DIY: Ice Fish Sled

[goodentight]

After last weekend being my first time hiking 1.3km out with a toboggan through a foot of snow, I now know I will never do that again. Thing was a snowplow eating snow for breakfast lunch and dinner.

I started looking at home projects to raise the toboggan off the ground. I also wanted something that broke down in case I will be taking everything in my car.

I found a few guys who did things similarly so I went with that. Drill through 2 skis into 4 "feet" and notch for a 2x4 beam. The beam will fit on long bolts into drilled holes.

This is the concept of how it will work.

next up we added an eye on each foot so that a bungee cord will go up over the toboggan and onto the other eye, keeping the sled in place. Then ready for a quick paint.

add flames to improve sled speed

I also waxed my bases filling which dubbed as filling the countersink holes of the screws going into the feet. Now just have to attach the rope to the ski tips tonight after all the paint dries.

Will let you know if this baby is smooth sailing or a waste of time and material

 

[salmotrutta]

I'll trade you workshops.

Mine is a 4 man HT InstaShak with a Big Mr. Buddy Heater and an ice fishing bucket for a stool!

I hardly ever used it, just found it more comfortable to work outside in my one piece ice fishing suit..so anyone looking for an ice fishing hut or Big Mr. Buddy Heater? Also have a new 20lb propane tank and attachment hose to go with the heater! I have a 2 man Instashak and regular Mr. Buddy Heater so these are just spares now taking up space.

 

[Knuguy]

I don't want to rain on your parade---that outfit looks quite spiffy! But 1 of the guys on our trio to Rosseau on Wed had a similar Smitty sled(but not the racing version that you made). He really got bogged down in the soft deep snow. The other 2 guys had a Clam tobog and I have a kids tobog with a Rubbermaid bin. We had to help him drag his sled. Mind you, his was quite a bit wider than the Clams, so you may be OK.

 

[NADO]

i've never seen a smitty being bogged down while normal sleds and rubbermaid containers glide with ease. I have been on the other end though where my normal sled as well as fishing bimmers rubbermaid sled turned into snow plowing machines while smitty's were gliding with ease. Was his rope attached to the tip of the ski's? That part is key to make sure they stay up on top of the snow.

Ive been procrastinating putting the final touches on my smitty for the past two weeks because without the snow there was no need for the smitty. This week's snow was more than enough to give myself the final push to finish it off.

Design stolen from efka, i'm not sure mine is as rigid as his though. I'll find out this weekend.

 

[miles]

I'll trade you workshops.

Mine is a 4 man HT InstaShak with a Big Mr. Buddy Heater and an ice fishing bucket for a stool!

I hardly ever used it, just found it more comfortable to work outside in my one piece ice fishing suit..so anyone looking for an ice fishing hut or Big Mr. Buddy Heater? Also have a new 20lb propane tank and attachment hose to go with the heater! I have a 2 man Instashak and regular Mr. Buddy Heater so these are just spares now taking up space.

I would be interested in the buddy hose and maybe the 20lber. Are you ever in the grey Bruce area?

 

[chasingfish]

Definitely interested in the shack and heater. Let me know where u are and how much u want. Pics would be nice too [emoji1]

 

[Knuguy]

i've never seen a smitty being bogged down while normal sleds and rubbermaid containers glide with ease.

I didn't say 'with ease', but they were a whole lot easier than the(perhaps overly wide) Smitty.

 

[goodentight]

Well, took it out on that storm and it was amazing. I think the reason some bog down is you dont have the rope at the tip of the skis and/or your sled falls off the 2x4's. Either of those situations can result in bogging. This had enough clearance to glide freely across the deeps on quinte.

 

[Shawarma]

Your second picture pretty much explains a good smitty from a bad one. In powder type snow you need the clearance and you had it.

If you want to improve it for next season, place the blocks further up on the skis. That way weight distribution would be more efficient and the skis won't dig in from the back. Plus a longer rope would also help in not lifting the skiis up from the front.

Great shot by the way.

 

[Knuguy]

Looks good. I'm glad it worked well for you, and it looks like you had quite a load as well, what with the big propane and all.

I think the guy I was with had a much wider one and may have had a heavy load as well.

If you and your sled are avail for hire just let me know!! Hard to find a good porter/Sherpa when you really need one!! :razz:

 

[Shawarma]

I modified my smitty to be quite wide two outtings ago and wow did it ever suck. it made pulling it around a pain in the a$$!

Gonna make it slim again this weekend.

 

[goodentight]

yeah the BBQ propane is probably over kill. Having it in the back of the sled was less than ideal. I will put it in the front or middle of the sled next go and imagine that will keep it from "riding durty" so much. Either way, if you are off the snow, you are having a good time. I kept my skis 24 inch apart, exact same width of the toboggan. Worked well.

 

[fishingbimmer]

nicely done. great post.

 

[instapump416]

Maybe keeping the propane at the back was a good way to elevate your skis?

 

[Basschaser]

Nice walleye!
My smitty sled is 36" wide and it has no problem in deep snow.
My vertical posts are 23" apart and mounted centred on 5 ' downhill skis, where the weight of a skier would be. My rope is attached to the front vertical and not the tip of the skis. Not sure if that makes a difference.