Pattens: Walking on Mud

[vtsteam]

Problem was, drought dried up my local fishing hole so bad I couldn't launch my boat, even though it doesn't weigh much. There was soft mud covered by a thin layer of water out 100 yards to clear water. Boots sank to their tops two feet out. Even right at the shoreline they got sucked right down.

[vtsteam]

What's a guy to do? Well, grab an offcut of 1 by 12 shelving, some nylon anchor line and some sheet rock screws and start making pattens:

[vtsteam]

Some cleats on the bottom, and stopper knots:

[vtsteam]

Ready to tie one on.  And my trusty staff lying in the shoreline grass:

[vtsteam]

First a hitch around each of the side bands, then set your boot back into the middle. Then cross the ends over the top:

[vtsteam]

Take an overhand hitch across the boot, then tuck the bitter ends back down around the side bands and bring them up again:

[vtsteam]

Now tie a second overhand over the top:

[vtsteam]

And make it a square knot, or reef knot depending on 'yer linguistic preference, and 'yer done! 

[vtsteam]

Time to take a stroll:

[vtsteam]

Doing the muckedy two step. Staff is essential to test the depth (mud was as much as 3 feet thick, and at times it poked through a floating vegetative and peat layer to water beneath. Caution needed!)

[vtsteam]

Surveying one's domain. No one about on such a nice day for a perambulation....

[awemawson]

You made yourself some ‘Camel Feet’ 

If it works in dry sand in the desert then why not ! I’ve seen pictures of what is essentially the same idea woven from thin willow into very large surface area ‘shoes’

Did you get your boat launched?

[pycoed]

Reminiscent of punt-gunners pattens used by commercial duck shooters to push a punt over mud flats to get in range of the quarry. Full instructions available in Col Hawker's " Instructions to Young Sportsmen" from around 1850!

[John Rudd]

Yer a braver man than I Gunga Din….

Well done Steve, not summat I’d try…

[Sea.dog]

 

[awemawson]

Graham they show up on my iPad but not my laptop so it's probably a browser issue.

[Sea.dog]

I thought it strange that you hadn't included any, Steve. But no indication even that there is an attachment 

[Sea.dog]

I don't know why this forum gives me so many headaches. Looking at the page source the links are all there. A nice solution, Steve 

[tom osselton]

Some mud out here just grabs and holds on ( too much clay) one guy I know left his bike standing up while he got help to get it out.

[vtsteam]

Thanks guys! I did not try launching my boat yet for the trial -- I wanted to test the waters, get my feet wet, do a dry run, not muddle things on a first outing with a sink or swim attitude, instead tread softly while taking my first steps.......if you know what I mean!

I wanted to be cautious, and definitely, there are many different kinds of mud. This trial was successful, but I did find that the bottom slope was so slight, I'd have to walk a long distance with the boat to find enough depth. In some ways a rapidly sloping shore would be easier, and provide more confidence. If we get more rain, it will also be easier/closer. So I'm going to give it a wait for a couple inches more depth.

(re. normal http linked photos not seen by some browsers.... see https://www.madmodder.net/index.php/topic,13481.0.html)

[vtsteam]

I thought these might be of interest. Book cover:

 

And I like these. They seem to be shaped with some thought, rather than the usual squares. Notice also how far forward the boot is placed. The weight is at the forward portion, which sinks deepest, The tail end is more easily lifted after the stride, breaking suction. The tails are also narrowed, and the rope bands are very far forward. These are thin ply, and looking at how they stack, it doesn't seem like they have cleats on the bottom.

 

[awemawson]

Had a good holiday there about 20 years ago when the children were younger and still at home, but my transport was an inflatable Zodiac with a small outboard on the back ! Chichester itself was suffering from significant flooding at the time.