Speaking to a Finnish colleague, it appears that many deaths are caused each year by ice-fishermen falling through holes drilled by other fishermen, which have crusted over with ice (the holes, not the fishermen).
The solution is simple - a parachute harness arrangement with a large, rigid tutu worn around the waist.
For strength and light-weight, the garment is made from titanium, and comes with optional CO2-filled floatation collar, for really big holes.
This doubles as a self-righting mechanism, and could be used to power the trapped fisherman from the icy grip of the lake, like a cork from a bottle.
-- AbsintheWithoutLeave, Apr 11 2008

You (or your Finnish friends, at least) need one of these Ice_20Sonar
[DrCurry, Apr 11 2008]

Turn-alone turn-alone
A venerable and worthy idea [nineteenthly, Apr 12 2008]

Yes, i can't think of any reason why that shouldn't work. The titanium would also resist corrosion from salt water. There could also be a second tutu underneath held in place by something water soluble which was under tension and sprang downwards once the adhesive dissolved, catapulting the wearer our of the hole. Then again, you'd have to be careful not to break the ice that way.

How about it also rolls outward so that the weight is evenly distributed enough to prevent the jäääärne breaking?
-- nineteenthly, Apr 11 2008


Why can't the fishermen just paint a fluorescent orange circle around their holes? Then that should show through the new ice.
-- DrCurry, Apr 11 2008


A newfie is cutting a new hole in the ice to go fishing when a loud booming voice from all directions informs him that "THERE ARE NO FISH HERE."

The Newfie looks up and says "How'd you know that then?"

The voice returns with, "IT'S MY RINK."
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Apr 11 2008


hehe, [2 fry] :)

These guys should also wear an ordinary life preserver, and the Ti Tutu must be breakaway, with a quick release. Otherwise Finnish fishermen may get trapped in their tutu.
-- Amos Kito, Apr 11 2008


Couple with two-stroke driven, backpack-mounted propellor and you have an ice fishing transport system, n'all.
-- calum, Apr 11 2008


Those finnish fishermen would be finished, then.
-- RayfordSteele, Apr 11 2008


It should have // something contracting / expanding as it heats up, "metal memory"? // or cools down. See link.
-- nineteenthly, Apr 12 2008



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