Built a smitty

Picked up some new gear this year and needed a bigger sled. Figured I’d do a medium otter sport smitty sled. Made if so the otter can come off easily and be used for other stuff as well. Pulled it on the yard a bit and makes a huge difference. Can’t wait to use it!

So in deep snow, the skies are going to sink a certain amount. Any thoughts on how tall to make the boards that attaches to the skies, so the sled your putting on top of the smitty doesn't snowplow, or drag on the top of the snow.

“A sled for a sled...seems a bit redundant.”

Not at all. A traditional sled has a large contact area with the snow/ice/ground. What this does is reduces that significantly. With a traditional sled you could easily end up plowing snow with the front as it’s pulled. With this type nothing is being plowed because the surface area contacting the snow is greatly reduced. 

I’d estimate that the amount of effort needed to pull a loaded up sled set on skis is reduced by 70%-75% over pulling that same sled loaded the same way without skis. It is a significant difference and worth the time spent throwing one together. 

Here is the sled I built this year. Waiting to try it out in Illinois.

A sled for a sled...seems a bit redundant.

“I think old wooden skis would work great by sinking the bolt head into the ski.”

I use downhill skis for the four that I have. Used decking screws and sunk them into the bottoms of the skis. 

I built a smitty a couple of years ago to a haul my otter portable. One problem I ran into was attaching the risers to the skis. The bolt I used actually isn't flush with the bottom of the ski. So when pulling on ice the bolt head digs into the ice making the pull difficult. Not being a skier I didn't realize that the skis I used has metal running within the ski. Works well on snow. If possible please post a pic of the bottom of a ski. I think old wooden skis would work great by sinking the bolt head into the ski.

Thanks

Ulbian is right - keep your weight in back.  Even turn your auger around so powerhead is in back.  Every little bit helps - if we get snow, that is.

Woulda built it up on wood. Something to store tackle, snacks, drinks, etc.

Yup...tied to the eyes and run through the tips. It’ll help give just a little more lift.

Putting something on the back would work but when you pack your sled and other stuff onto them keep the weight to the back. Not sure if you were planning on setting so,etching down directly on the skis but I wouldn’t advise that. If you throw a tote right on top of the skis you lose the biggest benefit of these things and that’s clearance in snow. It’ll act like a snowplow so you want to keep stuff up higher. 

So through the eyes and then through the tips of skis for the rope? 

also left some space in back to maybe add on a basket or something for more storage

A bit of constructive criticism on the build. If you move the risers back as far as you can it will pull easier than what it will now. You’ll already notice a huge difference the way it is now but if you want to maximize efficiency you’ll want to move your weight back as far as it can go. This would give the front more lift which is what you want. 

Also....I attach my rope to the front risers as well but I drill holes in the ski tips and run the rope through those holes and then back to the risers. This gives the front just a bit more lift as well. 

Good job all around...