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I once had to use an aluminum boat to get to the ice at Yuba. It the slid along almost by itself, like a dog on a leash. I started thinking about that lately. Has anybody ever tried a small flat aluminum boat to use as a carry all, slide down the hill, across the water/slush. I wondered how easy it would be to just stay in it, and use a push pole, to make you slide along, over the top of the slush and ice. Slush might make it bog down. Not sure. It would spread your weight out and keep you dry. You could fish out of it like you were on open water. Is this a crazy idea? Feedback appreciated
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Doesn't sound like it would be worth it to me.
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I think its a good idea . I always wanted to try it myself but sold the flat bottom before I got to do it
If you don't plan on going out to far tie a long rope to something solid on shore, and then just pull you and the boat back in. Its probably a little work but what the heck . fishing is fishing.Give jovanoni a PM if you getter done.
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It works fine, use a shovel instead of a push pole. Biggest problem is the boat isn't very fun to fish out of, the tapered hull makes it tip from side to side, but it will keep you safe. We pushed from behind, holding onto the transom and if we felt the ice give way we hopped in back and avoided getting wet. It can be tough to get the boat back on top in deep water where you can't reach bottom to help push. We used to use this method for goose hunting and with all the decoys the boat used to get heavy to move once the snow got a couple inches thick, but it should work great on slush. Good luck. J
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Looks like a great idea, unless you can't get it started.
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I sold mine, too. But I know the owners, and I bet I can borrow it!.
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[#484848]I have seen inflatables, like a Scadden Renegade used as a sled.[/#484848]
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[quote 10X]Just put an engine on it, goes like crazy
[url "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHxq4_OIAKw&feature=c4-overview&list=UUejFwAd9fYHjsJfh4UJArpg[/quote]"]http://www.youtube.com/...sJfh4UJArpg[/quote][/url]
What an awesome boat!
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[quote 10X]Thak you[/quote]
Hey now, she said she liked it, ya don't gotta be rude! (kiddling!)
Got a bud at work with a hover craft, and he fishes, never asked him about ice, hmmm.
I was gonna suggest the everglades style. Not sure what ice would do to an aluminum bottom... if I emptied my Jon boat, might be pushable. But I'll bet a plastic crawdad would do better.
Have heard of folks getting on ice using a canoe, but as mentioned, being able to push off bottom would help.
From what I heard, getting ONTO the ice was tough, as thenedges were slush, so you couldn't just step out of the boat easily.
Have also heard from folks who would wear waders to fet out, then change once on ice. Lots of Jet sled types have high enough edges to float your gear out at least.
Be careful, bring spare clothes, and don't lock yourself out of the car naked with the engine running ( that's another story!)
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One question, doesn't the ice move? I remember taking our pontoons out to a small 3/4 iced lake and we fish the open water. As the day passed and a breeze we got pushed off with the ice moving to our side.
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An aluminum boat will run on ice, but some of the older boats will split wide open on the ice. Just like a can opener. Most air boats have polymer on the bottom, to make them slick and to protect the bottom. I have 3/8" poly on my boat and have hit some things im not happy with, but no damage was done.
Its the most expensive ice fishing sled you will ever buy[shocked].
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I have a 12 foot flat bottom john boat and we use it all the time for goose hunting on thin ice Pulls easy loaded and also great for what your describing, Take an old shovel handle and drill a hole in it and use a 20 penny spike for log fence with the head cut off for a push pole.
I use to have a scat hovercraft and it worked good for you and a passenger but very difficult to balance a load and your going to get wet from the snow and slush lots of mist comes up from under the skirt and covers just about everything. The ideal thing would be to open up the bottom of the fan and plug the airway that feeds the skirt and creates the air lift and use it just like a air boat. Your would have to make some uhmw runners but would work im sure of it.
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