New Scoot

[Does’ Leap]

I recently finished construction on a 12′ scoot made from entirely from ash. It was a fairly straight-forward process, but time consuming. It was rewarding to see the process through from stump to finished product. I used elements of plans drawn up by Les Barden and an article I found in the Small Farmer’s Journal as well as some of my own modifications. You can see pictures of the scoot here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/doesleap/Scoot?authkey=Gv1sRgCIScppHd5b-A-wE#

There is a lot of hardware in this scoot. One way I saved money was to purchase 1/2″ and 3/8″ threaded rod to make my own bolts by welding on the nuts to one end. This process also gives you the flexibility of cutting the bolts to length.

Here is an attachment of some plans drawn up by Mark Cowdry based on a single horse (10′) scoot made by Les Barden. I will look up the article in SJF for those who are interested.

George

[Rick Alger]

Nice job.
Where were you able to get six inch rings?

[mitchmaine]

a worn out set of skidder chains makes a good supply of nose rings.

[Does’ Leap]

Rick, I bought the rings from Berrybrook Ox Supply out of NH. They were around $30 for the 2 of them including shipping.

George

[Rick Alger]

Thank you, George and Mitch. I scrapped an old set of ring chains about a year ago. Ugh.

[mitchmaine]

Hi george, nice scoot. I like the stake pockets. I’m rebuilding an old scoot now.
This has to be a very primitive tool. Refined by time and as efficient as could possibly be. Differing in locale by small degrees, but one scoot looks pretty much like them all. And all the scoot builders over the ages have tried their own ideas and tossed out the bad ones that didn’t work.
Unfortunately for us they left no record, except for the scoot as is. That said, I thought I might try something a little different, probably tried hundreds of times and rejected. But no one left word as to why, so I have to try it to find out why. Instead of putting on the traditional 4×4 shoe, I’m trying a 4×6 on flat, beveled like a true moccasin runner (without iron) to see if it floats a little better in deep snow (which we have). The locals pinned with 1” oak pins drove up through the shoe and runner, split, wedged and driven home. Trimmed off top and bottom, it wears with the shoe and drives out pretty easy.
i posted a photo in the gallery of the runners.
Nice job on your scoot.

mitch

[Does’ Leap]

Mitch:

I like the idea. Let us know how it works.

George

[Author]

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