DRIFTER_016

It is always so nice to see the thought and craftsmanship put into projects like these. I really like the way you used the valve springs, what a smart idea!

 

I believe that the canted runners on the original sleds were to make the sleigh run true which isn't an issue in your case because you have a draw bar.

 

Beautiful job!

Correct, the Northern sleds have canted runners because they pull with ropes. If they weren't canted the things would wave back and forth behind your snowmobile.

That's awesome Drifter! Heavy duty for sure! I have to ask - what are UHMV washers? I do a lot of my own home builds & never came across this item. How do you like the welder? I recently purchased a Miller & completed a few projects. Hell I even tack welded my wife's potato cutter (the type with the lever to cut fries) LOL!

I made the washers out of a piece of 1/2" ultra high molecular weight polyethylene. I cut the sheet down to 1/8" thick to make the washers which were then cut out using a 2" hole saw. They allow the tow bar to move easily in it's mount without having metal rubbing on metal. UHMW is extremely tough and will last forever.

More Newfies live here than in Newfoundland!!!! LOL

I have some friends that do the dog team thing.

One of them is getting ready to run the Iditarod again next month.

At least the Jets managed a point too.

I really want to see them make the playoffs.

very nice build, should do service for many years ! you're motivating me to get one built as well

 

curious about the tow bar. The komatiks I've seen and are familiar with, have a lower attachment point (I think usually right between the runners just below the top edge. These would Innu komatiks in Labrador. They also canted them ever so slightly as well. could be a regional terrain thing ?

Yeah, I didn't want it bouncing off rocks as there are quite a few in my area.

I also wanted the tow bar to fold flat against the deck for ease of trailering.

You know what would be really sweet? A giant ice hut sitting on top of the sled. March 31st is the deadline for completion.

That would be sweet. Why don't start work on that tomorrow. You can bring it with you when you come up.

If not, we will just have to use what I have.

Great job for sure. You know the screws and glue on the cross memberss might not have been thhe best idea though. The reason they use the rope (actually sinew if you want to do it up proper ) is to give the sleigh some flex over un-even terrain.

 

Its funny, when I moved to Ontario, I built a small one to pull my icefishing gear by hand, and people looked at me like I had 3 heads when I pulled it out LOL. I still have it, and use it every winter.

 

Great job for sure on that one. It will last a long time. Seal it up with something and your good to go!

 

S.

Yep, I know why they build them they way they do, which is why I added the rope. I won't be travelling very far with this sled. It will be for hauling building materials from the ice road to my building site which is about 1/2km. Also It's way shorter than most of the komatiks which are used up North, about 10 or 12 feet shorter.

Whopper

I don't even have a nice garage. I'm lucky enough to live next to a glass shop that allows me to use their nice warm shop to work on my toys and such during the long winters. I work on my projects, truck and sled in there.

Thanks y'all!!!

With the need to haul thousands of pounds of materials to my cabin site I was in need of a freight sled to do the deed. So I channeled my inner Inuit and built myself a Komatik.

The sled it's self weighs in at a hefty 150#'s but compared to the ones they make up on the coast it's tiny at 8 1/2' feet long. The Northern Inuit's komatiks are usually in the 18'-20' range. They also use rope instead of solid tow bars as the terrain is pretty much flat there.

The runners are made of doubled up 2X10's that are glued and screwed together.

On the running surface I used 1/2" puck board as sliders.

To protect the ends I used 1/8" aluminium sheet.

The cross braces are made of 2X4's and installed with rope like they do up North. I also used screws and glue. I used the ropes as a backup to the screws and glue and to give it an authentic look.

Now for the tow bar. For this I used a more modern approach. 1 1/2" tube for the tow bar and 2X3" tube for the tow bar mount. Fabrication of the hitch gave me a reason to go out and buy myself a mig welder.

For the tongue I used 3/4" solid round bar with 4 valve springs to cushion the shock on takeoff and stopping.

