Modifing a sled, material?

[Kevin23]

So I want to modify my 1 man frabill recon. I want to make it like this, but run the compartments down the center leaving room on the sides for the material to tuck in. Picture stolen from crappie-attitude


So I want to make it like his, but only make it two small compartments then two bucket spots. The bucket space on the end would carry my rods and ice scoop, one in the middle is where the fish go. Dry storage for my jacket and my heater, then the other one house my battery running interior lights and I can put my jigs in there. I'll strap my auger and flasher to the top when pulling.

Now, the problem is that I need to do this but still make it light enough to pull by hand through the snow. I have a 2 man nanook that weighs 150 fully loaded and that is WAY too much for me to pull. Me and a buddy need to take turns, I go half way then he goes the rest. So I need to make this as light as physically possible. So I guess wood is out. I havent measured it out yet to see how much material I need, but I would have to say it is going to be at least a sheet and a half of 1/4" plywood. Which would be 30lbs dry weight added to the 45lbs of shanty/sled. Giving me 75lbs with no gear. Too heavy I think. Add in all the fish I'm going to catch this year and I'll never make it back to the truck. 

So what can I use that will be cost effective (I don't want to put hundreds into this build), but still light? I was thinking PVC but then I saw PVC sheets were only rated to 32ºF. UHMW sheets would work, but it would be pushing $300 in materials.

Any suggestions?

[BaitBucket]

No brainer here dude.. Use fiberglass.. Build a mold of what your trying to make out of cardboard. Its free from any grocery market.
Pick up a fiberglass kit and some extra cloth, probably cost you 20 bucks total.
Apply the resin and cloth directly to the carboard mold you make.

Check out this thread.. This guy did exactly what im talking about.
http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=209866.0

As for weight..As much as the carboard weighs.

[IceKing4]

Dude. Do it with wood and built a Smitty sled. You could pull both of your shelters on one of those not problem.

[firefighter04]

Do you have the standard or the dlx recon (the one with the seat)? If you have the dlx remove the bars and seat build box/ seat with pine make your compartments to fit as your gear requires than reattach your seat to one of the lids and voila. X2 with the smitty sled but even attaching skis directly to the tub will not only save your tub from wear but also make pulling way easier.

[pikemaster1]

i also have the recon dlx and i would get rid of the bench seat and mount a nice boat seat on a 5 gal pail so you have more storage space   if you do any mods on your sled please post some pictures

[firefighter04]

You might notice some similarities to the scout tc that won the trick your trap contest last year (thanks for some great ideas)  I had to have my auger up and outta the way plus wanted my storage all contained and removable to bring in the house and clean up.  Hate the mess in the bottom of the bucket at the end of the day.  Also wanted a place for a drink jigs and the iphone streaming tunes on the days when the bite aint so hot.  Auger is pinned to the support pole using two Eyebolts so the engine dosent rotate and leak fuel.  Has a carpeted wood floor and a section of a 2L pop bottle tray cut and screwed to the floor that holds two spare 1lb propane bottles for the big buddy (they stay warm and burn properly).  Hard to see but there is downhill skis mounted under the whole setup and it pulls like a dream on grass and basement carpet cant wait for the snow to try it out!!!

[ULking]

That's pretty sweet!

[firefighter04]

Thanks ulking.  The carpet in the bucket goes on the ice it's rubber backed so it dosent stick and the helps keep the feet off the ice and the wind flap tucks underneath it. With the weight of the bait bucket, lunchkit, and lowrance that is promised to be under the Christmas tree this year sitting on it should be no more wind blowing in from frabills poorly designed lower hoop. Love the dlx and frabill products in general just wish that darn hoop sat on the ice. Hope it helps with the mod BBK.

[dkfry]

You could go with 1/4" luan plywood which is actually closer to 3/16" thick than 1/4". Thinner than that can be hard to find locally. You can get 1/16", 3/32" and 1/8" plywoods but you either have to order it or try and find a local dealer. What people have done also to get thin plywood is to buy a used thin wood interior door and then peel off the front and back.

[Kevin23]

Thanks for the ideas guys! I do have the dlx, and I havent decided what I want to do yet. If I make it out of resin, pvc, or something similar I'll have to leave the seat the way it is so it will hold my fat arse. But if I make it out of wood I can reinforce it and mount the seat right to one of the lids.

