Wick drain shoe systems and methods

A wick drain shoe adapted to be connected to a free end of a length of wick drain material and driven by a mandrel of a wick drain insertion system, the wick drain shoe comprising:

• a base portion defining first and second connection openings, and first and second base surfaces;
• and
• an extension plate defining first and second shoe openings, and first and second connection projections;
• wherein
• the extension plate is arranged on the first base surface such that the first and second connection projections are arranged at least partly on the first base surface and at least partly within the first and second connection openings;
• each connection projection is welded to the base portion such that the extension plate is secured to the base portion, an anchor portion, and a bearing portion;
• the wick drain shoe is adapted to be connected to the wick drain material by inserting the free end through the first and second shoe openings such that the anchor portion and bearing portion engage the wick drain material when the wick drain material is under tension;
• and
• the first surface of the base portion is sized and dimensioned to engage the mandrel such that displacement of the mandrel in a first direction causes displacement of the wick drain shoe in the first direction.