How to Pull an Ice Shack
You have an ice shack that you’ve slaved over building, getting it just the way you want it. The question now is how you’re going to get it where you want to go fishing. Ice shacks tend to move across ice without much problem, but getting them through the snow that tends to build up around and on the lake during the winter months can prove to be a problem. A simple solution can make pulling an ice shack as easy as pulling a sled.
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Things You'll Need
- Skis
- Measuring tape
- Marker
- Drill
- 1/2-inch drill bit
- 4 square wooden blocks, 3 inches by 3 inches
- 4 8-inch bolts with nuts, 1/2-inch in diameter
- 1/2-inch deep-well socket
- 2 eye screws
- Rope
Instructions
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1
Tip the ice shack so it lies on its side. Make sure the side facing up is clear of windows and is not the side of your shack that has your door built into it.
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2
Take a pair of skis—old ones work fine and can be either cross country or downhill—and measure the length of the ski. Determine the center of the ski and mark it with your marker. Measure 12 inches away from the center of the ski toward the tip and mark it in the middle of the ski’s width with your marker. Measure 12 inches away from the center of the ski toward the back and mark it. Repeat with the other ski.
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3
Drill holes in the marks on the skis that you made toward the tip and toward the back using the drill and the ½-inch bit. Do not drill the center mark, which is only for reference.
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4
Drill holes through the center of the wooden blocks using the drill. Set aside.
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5
Measure the side of the shack the skis will be fastened to and find the center and mark it with your marker. Measure from the center to the outer edge—not toward the roof or the floor of the shack—and mark the center of that space. Repeat by finding the center from the middle of the shack’s side to the opposite edge. Mark it.
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Place the ski, flat side down, on the side of the shack it will be fastened to. Align the center mark on the ski on top of the center mark between the middle of the shack’s side to the outer edge. Make sure the ski runs parallel to the outer edge. Drill holes in the shack using the previously-drilled holes in the ski as reference points. Repeat on the other side.
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7
Line up the holes in the blocks with the holes in the shack’s side and then place the skis, flat side up and tips facing the roof of the shack, on the blocks. Align the holes of the skis with the other two holes. Slide the 8-inch bolt through the holes and fasten with nut on the inside of the shack. Tighten with socket. Repeat with the other three holes.
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8
Flip the shack so it is sitting on the skis. Secure the eye screws on opposite sides of the shack near the roof. Tie rope to both eye screws and use it to pull the shack like a sled. When you get to where you want to set up your shack, simply stand it up.
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Tips & Warnings
Used skis can sometimes be found for low prices at second-hand stores or resale shops.
Apply non-stick cooking spray to the bottom of your skis to help them glide through snow easier.
The rope can easily be hooked to a snowmobile or an ATV for easier transportation across the ice.
Always wear protective eyewear when using a drill.
Always be mindful of ice conditions and be sure the ice is thick enough to travel on before going out onto it.
