Ice Boating Video

[Smith Point]

"Cool" video how fast do those things go?

[Gatto Nero]

That looks like a blast. Beautiful pieces of equipment too. I assue they are ll hand made???

[NoBozo]

Originally Posted by Smith Point

"Cool" video how fast do those things go?

The smallest (and most popular) class is the DN Class which can go 60+mph. More wind..faster they go..until you break something, capsize, or run out of ice. The bigger ones, being wider are more stable and can go faster..maybe a 100 mph or more. The ones with the enclosed cockpits and "Wing Masts" are..hopefully... the fastest. ...130..??

With the advent of carbon fiber for masts, the speed, handling and COST go up. Notice how "bendy" some of those masts are.

Nearly all the boats were hand made by the owners. You can buy used DNs from $1500 and up to 4 or $5000 if they use high tech materials. Many owners keep their boats for life..or until they get too old to assemble and sail them.

Every time you go sailing you have to carry the pieces of the boat down to the ice from the truck or trailer and assemble the boat on the ice. BIG boats are faster, but the pieces are heavier and more labor intensive to put together. Then when you are done sailing, you have to dis assemble the boat and load it back on the truck. A big boat can take an hour or more to put together...with help from other sailors. "I'll help you if you help me" is how it's done.

Once it's all put together...Then the fun starts. On a windy day, the acceleration out of a tack can be phenominal...and only the whistling of the wind past your helmet and the "Klakitty Klack" of the runners over the ice.

I just sold my DN after sailing it for over 40 years. All varnished mahogany and sitka spruce. NB