tod osier said:
SJ Fairbank said:
Another thought Mark-as Dave mentioned they don't look commercially manufactured. Pretty sure I got the idea that someone was making and selling them in the 60's from the guy who, I believe, owns the boat in your picture. If you pm him he might be able to provide more info. I still think it's scary, but hey, it's icefishing!
If you're serious about picking up an early/late ice machine look at the Wilcraft. I have one and it gets me and a buddy on the ice when we wouldn't dare walk. Two guys on two inches. Be ready for sticker shock.
Neat machine. What happens when it brakes through and you are floating surrounded by ice? Or do you try to avoid that? I see it has open water ability. How do you get back on the ice?
The wheels retract, you use a push pole to get the rear wheels back on ice, then the wheels are deployed slowly while the machine backs onto the ice. There are tutorials on the Wilcraft website. I practiced with it the first year, it takes patience. I wouldn't intentionally use it as a boat, it's the equivalent of a 10' jon. More of a liferaft with self-rescue potential. Your basic icefishing maniac novelty item.
I have gotten myself out on a couple of occasions and used it to get on late ice where other guys were using planks. It is made for glare ice, more than 8" of snow and it gets squirrely although mine is 2-wheel drive. They do make a 4-wheel drive model which a friend in NY has and it does much better. Very cool to drive about the lake with the top up and the heat on, there are windows all the way around and there are holes in the floor to jig through (with plugs while travelling).