Glueing up toboggan recurve sections out of 5 pieces of ash. Next using a jointer then planer to get the correct width before routing a blend radius. Will use solid ash piece for straight sections.
The ash was harvested out of our yard by my son and air dried 2 years. We will be using UHMW or HDPE for the base . Will router out for webbing side grab handles and poly the wood .
The plastic has been cut and will be then screwed to the ash. Will be using solid fiberglass poles to go to a harness for skiing.

Previous version with less recurve

Keep the pics coming, great to see a work in progress.

wow, great project - please keep use updated as you make progress.

I've wanted to make one of these for a few years now! Looks awesome. Where did you end up getting your UHMW from?

I purchased my virgin UHMW from a local wholesaler in two different thickness, 1/8 and 3/16. Making a total of 7 sleds. We dipped all the side and cross rails in spar varnish, picture of them hung to dry.


We also are making our own poles and attachment points for the sleds. Hope to rail sleds on Wednesday evening. and take some more pictures. Sled bags are done and harness system yet to sew. Sled bags are 60" long main bag with two end pockets 4 " and 7" wide.
The main bag has 4 zipper pulls on the zipper, so you always have a pull at each end when closed up; so you can always open either end . With two additional pulls anywhere in the middle to open from the middle. end pockets each have two pulls.
Sewing zipper mitten size fobs
Making straps with quick release buckles with one end sewn with a large loop to girth hitch to side handles. Both the male and the female ends of the quick release buckles can adjust for tightening

Looking forward to seeing them put together with the tie downs and the tanks in place. Also curious to the harness system you've come up with. I'm sure it will be a good one.

Great project! I hate, though, to see someone use a jointer on a small piece with no pushblock.

Any final pictures of how you connected your sled? What is the tallest you would make your tanks to still maintain the proper center of gravity?

I looked for pictures and did not locate them. We used stainless steel wood screws we used a drill/ counterbore for the correct size #8 fastner. We clamped the wood to the sled base and used another 1" wide strip under the main sled base. Fasteners about 8-10" apart. The extra strip running the length of the sled helps keep the sled from sliding on side hills. The stainless steel screws wont rust but they are weaker than just steel wood screws.