Reacher Posted April 3, 2018 Report Share Posted April 3, 2018 This winter I got a good taste of driving iceboats. DN, Nite, stern steerers. This made me wonder about how great it would be to build one from a BandB design. It's another sailing sport where building the craft would be the best way to own one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Designer Posted April 3, 2018 Report Share Posted April 3, 2018 Hey Beacher, I do not know anything about iceboats. I understand that the people who live in the frozen north get so bored in the winter that they become brave enough to face the cold and go sailing. Where I come from, ice is put to the more serious task of cooling drinks. Is it a boat if it does not float? Just kidding, but seriously I do not know anything about iceboats. I think that it would be had to beat a DN. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Lathrop Posted April 3, 2018 Report Share Posted April 3, 2018 Graham, I did not know anything about iceboats in 1960 when I built one in Northwest NJ, having never actually seen one. I must confess that I still don't know much more about them. My creation had angle iron filled sharp for runners and awning material for a lateen sail. Not fast but when ice crystals are hitting you in the face, you think its fast. So badly balanced that I had to recruit three kids to sit over the runners while hanging on to mast guy wires to get get decent steering. Yes, it was great fun until one day I was driven downwind fast, could not steer at all and rammed the dam, breaking the thing into many of its original parts. Last ice seen on my creek could not support a duck, which kept crashing through. Oh, and I also did not know how to sail either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reacher Posted April 4, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2018 Graham, thanks for responding. There's a Mini Skeeter with an unstayed carbon mast. And 50 plus year old designs that might benefit from updated construction techniques. And speed records to conquer. New territory for the Designer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Silsbe Posted April 5, 2018 Report Share Posted April 5, 2018 I agree with you, Beacher. The sport could use a little high-tech shot in the arm. But I don’t think these southern boys at B and B are willing to do the cold-weather research. I went into a very well-equipped fishing tackle shop in South Carolina. I told the owner he was lacking in one area— ice fishing tackle. He just gave me a blank stare. Frozen lakes are outside the realm of reality down in these parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAR Posted April 5, 2018 Report Share Posted April 5, 2018 From a marketing point of view a very narrow area of focus for plan sales Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve W Posted April 8, 2018 Report Share Posted April 8, 2018 This frozen northerner sees thinks the 11N sail would perform real well on an ice boat. My wife told me no more boats, but I'm not sure this would count. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken_Potts Posted April 8, 2018 Report Share Posted April 8, 2018 (edited) Why not just tie the boat to a sled? You might have to hike out a bit to stay upright but you'd be fine if you broke through the ice. Edited April 8, 2018 by Ken_Potts missed a word or two... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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