diff --git a/src/me/ryanhamshire/GriefPrevention/DatabaseDataStore.java b/src/me/ryanhamshire/GriefPrevention/DatabaseDataStore.java
index 9439d4b..1723e36 100644
--- a/src/me/ryanhamshire/GriefPrevention/DatabaseDataStore.java
+++ b/src/me/ryanhamshire/GriefPrevention/DatabaseDataStore.java
@@ -79,12 +79,17 @@ public class DatabaseDataStore extends DataStore
 			
 			statement.execute("CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS griefprevention_nextclaimid (nextid INT(15));");
 			
-			statement.execute("CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS griefprevention_claimdata (id INT(15), owner VARCHAR(50), lessercorner VARCHAR(100), greatercorner VARCHAR(100), builders VARCHAR(1000), containers VARCHAR(1000), accessors VARCHAR(1000), managers VARCHAR(1000), parentid INT(15));");
+			statement.execute("CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS griefprevention_claimdata (id INT(15), owner VARCHAR(50), lessercorner VARCHAR(100), greatercorner VARCHAR(100), builders VARCHAR(65000), containers VARCHAR(65000), accessors VARCHAR(65000), managers VARCHAR(65000), parentid INT(15));");
 			
 			statement.execute("CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS griefprevention_playerdata (name VARCHAR(50), lastlogin DATETIME, accruedblocks INT(15), bonusblocks INT(15));");
 			
 			statement.execute("CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS griefprevention_schemaversion (version INT(15));");
 			
+			statement.execute("ALTER TABLE griefprevention_claimdata MODIFY builders VARCHAR(65000);");
+			statement.execute("ALTER TABLE griefprevention_claimdata MODIFY containers VARCHAR(65000);");
+			statement.execute("ALTER TABLE griefprevention_claimdata MODIFY accessors VARCHAR(65000);");
+			statement.execute("ALTER TABLE griefprevention_claimdata MODIFY managers VARCHAR(65000);");
+			
 			//if the next claim id table is empty, this is a brand new database which will write using the latest schema
 			//otherwise, schema version is determined by schemaversion table (or =0 if table is empty, see getSchemaVersion())
 			ResultSet results = statement.executeQuery("SELECT * FROM griefprevention_nextclaimid;");
@@ -615,7 +620,12 @@ public class DatabaseDataStore extends DataStore
 	{
 		if(this.databaseConnection == null || !this.databaseConnection.isValid(3))
 		{
-			//set username/pass properties
+			if(this.databaseConnection != null && !this.databaseConnection.isClosed())
+	        {
+			    this.databaseConnection.close();
+	        }
+		    
+		    //set username/pass properties
 			Properties connectionProps = new Properties();
 			connectionProps.put("user", this.userName);
 			connectionProps.put("password", this.password);