The name "Karakat" comes from Russian. I don't know what this word "Karakat" means in Russian, or why it's called that, but this is how the fishermen from the "Peipsi" lake call this vehicle. Although it does have a proper Estonian name too - "Kummij(y)uku". It seems like the Russian name "Karakat" is adapted also to Estonian language lately.
I've heard, that there's a fish, that have similar name "karakat" ..or "karakatitsa" or something like this in Russian. And the Karakat is named after that fish.
To put it simple. Karakat is a (usually homemade), light ice/snow vehicle, that have light balloon tires. Often, big tractor's inner-tubes are used.. together with some light protective layer on the contact area. But actually, airplane's tires are preferred.. Airplane tires are very durable and light. They last well, even after there are pieces cut out from sides, leaving innertube exposed, with only strips of tire on sides to hold the contact are on place.. It's all done to decrease weight.
Earlier Karakats (Kummijukus) were mostly three-wheelers, built on motorcycle base... While passionate inventors, have gone further and constructed all kind of Karakats.. Four, six or maybe even eight wheelers. The motorcycle based Karakats have almost extincted these years, I think. Current Karakats might look rather something like all around cars... Yet, fishermen use these vehicles to go fishing from ice, at winter. So they obviously prefer something bigger, car like, with proper cockpit, where's warmth inside ..the big balloon-tires help it to float when ice should crack.. it's main purpose is still to go to fishing on ice at winter, even when it looks like allarounder..
Here are some videos of Karakats, that I found from youtube.
A typical three wheeled karakat.
A little girl is driving a karakat.
This video demonstrates the performance of a Karakat, in deeper water. Although it really does float. I think this certain subject, is better off from deep water. While siting so deep in water, there's no way it could crawl back up from the edge of ice on it's own, when it should fall to a ice-crack. Not even when 3x3 drive, propeller, studs and paddles were added. :)
Karakat in bog.
Three-wheel drive. (3x3 drive!)
Similar vehicle as karakat (Probably it's called differently, but it's very cool.)
Parrade of karakats. (In Russian only)
Comments
Thanks, nida.
That Saudi car is cool too, but I think it's more like a rally car, than karakat.
I suppose, that also Karakat could really be used to ride in desert, but it might need better protection against dust there, than the ones used to drive on snow, because, when sand finds it's way to inside of mechanic, it will wear all parts very quickly.
I don't know how light that karakat in second video can be. But it must be pretty light when that man stayed back up while laughing... It does look like one of the lightest karakat. Maybe it's less than 200kg.. maybe more.. Surely not over 400Kg. It all depends the materials used to build it.
But Even if it wasn't very light, the weight that man had to bear, is only 1/4 of the whole vehicles weight.. Because it's divided to all 4 wheels. And since the tires are soft and wide, that weight is spread over larger area of the mans body.. If it had usual hard and narrow tires, it could be painful.. I think.What an informative and interesting blog, Hardi! Thanks a lot for sharing.
I loved the second video. BTW does it mean that KARAKAT is so light weight? Boy under its weight was laughing and smiling.
And as far as remember, I saw a video sometimes back, in which a vehicle very similar to KARAKAT was shown. People were using that to move in the sand of dessert.
Thank you so much again for sharing with us. I really enjoyed reading and watching it.