The tow bar mount straddles the runners and is held on with 3/8" hardware.

The tow bar is attached with 1/2" hardware and there are hand made UHMW washers between it and the mount.

The tongue runs through a length of 3/4" ID square tube. I drilled and tapped it for a grease zerk so I can lube it to keep it from seizing up over time.

Running down each side is 1/2" braided rope to be used as tie downs.

Going to haul it out to the building site tomorrow.

Happy Saturday y'all!!!!    

McDavid isn't coming to Toronto for the 1,000,000,000,000th time, lol

That's not what commish Gary Bettman told me at our weekly poker game.

Most of my clients want the cameras to spy on their kids. They want to see them get home from school when they are still at work, or check to make sure the dog walker is coming over ect. And If a real crime happens they at least have a picture. I

Plus the cameras make it easier to aim the remote controlled shotguns!!!!

 

So what do you suggest then if dogs and boobie traps are not an option?

Electrified 15 foot high fence topped with razor wire would likely work.

Have you ever seen the signs "Smile you are on candid camera" or "This property is monitored by Video survalience".

 

What do you do? Well you look for the cameras don't you?

 

Dogs are great. But if they try to tell you that it was two guys about 6' tall that looked just like the kids down the street that broke into your car and stole your stuff. Well something gets lost in the translation!

 

The camera will tell you exactly what they looked like, what time they were there, and in many cases what they took.

But they will also record the beating and subsequent burial of the perpetrators!!!!

My dream boat. Might not get into every lake, but it will get there faster.

 

I know that boat!!!!

http://www.north-wrightairways.com/

Rob don't let princie know you are dreaming of other boats...they tend not to like that

That's why I included my current boat in my list of dream boats.

Didn't want her to feel unloved!!!

Don't forget the nail board at the bottom of the steps, under the windows and doors as well...

 

3-1/2" spikes nailed into 3/4 plank should work... For both bear and stupid humans.

 

G

The windows are too high for them to bother with.

They would need to get on the deck in order to gain access through door or window.

They can also walk up the stairs but won't be able to get on the deck without getting past the electrified gate wires.

When I go out to the cabin I will just need to turn off the fence and open the gates. No bear boards for me or my dog to accidentally step on.

Yep, it's only going to be about 60-70 feet from charger to the end of the line.

As long as it keeps the bears out of my place I'll be happy.

Been a lot of places broken into by bruins in the last few years.

One even trashed my tent last August.

I have been thinking of how I'm going to secure my cabin @ the lake and the system I came up with will probably work fine for me.

When I designed the cabin I put a storage area underneath. This will raise my deck about 6' off the ground.The only access into the cabin will be via 2 stair cases to the deck. The deck will wrap around one side and the front.

My solution is an electric fence charger running around the deck railings with wire gate fences for the top of the stairs and metal stairs for the top 3 stairs as well as hot grounding alternating fence wires as the ground is solid granite.

The main purpose is to keep out bears and wolverines but it should keep people out as well.

A dream boat is just a pipe dream for me.

No one boat will do all the different types of water and fishing I do.

At minimum I really need about 4 or 5 different watercraft.

A nice drift boat for certain salmon and trout water.

If I had the choice it would be a Pavati: http://www.pavatimarine.com/

For bigger salmon and trout waters a jet sled is needed.

Many choices here but my favorite is the Predator by Willie Boats: http://www.willieboats.com/predator/

Then I will need a lake boat. I already have the one I like.

Gonna need an ocean boat when I move to BC as well.

My choice here is a Kingfisher: http://www.kingfisherboats.com/off-shore/

I also have a kayak but my choice if I had the $$$$ would be a Hobi PA14: http://www.hobiefishing.com/mirage/mirage-pro-angler-14/

 

well they aren't going to fall to 29 or 30 they are bad but they aren't Edmonton or Buffalo bad

Don't be so negative!!! There's always a chance!!!

Here's some recent talk on the subject.

http://ontariofishingcommunity.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=76651

OOPs