Sounds like a great trip CajunPop. Next time you see you buddy tell him tanks for his service, and the same to you. Is it possible for him to fish from the cockpit of the boat and not have to get and down from the deck. Or do as I do for my wife, I have a small folding step stool that cuts the distance from the floor to the deck in half so it's much easier to get up and down.
"gene"