Treading lightly on some Metro Ice

[Desperado]

Fri Nov 21
Went with to crew from Wilcraft to a pond just NorthEast of the metro.  We had arranged to meet the local fire department so they could try the Wilcraft while practicing Ice Rescue.  That pond had just under 3 inches of ice.

Sat Nov 22
Took my 7 yr old son out on Otter.  Just over 3 inches of ice.  I would have walked out on it, but wouldn't have let my 7 yr old walk out with me.  However I was quite comfortable with him out there in the Wilcraft.

Sun Nov 23
Gonna try to get out on Otter  with my 11 yr old son.

[JohnWester]

very nice, keep up with the reports.

[Spinach]

Des, how does using the wilcraft affect early ice as far as safety and breaking the ice up. Is this not a factor or is it light enough not to tear the ice up and leaving hazardous spots for others? Please don't get me wrong, I love the wilcraft and think its one of the coolest machines I've ever been in, but I'm just curious on the safety aspect of using it this early in the ice season.

[fishwiz4]

i must be out of the loop, but i had never hear of a wilcraft untill now.  i think its awesome.  how much does the base model cost?

[Desperado]

Here's my 11 yr old out on Otter today

driving out    &   drilling holes


fishing

[Desperado]

Fishwiz
Are you going to the St Paul Ice Fishing Show?
If so, look for WILCRAFT; we'll be there.

Or you can see quite a bit at www.thewilcraft.com

Price range is comparable to a Polaris Ranger

[Desperado]

Hey Pat, thanks for asking.  I'm happy to discuss your question.

The Wilcraft weighs about twice as much as me.  But with the amount of tire surface on the ice, it actually puts less pounds per square inch on the ice than what my boots do when I'm walking.

The thing that I am careful about on thin ice is I GO SLOW.  (the wilcraft has two forward gears and will go 20 mph) I never shifted out of first gear and never got more than half throttle this weekend.  Of course driving too fast will cause the wave under the ice problem, but then so does someone in a pickup truck doing 50 mph on 10 inches of ice.
I also slowed way down as I approached the shore so as not to get that wave action busting up ice at the bottom of the boat ramp.


As long as the driver drives right for the conditions, he shouldn't be busting or weakening the ice.