Need ideas to build a "stone boat"

[rfc143]

Having an excavator guy come this fall to build several terrace walls of big stones I have about 150' away from where they'll be used. He could probably ferry them from yonder but want to stockpile them close to where they'll be used. Most, I can't lift with the FEL (grapple claw), but can roll with the open claw dragging backwards.

I understand that in the old days, farmers built "stone boats" to sled them out of their fields. Does anyone have any modern ideas to build such a sled. Material of choice would be steel, but never seen one in use currently (well, in spite of my age, I've never seen one in use ever, lol!) Ideas?

 

[4570Man]

Need ideas to build a "stone boat"

An old car hood maybe? Or a small tilt deck trailer with a piece of plywood screwed on it to protect the deck?

 

[Captain Dirty]

I understand that in the old days, farmers built "stone boats" to sled them out of their fields. Does anyone have any modern ideas to build such a sled. Material of choice would be steel, but never seen one in use currently (well, in spite of my age, I've never seen one in use ever, lol!) Ideas?

Before tractor, when I used chains and a 2000 lb. come-along, I made a "toboggan" from a 275 gal. oil tank. I cut the tank to have the flat side with about 1/3 of the curved top or bottom and welded a piece of pipe somewhat longer than the sled was wide to the upturned edge, looped a chain around the pipe, behind the boulder, around the pipe and joined the ends with a shackle to which I attached the come-along. Other end of the come-along was hooked to another chain/rope/cable and led around a tree. Frozen ground and a dusting of snow was helpful.

After tractor, at first I rolled boulders too big to get into the FEL. When I got forks I found I could lift more as the boulder was closer to the pins, and even when I couldn't lift the boulder I often could use the forks as skids to slide it.

 

[Buxus]

I use an old pickup bed liner as a sled for hauling logs brush out of the woods where I am afraid to bring my tractor tires for fear of punctures. I also use it to pull brush up steep slopes that i can't put the tractor on. It slides like its on ice. Cheap and easy, two of my favorite words.

 

[LouNY]

Our stone boats had a steel front nose with planks bolted to the sled nose.
There was a small gap(3/8" or so) between the planks for dirt and dust to fall back down thru
This link has a picture of the older cast nose our last one was shaped steel.
Remembering the Stone Boat - Equipment - Farm Collector Magazine

 

[/pine]

"stone boat" is another name for an "OLD" car hood just about anywhere in the south...If you can find an old Studebaker hood it doesn't get any better...(they will dent your tractor )

 

[rfc143]

A car hood! Of course. Unfortunately, they're all made out of tin foil now days. I'll start looking. Would a sheet of 10 ga steel work? Perhaps reinforce the hole in the end with thicker steel?

 

[bcp]

I may make one someday. It will be a two-piece design, like this old one. No loading needed. Place it around the rock, then pull. It closes under the rock.



Bruce

 

[bcp]

Another simple design, using a small piece of thicker steel than a car hood.



Bruce

 

[quicksandfarmer]

I moved some stones that I estimated were about double my lifting capacity using a sheet of 1/2" plywood. I just drilled two holes in it and tied a heavy strap. I rolled them on with the FEL. It worked great when there was about 2" of snow on the ground, although heavy grass would probably be good too. I don't know how long it would last but it lasted for the stones I had to move.

Read more here: https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/268353-lovely-weather-sleigh-ride.html