I think F3G is suggesting that a generous slosh of Avgas will melt the ice....and if it doesn't, the judicious application of a lit match will!
Gertrude:
Skis present a similar problem, power-check-wise. My experience was in a 180 Cub, by the time the mag check got to the "other" mag, I was already airborne!
Not having floated myself, I guess swinging the prop gets interesting from the right-hand float? (not in the Beaver, of course).
DT