NunavutPA-12
FRIEND
67.8N,115.1W CYCO Canada
I have an exp. PA-12-160 with flaps, -18 gear and tail. It was built in 1998 and has always been on straight floats.
I just committed to a set of Datum 3000 wheel-skis. Now more expenses loom:
I have the standard gear with die-spring shock struts, 8.50 x 6 tires, Cleveland wheels and brakes. The 8.50's will have to go in favour of a smaller tire for the skis.
1) Eventually I'll probably want 3-inch extended gear, but that means new shock struts too. Stick with the standard gear for now or bite the bullet on the gear and struts? Is the perfomance penalty so severe with the standard gear that I really "need" 3-inch extended gear right off the bat?
2) Engine heater: here I could save money by using a cheap car heater at the (un-heated) hangar or a catalytic heater when overnighting in the boonies. I like the Reiff system and it's not a huge expense. Advice?
3) Covers: I can really cheap-out in this department. I may not need wing-covers in this climate with our very dry snow and not much of it. A broom is cheaper but what's the wise men say? Engine covers I can make out of cheap sleeping bags. Or.... just order proper covers? Again, not a major expense. Prop covers too, I guess.
4) Need more cabin heat. Thinking of a muff on each tail-pipe (cross-over, muffler-less exhaust). Advice? Has anyone tried to scavenge heat from the oil cooler?
5) Of course, using any kind of electrics for engine pre-heat will mean getting a small generator. More expense and a lot of weight to carry around.
I just committed to a set of Datum 3000 wheel-skis. Now more expenses loom:
I have the standard gear with die-spring shock struts, 8.50 x 6 tires, Cleveland wheels and brakes. The 8.50's will have to go in favour of a smaller tire for the skis.
1) Eventually I'll probably want 3-inch extended gear, but that means new shock struts too. Stick with the standard gear for now or bite the bullet on the gear and struts? Is the perfomance penalty so severe with the standard gear that I really "need" 3-inch extended gear right off the bat?
2) Engine heater: here I could save money by using a cheap car heater at the (un-heated) hangar or a catalytic heater when overnighting in the boonies. I like the Reiff system and it's not a huge expense. Advice?
3) Covers: I can really cheap-out in this department. I may not need wing-covers in this climate with our very dry snow and not much of it. A broom is cheaper but what's the wise men say? Engine covers I can make out of cheap sleeping bags. Or.... just order proper covers? Again, not a major expense. Prop covers too, I guess.
4) Need more cabin heat. Thinking of a muff on each tail-pipe (cross-over, muffler-less exhaust). Advice? Has anyone tried to scavenge heat from the oil cooler?
5) Of course, using any kind of electrics for engine pre-heat will mean getting a small generator. More expense and a lot of weight to carry around.