I upgraded to a John Deere 310 backhoe last year. It's a good compromise from my perspective - really good power ratio, not so large as to not be maneuverable in tighter spaces, not so heavy that I can't get close to the edge of the pond. I second the 'multiple buckets' notion...I've got a 12-18-24 and a ripper for trenching/root removal.

Dale

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"When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the Fire Department usually uses water." - anonymous