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Ice thickness vs. boat
#1
Does anyone know how thin the ice needs to be for a boat to smash through it? Utah Lake is almost thawed out and I feel like I should be the one to smash a path through the remaining ice in the harbor so we can get some boats on the water. I saw someone standing on it yesterday, so I'd bet its not thin enough quite yet. I'm thinking 1-2 inches could be doable in my little 19' ski boat. If not, it'll at least be an amusing story for later.
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#2
Which harbor are you referring to? I'd like to ice fish it one more time, then let the melt come on.
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The older I get the more I would rather be considered a good man than a good fisherman.
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#3
The state park
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#4
I have broken through about 1/2". Be careful because you don't want to do damage to your boat hull or perhaps even your prop.
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#5
Thanks. I've been watching the camera there and I keep seeing people ice fishing from the docks but no open water until halfway down the channel. I will check Lincoln in the next couple of days and let you know how it looks if you might want to go there instead. I've heard reports earlier that it is open but I'll have to see it myself before I would say it is. Maybe someone else who's seen it recently will chime in. A few of us down here are chomping at the bit to get out after catfish.
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The older I get the more I would rather be considered a good man than a good fisherman.
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#6
Last year I did some major work on the transom, stringers, and floor. Full replacement on nearly everything and I tend to overdo things like that. After having it completely airborne a number of times last year, its safe to say shes like a cross between a speed boat and naval destroyer. The stainless prop has been abused and took minimal damage too.

I'm more or less stress testing it before I start my new career as a freshwater pirate this summer.
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#7
Pirate, huh? I've just been waiting for a chance to use this emoticon[pirate][Wink].
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#8
Lincoln was Ice free Sunday when I drove by there.
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#9
I also understand that a walleye fisher launched there.
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#10
Yes lincoln is launchable, well its shallow most likely some ice in the morning, seen one boat out saturday and sunday. half to 3/4 not bad going slow, it mostly depends on how brave you are, I'm sure there are alot of people that would like to see YOU try and hurry to get the ice out of there by boat or weed burner.[Wink]
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#11
I broke ice in my 18 ft g3 at jordanell about .5 mile last year maybe 1 inch and i wouldnt do it again.There is no turning back.LOL
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#12
I have broke ice around 3 inches with my glass boat, it makes some really bad noises but it hasn't hurt the boat. Some times you just have to feed the addiction
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#13
Fished Provo Harbor on Monday. There was about half the inner harbor, around the docks where people were ice fishing. It appeared that the ice was maybe 3-4 inches, BUT it looked pretty rotten. Only one (1) person actually on the ice, next to a dock, no more than 5 ft from the dock. The rest of the harbor was open, as is the lake. As to depth, it appears that the lake has come up about 19-24 inches in the last few weeks, so launching at LB may be a bit easier, you LB fans will have to determine that. Jordan river is running pretty high for this time of year, so all the rain and snow is having a positive effect !!!

AS to the ice breaking abilities of various water craft, the only one I would use is a flat bottom aluminium, preferably an Airboat. Even a half inch of ice, if you hit it wrong will punch a hole in either glass or aluminium. Repairs are very expensive and getting wet really sucks this time of year !!!
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#14
I grew up on the shores of Cutler, and one day a goose hunting crew went out in an aluminum boat in 1/2” of new black ice and during the day it turned cold and froze to just over an inch. As they tried to pick up their decoys the turning of the boat pushed the back end side of the boat into the ice sheet and it punctured through the boat letting in water and sinking the boat on the island. So if you try it be very careful of the rear end of your boat, the nose will take it fine but watch the sides as you turn, or better yet just go straight or make really big sweeping turns. As for the goose hunters, my Dad rescued them and they’ve been lifelong friends. Good luck. J
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#15
Ive broken though 8-10'' of very rotten ice at Willard in my 18ft Procraft. It wasn't by choice. The ice pack shifted and trapped me out on the lake. A good chunk of time was the boat on the ice with just the 150merc breaking through. 5000 rmps equaled 4mph with about a 2ft wide swath broken up behind me. The boat would break through occasionally, which scared the hell out of me cause it would launch out of the broken hole before i could throttle back lol. Great day, no damage, just my transducers flipped up like designed. TubeDude was there that day... Fun Times[fishon]
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#16
I'm more familiar than I'd like to be with major boat repairs. I'm also really confident on the structural integrity of my hull after last year.

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#17
There's also definitely gonna be a video of the attempt. If I fail and break something, it'll be an amusing thing to watch.
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#18
"TubeDude was there that day... Fun Times"

[#0000FF]I seem to recall that we have shared the water...and ice...as the first ones on the lake after ice out on more than one occasion. Sometimes good. Sometimes not so much. But always good to get back on the water.
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[#0000FF]The attached picture is of one of those days when there was a lot of pieces of ice floating around...as well as some big sheets. And when the wind changed and blew all the ice back in around the south marina I had to throw up a roostertail in my tube to get back in before I got cut off.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]As I recall, you had to go clear to the south marina one time to call someone to come get you when you got closed out of the north marina.[/#0000FF]
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#19
You wrote:

"...I had to throw up a roostertail in my tube..."

What can I say? You're supposed to take the feathers off before you eat the chicken? I've heard of the ancient Romans using feathers to make themselves throw up so they could go on feasting? I hope you missed your electronics?

Maybe if I had gone fishing today I wouldn't have enough energy to be a smart a.
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#20
[#0000FF]No - no - no. You completely misunderstood. I was referring to the little known practice of tossing chicken feathers in the air to appease the weather gods. It is more of a float tube thing so I wouldn't expect a bank tangler to understand.
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