In this section of our directory, we will discuss the equipment, gear, and accessories used in ice yachting, also known as ice boating. Ice yachting involves sailing on ice using a craft supported by metal runners, recreationally or competitively.
Ice yachting combines the thrill of sailing with the challenges of gliding over frozen water. This requires specialized equipment and gear to ensure performance and safety.
The primary component in ice yachting, of course, is the ice yacht itself, a harness, and a helmet. The ice yacht is a lightweight, high-performance vessel designed to glide over ice at high speeds. Typically, ice yachts feature a narrow hull, a mast, and sails. The harness secures the sailor to the yacht, while helmets protect against potential impacts.
Early ice yachts were simple wooden sleds with sails, sometimes called sail-sleds. These early designs were rudimentary and lacked the sophistication of modern ice yachts. As technologically advanced ice yachts became more refined, incorporating materials such as aluminum and fiberglass for enhanced performance and durability. Today's ice yachts are highly engineered, with aerodynamic designs and advanced materials that promote higher speeds and better maneuverability.
Modern ice yachts can achieve impressive speeds, often reaching up to 60-70 mph.
Ice yachts are categorized into different classes based on their design and performance characteristics, including IceOptimist, International DN, Monotype XV, Nite, Renegade, and Skeeter. However, the latter three are regional, primarily in North America.
The IceOptimist is a youth iceboat class that uses the sails and the rig of the International Optimist dinghy with scaled-down elements of a DN.
The International DN class is the most popular in North America, Europe, and Asia. It is a one-person wood boat twelve feet long, a cross-plank eight feet long, and a 16-foot mast.
The Monotype XV is a stern-steering iceboat that may be single or double-handed. The One-Design class is built according to close specifications, which hasn't changed much since the 1930s.
Nite is a class of iceboat that has a two-seat side-by-side fiberglass fuselage and a 67-square-foot sail and is also built according to tight specifications.
The Renegade class is a home-built iceboat whose prototype was designed to be carried atop an automobile. It has a 67-square-foot sail on a flexible aerodynamic spar.
The Skeeter class is divided into subclasses A, B, and C, all of which are limited to 75 square feet. A-class boats may be single or two-place tandem with a mast that does not exceed 28.5 feet. They may incorporate carbon fiber construction. B-class boats have seats for two, side-by-side. C-class skeeters may be single or two-place tandem with a mast that does not exceed 20.25 feet.
Ice yachts are produced by several manufacturers. Some of the major ones include the Ice Yacht Club of America (IYCA), the Ice Yacht Society of America (IYSA), and North Sails. The IYCA produces popular ice yachts used in competitive racing, while the IYSA offers a range of ice yachts for both competitive and recreational use. North Sails is a well-known sail manufacturer that provides sails for ice yachts.
These and other manufacturers of ice yachts, whether for competitive or recreational use, are appropriate for this category, along with those producing different products for ice yachting. Retailers focusing on ice yachts, equipment, and gear may also be listed here.
Recommended Resources
Formed in 1995, Composite Concepts has grown to become a major supplier of composite masts, ice boat runners, custom hulls and planks, components, and hardware to a worldwide market. Located in Clinton Township, Michigan, the company produces DN ice boats, the largest class in the world, and, according to the website, the DN is the only current design offering truly international racing, with active fleets throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and Russia. Orders for a new boat may be placed.
https://www.iceboatracing.com/
The North Sail All Speed (AS) sail is designed for heavy air and clean ice. Powerful enough to accelerate the boat off the line, it rapidly flattens out to reduce drag. Standard features include full battens, leech battens, country code, sail numbers, trim stripes, insignia, visibility window, and roll bag. It is available for sale online, along with North Sail's other products. A store locator, sail material guide, repair services, and new sail quotes are also available.
https://www.northsails.com/en-us/products/dn-iceboat-as
An iceboat is a hull attached to a perpendicular cross piece called a runner plank. Three skates, or runners, are attached to the boat, one on each end of the plank and at the fore end of the hull. Iceboats are strictly wind-powered and need relatively snow-free ice to sail. This site offers information about iceboats, including plans for building one and a section for buying or selling an iceboat or gear. Ad submission guidelines are posted, and links to iceboat suppliers are included.
https://www.iceboat.org/buyandsell-2/
Offered by Windward Boatworks, a Princeton, Wisconsin company specializing in Butterfly Sailboats and parts, which they have been building since 2006. The Skimmer 45 is designed to be easy to use, fast to set up, and small enough to easily transport. It is one of the few iceboats with pedal steering and wide and soft seating. The new Skimmer 45 package is complete and ready to go, so it does not require self-assembly. Contact data is published on the website.
https://www.windwardboatworks.com/lockley-skimmer-45-iceboat/
Northwind Iceboats is a company based in Hanover, Massachusetts, and it is known for its iceboats. Its website included several photographs of its boats, weather information, news and announcements about currently available products and policy information, and a price list of available iceboats and iceboat parts and components. The company's address, office and cellular phone numbers, fax number, and email address are provided, along with links to other online iceboat resources.
http://www.northwindiceboats.com/
