to happen....... We'll see.