Sinker

Have a great day Cliff!

Saying that is your first mistake! Don't go alone!!

I've often wondered about how operators get away with having passengers in a sleigh behind a quad or skidoo.......you see it all the time......nobody has helmets on......sometimes even the driver!! I've been driven out on the back of a 4 wheeler with no helmet before, and on the back of a sled with no helmet......the driver didn't have one on either.....what gives? What happens if someone gets hurt and hits thier head......would the operator cover that? Sinker

Graphite eh.....hmm..... I have no rust.....they're galvanized poles.....just don't want to slide to well for me this year. I have lots of candles......well...the wife does ......I think I'll try that out and see what happens. Can't make it any worse I guess..... Sinker

Right on....I'll try the wax. Should have thought of that myself.....duh.... I did the sandpaper already, then sprayed the wd-40 on the male ends. It didn't do much, but like IF said, wd only dries stuff up......thought maybe they were freezing a bit in there......guess not.....just too dry I guess. Wax it is.....I'll let ya know how I make out... Thanks for the info! Sinker

Does anyone put anything on the poles of thier portable huts to make them slide open/close better? Mine seems to get harder and harder to slide every year. Last time I had mine out, I had to pound on them to get it down. Now the bolts where it connects to the sled are starting to bend a little. Its not a real big deal, but there must be something I can put on there.... I've sprayed them with WD-40....but it didn't seem to help much. Any suggestions? Sinker

Snow machines don't tear up the landscape like wheeled machines do when there is no snow. There is always some dumbass who decides he's gonna do some donuts thru the town parkland......not much of an issue when its snow covered. Newer sleds are very steerable by the way......try one...I think you'd like it! They handle just as good as an ATV........prolly stop quicker too.... Sinker

I'm in the same boat as Rattletrap. I need a back up for when my power goes out. If it had of gone out yesterday, I'd still be pumping out my basement now. My sump got a real workout......I have an extra sump pump incase mine dies, and I have a couple high power bilge pumps with batteries, but if Im not home and the power goes out when the water is flowing like it was yesterday.......I'm royally screwed!! I'm not even sure those bilge pumps would do it.....they'd help....but I think I'd still be flooded. I'm surprised there hasn't been more replies to this thread, but I guess most people on the board are on minicipal water/sewers. I'm VERY interested in what others do in this situation. Sinker

Cliff, I will keep that in mind for sure!! TYVM for the offer!! This I have for now.......two actually.....and a deep cycle battery for each one.......but if I'm not home when the water is flowing like it was yesterday......and the power goes out......I'm royally screwed! Sinker

Thank god I didnt lose power, I'd be pumping out my basement right about now!!

I'm not sure I'd head out there today. Yesterday it looked really bad. There were a couple huts that I could only see the roofs of......and lots that were blown around too. I was out on tuesday, and most 8" auger holes were more like 18" holes.......the ice has broken from shore, and the pressure cracks are not looking good. IMO, I'd wait a couple days for it to get a bit harder. On tuesday, we had around 6" of black ice left, with lots of water on top......and that was before all the rain. Use your better judgement.......I'm not heading out until Friday, and I know the lake very well. Sinker

I agree Terry. It would be nice to know what the heck happened out there. There are so many stories, and they're all different. How can these people print this stuff? I'd like to find out the true facts.......it could save someone elses life. Sinker

GPS's are great when they work!! Can't beat a compass though!! Sinker

Is it just me, or does it seem like the guys who go out on the ice once or twice a season are the ones whining about your report? You know....the guys who need at least a foot of ice before they consider it "safe". I get it all the time too....."OMG.....you were out on the ice?" Meanwhile there is 6" of clear black ice......they just don't know. Please people, if you haven't been there for yourself, you can't judge these guys actions. They obviously know what they're doing, and made it back to shore with no probs....and a nice whitie to boot! They took extra precautions just in case......Solid clear ice like that is strong stuff.........and don't forget.....IT FLOATS!! Thanks for the report!! Sinker

See......a $5 compass could have saved this guys life! of course I'm assuming the worste case scenario......maybe he's just lost in the fog, so decided to stay put and spend the night.....who knows. I was on scugog last night, and it was pretty brutal out in that fog. I was less than 100 yds from shore, and you c ouldn't see it in any direction. Not hard to get turned around out there.........GET A COMPASS!!!! Sinker

WTG......there's been some nice ones coming out of VB this year. Congrats on the PB!! Sinker

You should come out here when the trails are really good. I live 5 mins from where you guys unloaded....prolly drove right by ya's on my way to go fishing The ganny is great because its central. You can go east to bewdley, or west to port perry. Both rides are about the same distance. I like to go the port perry route....just because I can check out the lake while I'm there. Sinker

Scogog has been producing for me.....just a thought. I can point you in the right direction anyways. Lots of ice, I drove out there tonight. Big crappies and eyes are always good Sinker

Its a whole lot easier to stay off ice that isn't safe!! That's how I play the game anyways!! A float suit will help you get out, and will keep you warm for a limited time frame. In weather like these guys had......there was no chance for them to make it! Have you been in the water when its 20 below with a good strong wind? I'd bet I couldn't even dial a cell phone, let alone get it out of my suit and a sealed ziploc bag!!!! You'd never get the zipper undone! Sinker

Shouldn't be too hard to find a short shaft engine. You can get by with a longshaft and a jack plate, but its prolly cheaper and easier to wait and find a short shaft outboard. Sinker

Of course you have a better chance in a survival suit. The thing is, these guys were MILES offshore. By the time they got out of water, and made a call, then had rescuers get out there......risking thier lives.....its already too late. -20 with a north wind 20k+ that day will kill you in minutes!! Its hard enough just baiting a hook, let alone walking miles soaken wet.... Being prepared will help for sure, but sometimes, there's nothing you can do! They shouldn't have been out there, they were local guys, and knew the ice wasn't safe. I have a feeling they got turned around in the snow, and headed the wrong way. A compass might have saved their lives......we'll never know the whole story. Sinker

In the case with the 2 guys on simcoe, floaters would have only made it easier to find the bodies. All it would save is divers being needed to recover them. They were way out there, where there is basically no ice, and it was close to 20 below. A floater suit isn't going to save you after you've gone thru miles from shore. You'd never make the walk back in. Its a sad thing to happen, but lets face it, it happens every year. It always seems like its locals who know the ice conditions too.......just pushing thier luck IMO. I feel sorry for the families of these guys...... Sinker

Its so much easier to just walk into your local tackle shop and buy it on the spot. You pay, you get the stickers, you go fishing......easy sleasy. I did it yeasterday. Sinker

I use a swedebore.....only because that's what I have, and that's what I'm used to. I can drill a hole with it just as fast as the next guy with a finbore or strikemaster. I just can't seem to get the hang of the offset handles on the finbore. I change my blades every season, as soon as there is a foot of ice. Then by the time the season is over, the blades are getting a bit dull, but just fine for early ice.....until there's a foot again....then I replace them. OK...I admit it....if there's a foot of ice....I bring the jiffy Sinker

They save your sled for sure. Not sure if its easier to pull or not. I know if I didn't have them on mine, it would prolly be worn thru the sled by now. I pull mine with a machine though.......I'd put something on there. Sinker