Effect of Skidding Variables 



Based on the coefficient listed in table 6, the following observations can be 

 stated : 



1. The rubber-tired skidder was underutilized. That is, the b^ coefficient is the 

 same for both directions of travel, emptied out and loaded in. Also, the number of pieces 

 per turn had less effect on travel time in for the skidder than for either of the other 

 two skidding methods. The average number of pieces per turn for the skidder was 3 times 

 more than for the horse and almost equal to the number for tractor skidding. 



2. The horse was utilized well because of the difference in b^ coefficient for 

 time out (0.1 min) versus time in (0.6 min), per hundred feet of skidding distance. 



There was no appreciable difference for steepness of skidding, except the upper portion 

 of unit 3, to permit any comparison of grade effect on skid time. 



An important part of this study was to determine the capital investment levels to 

 achieve different production levels. As it turned out, there were only two different 

 levels of investment. Production levels, as measured by number of pieces skidded per 

 day or cubic volume skidded per day, varied considerably. Table 10 is derived from 

 table 8 and cost determinations in the appendix. 



Table 10 shows: 



For horse skidding, 



60 percent of investment for skidder will produce 



74 percent as many pieces per day or 



78 percent of the daily volume for the skidder. 



For the small farm tractor, 



60 percent of investment for skidder will produce 



67 percent as many pieces per day, or 



64 percent of the daily volume for the skidder. 



Table 10 .--Production and capital investment comparisons 



Capital Investment and Production Efficiency 



Method 



Skidder 



Horse 



Tractor 



No. pieces/day 

 % of skidder 



168 

 100 



125 

 74 



112 

 67 



Cubic feet/day 

 % of skidder 



795 

 100 



621 

 78 



505 

 64 



Investment (dollars) 

 % of skidder 



2, 500 

 100 



1,500 

 60 



1,500 

 60 



16 



