Posted by Jon on January 04, 2005 at 12:49:08 from 151.121.50.1 user Jon.
In Reply to: Availability of Splatchers posted by Dave Thewlis on January 04, 2005 at 23:46:28:
The "water-covered" is definitely going to be part of the problem. The intertidal mudflats will have drained a little while submerged mud will have some of the characteristics of quicksand; the surrounding water will help "float" the mud grains; the extra resistance of the water above the splatchers won't help either; you won't be able to lift straight up because of the water resistance, while trying to slide the splatchers ahead is likely to dig them in deeper. The end result is that breaking suction between the splatchers and the mud won't be easy, while the soft, fluidized mud will be able to flow over the edges, further anchoring them. The pair Ian pointed to, with a textured base, might be able to break suction more easily; I suspect for these conditions, though, that splatchers would need to present a convex surface to the mud (reverse suction-cup) as well. Possibly a fine but strong mesh, more closely akin to traditional snowshoe construction or a wicker tray, would work better.