Runners on Bottom of FishTrap Sleds

[NorthWoodsGuy]

I bought a FishTrap II last year and noticed at the end of the year that the runners on the bottom of the sled were getting pretty chewed up.

Is there anything to add on top of the runners to make them last longer? Something like you add to a boat keel?

Thanks in advance!!

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NorthWoodsGuy

[Steve Foss]

A guy posted last year and said he bolted skis on the bottom of his trap, along the runners. I've meant to do it on my Trap II, but haven't gotten around to it.

I'd drill holes up through the bottom of the skis, countersinking them so the head of the bolt wouldn't stick out from the bottom of the ski. Then just tighten the nuts inside on the floor and you're ready. He said it pulled easier in snow, too.

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Steve ([email protected])

[chunkytrout]

You can by halifax in just about any width and length. I believe it's the same stuff snowmachine glide rails are made of. Whatever it is, it's pretty indestructable. Check it out..

[Guest]

I know that Otter sells the Halifax runners that bolt on the bottoms of there sleds. Not sure if they make the same things for the Fishtraps, but if they don't I'm sure that you would be able to modify them to fit.

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Paul
[email protected]

[chunkytrout]

Hey Northwoods Guy, check DennisKirk.com. I think they sell halifax.

[kwkfsh]

Heres a tip, every snowmobile dealer probably has stacks of old "hyfax" for older sleds that they don't sell very often. Ask the parts guy to make you a deal on an old dusty pair and you may be able to get them for a couple bucks apeice! The stuff is typically called teflon but is really HDPE (high density polyethelene) any HDPE you can find in the right size will work well. If you cut and drill your own, use a countersink bit for the recesses for the screw heads. If you try and use a regular drill bit it will pull to deep to fast and the hole will be ruined in a blink of the eye. If you go to a snowmobile dealer ask for HYFAX, if you ask for HALIFAX they may try and send you to NOVA SCOTIA!

[kwkfsh]

Heres another tip for sled runners, If you go to a plastic supply house they usually have a scrap bin with some odd sizes in it. Sometimes you can find the ends of sheets anywhere from 3 to 8 ft long. These are usually sold for about 50% off of the regular price per sq. ft. Remember you want to get HDPE not LDPE. Or UHMW (ultra high molecular wieght) also works good But is harder to find. Thats the stuff they put on the bottom of airboats, super tough and super slippery!

[chunkytrout]

I didn't know they made halifax in Nova Scotia! HA! I thought there was something wrong with my use of that word.

[Gissert]

I found some UHMW on the internet a couple years back. There is a place in Florida that sells leftover items from industry. I got a couple dozen strips of UHMW that were four feet long and 3/8 inch thick. The price was nine bucks, plus shipping. I bolted them to the bottom of my older style Otter tub, and she pulls like a dream.

[Bird Dog]

You could contact Crown Plastics in Plymouth
Mn. they sell UHMW and HDPE and I am sure that they could set you up with the material
that would suit you best.

Bird Dog

[NorthWoodsGuy]

Thanks for all the GREAT info! Maybe I can prolong the death of my sled now.

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NorthWoodsGuy

[Steve Foss]

NorthWoodsGuy:

Now that's a lot of useful info. As for the life of the Trap, I got mine pretty scraped up the first year, and then started making sure I only drug it across snow/ice/grass, no rocks or cement or gravel. Haven't had a groove dug in her since.