Buoyancy Question

[TheWinnieArgo]

I have a 6x6 argo with plastic tracks. I am ~250# and when I take the argo in the water it has zero propulsion. Is this due to the tracks? Do I weight to much? Is there a solution to increase buoyancy so the top of the tracks do not touch the water offsetting the forward propulsion that the bottom of the tracks create, like it is supposed to?

Also any help with a good solution for when you break through the ice and you need to get back up on top of the ice but can "get over the lip"?

[amphibious drew]

It's the tracks. Adair tracks swim but not plastic tracks and only certain tires swim.

[Noel Woods]

It's the tracks. Adair tracks swim but not plastic tracks and only certain tires swim.

What he said.

[TheWinnieArgo]

Would Adair tracks help me claw out of broken ice or is that an entire other issue?

And thank you for the reply and help very helpful

[SHOTGUN]

I would never bank on being able to get out of ice with any track but it has been done. The first major problem is how you break through, if it nose dives or breaks in sideways the Argo will just fill with water and sink. Second you will need steel to try to climb out, you can add an aggressive cleat or pick to most tracks or have a steel crosser. Lastly if the ice is too thick or if there is a lot of snow on top the departure angle to climb is too steep and your stuck hopefully floating. A pushing stick will help to climb on the ice, it will give a lot more bite to the tracks than swimming would. Backing out usually works better, the back sits higher in the water. 8x8's will do better than a 6x6. Hope this helps, BE SAFE

[ARGOJIM]

Different issue, you would need ice cleats ( which may continue to chew at the ice), some people have experimented with different traction add ons which slightly help.

Look at all the track pictures in the gallery and read the captions, that should inform you of ideas that may or may not work. I would search supertrack and super track or Argo track as I seem to remember some alterations.

Member North Country Tough has been through so perhaps search for his thread, I'd imagine a grapple would be in order to aid if you could get it to catch something.