[pikemaster1]

looks great man do you have enough floor space for heater,vex and hole and are the skis bolted on the sled or is it removable like a smitty

[firefighter04]

Skies are bolted to the sled. Floor space is good. Got the hole front and center bait bucket on the right catch pail on the left and will have finder out past the whole so I can watch the tip and screen at the same time. Heater rides in the tub and stays there once set up. Only things in the sled once flipped and fishing is the tackle box, lunch box,rods, scoop, and heater so plenty of room. Plus I can hang my coat behind me and to the right and heater dries it or any other wet gear. Along with space to warm up a nice meal or cup of coffee on the new cooker mod for the big buddy I just completed.   Sorry for the hijack BBK. I would seriously consider pine and mount some ski's.  I think you could triple the weight and the ski's (which can be had cheap or free with a little looking) will still make it feel like you shaved off pounds.  The back rack that holds the box is 1x6 pine and 7/16 osb rested on fir 2x8 risers off the skis and I can jump on it and it don't move. Light and cheap. Call me oldschool at the ripe old age of 26 but composites and other things just don't last like wood and steel. (If I didn't have it laying around the osb wouldn't have been used) Care for it with a coat of paint every now and than and it will last you a long time. Plus it's pretty Easy to modify and build with simple hand tools that most guys already own.

[Kevin23]

I've been looking for skis for 3 years now and havent found any. Iowa isnt much of a skiing state.

[firefighter04]

In that case I guess you are forced to work with the composite materials and try and keep it light. I would suggest going with a pine lumber front section for a bench that you can sit on (re-attach seat) and a cardboard/ fiberglass section behind that. making it modular you can save unneeded pounds and get the best of both worlds. yoou could put a lid in the wood front section and throw the fish under you and use the rear area for storage. If you we're to glue large 1/4 inch fender washers to the cardboard and than embed them in the resin and matting you would beable to drill through the fiberglass and not lose any strength due to the metal reinforcement. If you put carriage bolts through the wood and wing nuts on the fiberglass side in a few spots to hold them together you could make the bench and storage area two seperate pieces. Now wait for it..... Put handles on the bench. Why? Unscrew the wing nuts take the fish in the house/garage for cleaning than take the water to it to clean out the slime place back in nice and clean!!!  Either that or sell it and buy the commando max

[FISHN NIK]

BBK,
     Have you tried Craigslist,always lots of skis on there ,or ask some IS buddies if they can help you out.A Smitty Sled is definitly the way to go,much easier also.Good luck either way!

                                               FISHN NIK

[-Badger-]

I lot of people dont know but most resin is a neuro toxin so wear a good mask when fiberglassin. If you don't  . . . you might forget how to fish!

[SeisMec]

I've been looking for skis for 3 years now and havent found any. Iowa isnt much of a skiing state.

Around  my area skis on a shanty is a standard mod.  You can go to a lot of summer time garbage sales around here and get downhill skis or head to the thrift stores.

[Kevin23]

You know, thinking back on it... I think I have seen a hill here before 

Seriously, Iowa is not a skiing state. We are flat as a pancake. The only time you are going to find skis here is if someone moved here and got rid of them. If you want to ski here you have to go to one of the payed ski places which are nothing more than a big hill with a snow machine on the top and rent some skis.

I've been watching craigslist, and garage sales for years... nada.

[SeisMec]

You know, thinking back on it... I think I have seen a hill here before 

Seriously, Iowa is not a skiing state. We are flat as a pancake. The only time you are going to find skis here is if someone moved here and got rid of them. If you want to ski here you have to go to one of the payed ski places which are nothing more than a big hill with a snow machine on the top and rent some skis.

I've been watching craigslist, and garage sales for years... nada.

I get home from work next week, currently in Norway. I'll look around at the thrift stores and find out what it would cost to ship you some!!! PM me if your interested.

[Kevin23]

I've made up my mind, I'm going fiberglass. Now to just get it done.... maybe after duck season 

[hnd]

I've been looking for skis for 3 years now and havent found any. Iowa isnt much of a skiing state.

just look on craigslist in the qc.  you should be able to find plenty for like 10-15 bucks.

[AlgonaIce]

I've been looking for skis for 3 years now and havent found any. Iowa isnt much of a skiing state.

http://desmoines.craigslist.org/for/3224022201.html

here are two sets of skis for sale in Iowa.  Hope it helps!