Another Thank-you to Steve Sanford

S

Steve O

Active member
Maybe about a year ago I noticed some Steve Sanford posts concerning bank spikes, and made a mental note to try making one.

Well I still haven't gotten one done, but on the final waterfowling trip of this season I got an idea for improvising one. I usually take about a 3-foot piece of re-bar in the boat, which I slip in the space between one of the rear boat handles and the stern, and then push into the mud to keep the rear of the boat from swinging.

This most recent trip, however the bay bottom below the stern was just about all rocks, and the re-bar would not hold in it, so instead I pushed the rebar into the soft bank, tied one end of a rope to the boat's grab rail, and tied the other end of the rope to the rebar.

This worked really well. It was much better and easier than the through-the-handle method, especially as the water level changed with the rise and fall of the tide.

So there's one more Steve Sanford contribution for which I'm thankful.

Seems like it's a good time to but the bank spike project at the top of the hunting to-do list.
 
I use a broken shovel handle that I made a point on. The handle allows you to twist and "crank" the boat in towards the marsh, tight. Low tech and very functional.
 
Good morning, Steve~

I'm glad my "bog spike" info has been helpful.

I began with Oak stakes - but later switched to steel rods. The smaller dimensions (cross-sectional area) of the rods makes it easier to shove them into - and remove from - the bog, especially when the bog starts to freeze.

All the best,

SJS

 
Guess it's wise to try a few experiments. Got a busted aluminum snow shovel that might be just right for this project. Glad I was too lazy to throw it away, er, I mean had the foresight to put it aside.
 
Yesterday I was out on the marsh alone gunning for geese and the wind was blowing quite hard out of the NW...The bottom where I was setup was just too mucky for my poles to hold the boat steady...Out came the bog spikes...no more holding issues,,
 
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