Driving on frozen lakes

[rbh]

Re: Driving on frozen lakes

I believe you need to get the one/two day course before you can be dipatched out on the ice road.
anytime we went out on the ponds for skating or lakes ice fishing, we were told to make sure there was at least 6 inches, and if there was a hole in the ice due to not freezeing totaly, stay 20-30 feet away. did you see that vid clip on how to make those ice claws to pull you out if the ice ever broke under you (in dockside chat), I should make a set.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Driving on frozen lakes

Ayuh,.... Growing up in Maine,...
When the rivers, lakes,+ streams froze up, it meant you didn't have to walk so far,...
As you grew up, it just wasn't Walkin' anymore....
It turned into more roads, goin' more places,...

As a teenager, I belonged to 1 of the organizations the put on an annual Ice race,...
I helped a Cousin build,+ run his car,+ I worked the track...

When I moved over here to the Northcountry,... I was surprised at the general Fear of Ice,...
I mean, ya, there's quite a few fishermen drivin' on the ice,... But not Alot of 'em,...
I always have,+ continue to drive on the ice,...
It's the way to go, for workin' on waterfront dockage,...
Here's a coupe of pictures,...

That's puttin' facsia on the dock at Lake Bonaparte,....

This is a few miles out on Lake Ontario, Black River Bay, a few years back,.... Icefishin'...

And that is my Worst ice incident,... There's over 18" of ice under the hoe bucket,...
About 3" under the front bucket, well, Over the front bucket by the time the picture was taken....
She came Out under her own power, with the help of a Long chain....

 

[bowman316]

Re: Driving on frozen lakes

So bondo, your saying you would repair and build docks while the water was frozen? Like would you drive pilies into the lake bottom? How would that work with the ice.


You got that backhoe out on its own power? how was the engine not flooded?
I assume it was sitting on the bottom?

 

[Rwebber77]

Re: Driving on frozen lakes

Speaking of Minnesota lakes..visit Alexandria in February. There is an ice fishing tournament I attend every year where they construct a 120' by 80' tent for food vendors, prizes and picnic tables. They have shuttles running out to the fishing holes from the landing and have anywhere from 100 to 200 vehicles on the ice at all times.

Makes you wonder what if...

 

[Bondo]

Re: Driving on frozen lakes

How would that work with the ice.

Ayuh,.... just like icefishin',... Drill a hole,+ drop 'em in,... Then build from there...

how was the engine not flooded?

It was in the water, but not quite Under it,... being diesel I'm sure helped...
Waterlevel was just at the underside of the floorboards....

In that pic. I'm trying to lift it with the hoe,+ get the outriggers out from under the ice, to the topside, spreading the weight...
The bow is resting on the front bucket...
You can see the chain on the bucket that I eventually pulled free with....

It was bitter cold then,...
I got it out,+ trailered it to a heated shop, where the fluids were all drained,+ changed...
Didn't get much dock work done that weekend,.....

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Driving on frozen lakes

Hey, Silvertip: I used to carry the same home made picks when I was actively winter skating on lakes in New York. Lucky that I never needed to use them. Used to skate 3-4 miles one way and occasionally a recently frozen Ice fishing hole would open up. Hurts like hell if the skate falls through. Your post reply brought back memories.

 

[F14CRAZY]

Re: Driving on frozen lakes

F14 has the solution:

why isn't this in my signature?

 

[Tig]

Re: Driving on frozen lakes

F14 has the solution:

A couple years back they had to rescue a crew in one of those Argos. Seems they decided to drive into a patch of open water. Once in, they discovered that the Argo did not have "hover jets" to get them back on top of the ice.
As for ice thickness I am always leery of the shore. Sunshine, springs, creeks, sump pumps, decaying vegetation can all make a difference in the strength of the ice.
Pressure cracks are sneaky too. They usually form in ice over a foot thick. Over the years I have known three people who damaged their vehicles by falling in at one. Right now we have an ugly one blocking me from driving a vehicle to my shanty. The ice has buckled down and it's a big flood. It's hard to spot the water as you approach on a snowmobile. Probably not strong enough to carry a 4x4 truck and too deep/rough to cross with a car.

 

[F14CRAZY]

Re: Driving on frozen lakes

It's better than sending a non-floating vehicle through the ice

 

[bowman316]

Re: Driving on frozen lakes

so bondo, i guess you rigged your backhoe with a pile driver on it? I have seem them driving piles on the bay here, with a backhoe, on a barge.

I bet it would be easier on the ice thou.

I assume there are no tides on the great lakes. Cuz that would raise and lower the ice cover.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Driving on frozen lakes

Ayuh,... The pile drivein' was already done by that time,...
I was just trying to remove the snow by then, to do some work on the near shore areas....
With that particular dock,... Most of the pile driving was done with a 20# Sledgehammer...
The main structure was set from the ice,... Some of the later supporting structure was done over water,...
Off the ice is Much Easier...

I assume there are no tides on the great lakes. Cuz that would raise and lower the ice cover.

Ayuh, No tides on the Sweetwater Seas,...
But,...
Lake Ontario atleast does experince a "Bathtub Effect"...
Depending on the weather's highs,+ lows,+ winds,...
The waterlevel at my place on Chaumont Bay goes up,+ down about a 1/2 a foot a day, on average...
Sometimes More...

The picture of the backhoe is at my place at Lake Bonaparte,...
It's an 8000 acre spring fed lake, just outside the Adirondack Park...

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Driving on frozen lakes

F14 has the solution:

why isn't this in my signature?

I had one of those things years ago, between the axle seal leaks and the finicky Kohler 2 stroke engine, it was all but worthless. I don't think it ever made it further than a few hundred feet the whole time I had it. Between it leaking and filling the hull with water, and the engine not wanting to start hot, (It overheated in the summer anytime the top was put back on), it ended up being a real waste of money. A buddy has one up at a cabin in Canada, he seems to like his, but his has 8 wheels and uses a 4 stroke engine. Mine was new in the mid 1980's or so.
I ended up giving it away after getting totally frustrated with repeated repairs.