Not what I really want to be showing for the Picture of the Week. Words can't describe my hurt for the loss of Willie!
http://staff.washington.edu/parker/pictureoftheweek.html

Who does excellent estimates/repairs for Willie boats? Would you even bother to have this boat repaired? Will it ever track correctly again? What do you experts out there think?

Parker

I'd collect the insurance and buy a new boat, that one looks like toast!

Parker, Sorry to hear about your boat, I had my brand new Dakota hit by a drunk almost a year ago but thats a different story, as for your boat a few years back a good friend of mine had his Willie's sled rearended by a guy doing 20-25 while he was stopped at a stop sign, I didn't see the boat but I heard the damage was extensive, he took the boat directly to Willie and they must have put there best body and fender man on the job, I think it took a couple months to get it back but it looked like a brand new boat. good luck, hope your friends are ok, get a good lawyer

Words can not say how I feel for you right now. You can fish with me anytime. Hate to see you miss any fishing. Nooch kid.

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Parker-
First of all, sorry to hear and see what happened to you. I hope everyone is doing allright. That right there is my biggest fear as a fellow driftboat owner. Getting tagged by another car on the way to or from a fishing trip. I don't worry about hitting a rock in the river, I know the boat can take that, but taking a shot from another rig doing 20-40mph, the boat and trailer doesn't stand a chance. Hope you have insurance, when I got my Willie, I specifically asked if the boat ever got hit, who would do the repair. They said, since it's a specialized boat, it would go back to the factory to let them handle it. I hope everyone is well and you all are back out on the river soon!

Kev

Some confusion here. It's not my boat, and I was not in this accident. The Willie and Jeep belonged to Saukit2em. He's my fishing buddy and that's the boat we used to use. He was on his way to the Sauk River Friday evening when this happened. I was at home, planning on fishing in the boat on Sunday.

At least the Sauk looked to be in perfect shape on Sunday! We would have put the hurt to those fish! Ouch.

Oh well, looks like we get to fish on the banks this spring.

Parker

A shame about the boat you guys fish out of. One thing, if you get over to fish the WW like you have been talking about, you don't need a boat. Hope the insurance was paid up.

Parker, If it helps any the Sauk was punched on Sunday with less than a foot of vis. Sorry to hear about Justin's loss. You guys can contact me up here in Rockport anytime and if I don't have a trip I'll take Ya out.
Tell Justin I said, "sorry to hear about his loss" and "Hi" from John. I can be contacted through my web site listed in my profile.

The boat should be no problem to fix. Contact the factory. The damage will be easy to fix.( I have been an welder for going on 20 years)I didn't get a good look at the trailer though. A good welder can do wonders, believe me. I would find at lease three estimates. Good luck!!!!

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Tight Lines!!

It may be fixable but it would never be the same. Make the insurance pay for it. From the sound of the accident it was the other guys fault and I don't think that just welding it up would make me happy. I would want it the way it was before " no dents or dings or weld marks in weird places". I am glad everyone was alright, what a downer way to end a fishing trip early. That one photo of the front of the jeep is a poster for wearing your seat belt. I suppose the passenger had a pretty good head ache. Good luck with getting some rides, sounds like people are willing to help you out. One thing I have noticed that the folks on this board all seem like pretty good people and are helping each other out when ever they are able.

If you are going to get a new willies order it asap, they have a two month wait on new boats right now

Although that would be nice, Saukit2em needs to wait until the insurance claim is settled. No word yet if the boat will be repaired or will be replaced.

Knowing insurance companies, this is going to take a long, long time......

I did send some pics of the damaged boat back to Willies. They are looking at them now to determine if the boat can be repaired and at what cost.

Anyone want to buy a used Willie boat? Only been smashed in to once!

Parker

Parker, I did notice the picture next to the damaged drift boat there was a recycle bin. Let me know if you want to float-I fish the Sauk/Skagit/Sky-when I am not out on the 'Nince. Hows the head?

[This message has been edited by Coho (edited 03-21-2000).]

Good thinking. We're either going to have to ask for an additional 315 recycle bins, or we'll slap the side walls with US Postage Stamps, spray paint the address for Willie Boats on the side and haul it on top of one of those blue US Mail Boxes for delivery!

Parker

Looks to me the boat was a total loss.
If you want a new Willie fast, contact South River Marine in Albany Oregon. They have a few in stock. A couple of the boats are loaded.

Too bad about the boat, glad to hear everybody survived. Duct tape works miracles....j/k

Yes, it was my boat that was damaged. Sorry I haven't got a chance to reply to any of the posts. It happened three days before my scheduled trip to Mexico. I just got back and it isn't easy to come home and see your wrecked boat, bad enough thinking about it when you are on vacation. Fortunately, the other driver hit us and he is insured. That still doesn't help the fact that I'm boatless for a while.

My fishin' buddy Dave was the one who did the artwork on the windshield with his head and both of us hurt our necks and backs. I had to cancel three scheduled days of marlin/sailfishing in Mexico due to my injuries. I ended up lying around on the beach with my girlfriend most of the time. I have never been fishing for marlin or sailfish before and I always wanted to. That was the salt poured on my wounds after the accident itself!!

I greatly appreciate all of the offers from everyone who offered to take me fishing. I would love to go as soon as possible. I will be contacting each of you soon.


THANK YOU to everybody who has replied. It's nice to know that fellow fishermen are so helpful.

Life is short....FISH HARD!!
Justin

Did your girlfriend dump you too?

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"Walk softly, but carry a big steelhead"