I ended up buying a new Penn 625 today since I needed the extension boom, and so forth, anyhow. Plus, I am paying to have my boat on the water so I can fish in the mornings and limping on one leg too much longer would have gotten real old. I am not sure if there are others that have lost real nice gear so suddenly before, but it shocked the h_ll out of me. Things sure do happen fast out there sometimes, and I have fished my boat for 10 years - felt a bit like a rookie.