Ice boat

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An Ice boat (more commonly spelled as one word - iceboat, once called an "ice scooter") is a boat or purpose built framework similar in appearance to a sail boat but fitted with skis or runners (skates) and designed to run over ice instead of (liquid) water, known in the sport as "soft water." Iceboats commonly used for racing are usually only for one person. However, several classes of two seat iceboats are common. On some boats, a "side car" can be fitted to take others along for a ride.

Traditional iceboats from the late 19th century were used for transportation and racing. These boats reached lengths of 30 to 50 feet and were transported between sites on rail cars. Sailing was done in several locations where the sport continues today with active clubs, including the Hudson River, Long Island Sound, Detroit, Sandusky Ohio, Gull Lake Michigan, Lake Geneva Wisconsin, Oshkosh Wisconsin, and others. These older large "stern steerer" iceboats can seat several in their "baskets." Several of these boats are maintained and raced today. The Northwest Ice Yacht Association sponsors an annual regatta that includes classes for these boats. This annual regatta recently celebrated its 100th anniversary.

Ice yachting is the sport of sailing and racing iceboats. A related sport, land sailing, are iceboats with wheels replacing the runners. A sport mostly practiced in the US on the western dry lake beds and in Europe, Australia and New Zealand on wide tidal beaches.

Ice boats have their history in wide, stubby, multi-runner vessels used in the 1800s. These early vessels were capable of operation on both water and ice and were used primarily for winter transportation and ice fishing.

Modern iceboat are supported by three skate blades called "runners" supporting a triangular or cross-shaped frame. Runners are sharpened to an fine edge which holds on the ice against the side force of the wind in the sails. The traditional stern-steered boats were largely replaced by front steering boats, following the development of this style in a boat named the "Beau Skeeter." This yacht appeared in the 1930's and became a class which adopted the logo of a mosquito. This boat led to the "Skeeter" class which evolved into a very efficient aerodynamically clean machine. Most ice boats are rigged as catboats, with a single sail, though some older larger classes are rigged as sloops (with a smaller jib sail forward of the mast).

A DN iceboat on Lake Balaton in front of Tihany

Contemporary recreational ice boats were originated around 1937. The Detroit News sponsored a competition for the best ice boat design, which became the International DN. Modern designs move as much as five times the wind speed and often achieve 100 km/h (60 mph) such as the such as the modern DN class boat, while the sleek Skeeters and older large stern steer iceboats can exceed 170 km/h (100 mph). Rumored, but unconfirmed, top speed of an iceboat is 150 mph. The stern-steerer "Debutaunte," currently being rebuilt, was holder of the official land speed record for any vehicle when she was timed over a measured mile at 143 miles per hour on the ice of Lake Winnebago WI in 1938.

Iceboats are not produced commercially on a wide scale, but remain largely the province of hobbyists and enthusiasts building with high quality wood and plywood and more exotic materials such as foam, carbon fiber, and fiberglass. There are no known governmental licensing or registration requirements. Several classes are organized and boats must conform to the rules of the classes in order to race.

The DN class is the most popular class in both the North America and Europe. It is a one-person wood boat twelve feet long with a cross "plank" eight feet long and carries a mast 16 feet high. Modern competitive DNs use flexible masts commonly of composite materials. See www.idniyra.org or www.icesailing.org.

The Skeeter class is divided into sub-classes based on sail area and some one-design classes have evolved within the Skeeter class. These include the Nite and Renegade, which have wide following, and several locally popular classes at iceboating locations. The International Skeeter Association holds an annual regatta to bring all the classes together to race. The skeeters have a limited number of rules, including a requirement for a cloth sail, and some restrictions on mast profile. Modern "E" skeeters are the fastest boats on ice. Some have fully-enclosed cockpits and mast heights up to 30 feet. The "E" class sail is measured at 72 square feet, which is the area of the triangle between the ends of the boom and the top of the mast. The actual sail area is much larger, as the "roach" of the sail outside this triangle is unmeasured.

Iceboating's popularity is primarily limited to the northern continental US and Europe, as few places elsewhere have ice thick enough to safely use the vessels for an extended duration. Despite that, regattas are held regularly, including world championships. In the United States there are active regattas around the great lakes from Detroit, MI, and Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire, to Lake Minnetonka in Minneapolis, MN the lakes surrounding Madison, WI, Pewaukee Lake near Milwaukee, WI, Lake Geneva in southeastern Wisconsin, Lake Winnebago Oshkosh, WI, several lakes in upstate New York and several Western Lakes. All are within the "ice belt" of approximately 40N Lat. to 45-50N Lat. where it gets cold enough to freeze water to several inches thick before snow covers them. There is an active group of sailors on the Chesapeake Bay, where sailable ice appears irregularly. Once a thick snow fall occurs, iceboaters must wait for the snow to melt completely then refreeze or travel to another lake/area. The preferred condition of "black ice" is smooth clear ice that has no snow and has frozen in a state of smoothness. Thus the far north cannot support iceboating well as the snow comes early and does not melt and further south the freezing does not produce safe ice.