Posted by Mike Field on June 15, 2010 at 16:05:09 user mikefield.
In Reply to: Re: Splatcher construction posted by andyb on June 15, 2010 at 06:23:33:
Look at the linked thread, Posst #24 - #29.
I tried making up some splatchers several years ago. Mine were elliptical and made from ply with 1" cleats underneath to stop them sliding round on the mud. Unfortunately the cleats didn't work to do that at all, and essentially they might as well not have been there.
I concluded that without a doubt suction is the biggest problem to overcome, and perhaps your willow wands might succeed in working where the ply didn't. On the other hand, the bearing area would be considerably reduced so you might find the whole splatcher sinking under your weight. Definitely worth trying, though.
In some cases the best answer is to simply leave your feet bare. But in my case much of the water was dotted with mangrove roots, on each of which small barnacles were growing. Ouch. So in summer I used light canvas deck shoes with holes cut at the toes to let the water drain out, and in winter ordinary sea-boots. As Clencher says in Post #29 at the link, they need to be tied on to overcome the suction problem.
Let us know how you get on.