Hyfax question

[boatfixer]

Anyone notice a difference with or without hyfax on portables? I only pull by hand, for now, but does it pull easier? I realize its a must for wear, when pulling with a wheeler or snowmobile.

[blueroof]

The short answer is not much easier. The hyfax raises your sled up a bit, allowing more snow to go under vs. being plowed. The friction coefficient of the hyfax (most likely HDPE plastic) is also slightly lower than the softer plastic of your tub. Not enough to make a huge difference on both counts.

Your tub will track better (pull straighter) behind with the hyfax installed though.

LB

[EyeSkater]

blueroof has it figured out. Hyfax is mainly for rougher use and behind machines. The portables also swing back and forth behind a machine while being towed...which is somewaht brutal to the bottom of an unprotected sled. A full set of hyfax adds several pounds also. I would simply summarize with:

Pull by hand = skip the hyfax

Pull by machine = must have hyfax

'Eye-Skater

[fishinlocal]

Actually, I put the hyfax on my FT Yukon and it pulls much easier by hand. On the Yukon there are only two strips on the outside and it raise the sled up quite well. I am glad I made the purchase.

[Sandmannd]

I agree with fishinlocal. I put hyfax on my otter and it pulls a lot easier by hand now. That being said, it pulls great on ice, you can pull easy. Once you get in deep snow it's hard going with or without the hyfax.

[metrojoe]

Hyfax or runners of some sort are a good idea no matter what. It really reduces the wear on the sled and will extend the life of your sled.

I have had my portable pulled a few times by a buddy's atv, but 99% of the time it's pulled by hand. It didn't take long before I could see the plastic was wearing thin on my old Fish Trap. It even had a couple small holes by the time I sold it.

I have runners on my newer portable and I just did a little inspection the other day and they are starting to show a lot of wear near the front, but the sled itself is in great shape.

[MuskieJunkie]

I put the runners for the new voyager on my older style voyager and it pulls much easier, IMO they are a must on any sled.