reloading really big tables

Howdy:

Moving data from PostgreSQL 7.1.3 to PostgreSQL 7.2.1
and am trying to reload a few tables (large ones).

So, to save my original tables, I used
the new pg_dump (7.2.1) and have them as flat files.
When I try to restore some of the files, I get:

[error]

psql:table_detail.Fri:48:
ERROR: copy: line 1, value too long for type character(1)

psql:table_detail.Fri:48:
lost synchronization with server, resetting connection

[/error]

What does this mean? Why isn't the table recreated?
Is it too big? It seems that smaller tables are okay
when I restore them.

I've also tried the " cat file| psql -U postgres -d database "
and still get the same error.

Suggestions?

Thanks!

-X