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Location: Lake City MN | I have one of the old Clam fishtrap 2 ice sled/shacks and I finally wore a hole thru the bottom of the thing from pulling it over to much gravel ect. I really hate to get rid of the thing, the canvas, frame and everything else is in great shape yet, and besides that I have had way to many fun times in the thing to just retire her that easily. Any ideas on fixes? There has to be some sort of epoxy or something else that would work to patch the thing, This has to be a fairly common problem with these and I thought that maybe one of you guys might have a solution. Thanks alot.
Loren Waalkens
http://www.walleyefirst.com/waalkens |
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Member
Posts: 340
Location: McFarland, WI | I had the same thing happen. Find an old pair of skis and bolt them to the bottom of the sled. Run a strip of wood on the inside as anchor for the bolts or you could use heavy wood screws. I used sheet metal to patch the hole from the outside and some bondo on the inside. It doesn't look the greatest but works well and who sees the bottom. I may replace my sled with the new version in a year or two. I will put skis on the new one immediately as it tracks better and protects the bottom.
Larry |
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Location: Fremont, Wisconsin | For what its worth, if you go to your local snowmobile dealer, and brand doesn't matter, talk to service writer. Every day they replace slides on snowmobiles. These are made from composites that wear very well. In fact, i have put them on several clam style shacks to protect the bottom from doing exactly what yours did. But you can put them on and then patch the existing hole. Skis make this to bulky and wont drag behind your wheeler the way it once did. Slides add no weight.
Works well.
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Member
Posts: 3899
| Otter makes slides for their sleds. These would probably work. Get them at Fleet Farm, or Gander. About $30. |
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Member
Posts: 51
| Loren, I think what shep and staker are referring to are the Hyfax kits for these sleds. Someday it will be standard equipment on the sled instead of an option as it is now. As far as the hole in your sled, You should be able to locate a company that can "weld" a plastic patch on it.
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Member
Posts: 51
| Oops, that should be stacker. Sorry guy. |
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| Get a cheap snow sled, snip some pieces out and patch it on the inside with a rivet gun |
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Member
Posts: 2445
Location: Fremont, Wisconsin | PS Tell the service guy you need his old used ones and they should give them to you for free. They will be throwing them away anyhow.
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Member
Posts: 200
Location: Lake City MN | Thanks for all of the help guys, heres what I ended up doing. I went to the local Salvation army store and bought a pair of downhill ski's for 5 bucks, removed the bindings and cut them to length. I laid a 1x4 in the chanel inside the sled and ran wood screws up from the bottom thru the ski's and into the 1x4's. I also filled the small hole with silicone before I placed the 1x4 into the chanel. Total cost of remedy, about 10 bucks. Looks to me like a pretty good fix. I think that I to will place a set of ski's on my next sled before she ever see's action. Thanks again. By the way, the bite up here on pool 4 has been pretty slow. As of late I have had some glimmers of hope and then the next day am humbled by a tough bite. When things turn I will let you know.
Loren Waalkens
http://www.walleyefirst.com/waalkens |
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| Problem with skis is they get beat up over time, edges start cracking and you bust a tip off, also the extra height is added if you put it up in the rafters over the summer, one more thing, I tried skis on a sled once, won't ever do it again cause it slides it the pickup a dents the bed, also if the snow gets deep at all, its tougher to turn the sled around and the front of the sled will catch snow drifts as the skis sink, its great with no snow but once the snow hits it sucks with skis. |
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Member
Posts: 340
Location: McFarland, WI | I've used skis for years with no problem but I pull my sled with an ATV often over rough terrain especially in spring. I put a plywood floor in the pickup and cut ski's to length so there is no pick-up injury. The ski's track straight and the sled doesn't flip side to side as I motor over ice. No problem in deep snow. Ski tips are tight to the curviture of the sled. This might work better for ice shacks whose leading edge is parallel to a ski's curvature. It does add weight for the manual pullers and doesn't turn on a dime but my minnows still have water in the bucket when I arrive at my destination. I do carry to much stuff, ie jumper cables, tools, heaters, spare batteries, ropes, spare clothes, augers, but thats the downside of high tech and long on-ice travel with ATV(and paranoia). If I get a one man hand-pull sled I will try that composite. Good fishin.
Larry |
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