Racers
Good luck this weekend in Vermont. May the ice and winds be ever in your favor.
Lake Wentworth
Resurfaced nicely but have not checked thoroughly yet. Safe sail but I’d like to check out Wolfeboro bay. Final weather check needed.
Skimming Wentworth
Lake Wentworth Update
Lake Wentworth Weekend Recap.
After the last resurfacing on lake Wentworth, things have been hopping for the locals. Yesterday had the first local fleet of skimmers circumnavigate the lake accompanied by a DN and a local Gambit that hadn’t seen ice in a couple years. The same basic group was there on Saturday as well. Friday was an instructional day as two newbies took to the ice. After a couple phone calls and texts, the father/son team showed up not only to sail but helped me load gear and setup ol’ 777. We played a little follow the leader to get the basics down with one on his own and the other with me in the sidecar on the super DN. The winds were light and the basics were soon under their belts and they both soloed. From there things just took off……..and the winds increased. A few tall hikes occurred to add to the thrill. Ol’ 777 however was showing her age as one side of the jaw boom broke and I noticed a crack in the tiller. Time for lunch anyway. While Nick and Ben sampled some local fair in town, a quick trip home procured a new boom and tiller. (I wondered why I kept those spare parts.) The afternoon saw more ice time and Ben even caught son drone video of dad. I think they’re hooked. I also met my neighbor who was out skating and almost have him convinced to give it a try. Might need to borrow a gambit for that intro. Sadly the fleet will leave the ice for a time til we see what the next system will bring. Locals are praying the Broads on Winni will catch and the big lake shall rise again!
Glad to hear so many people found local ice and had a great start to the new year. Time to touch up the runners and wait for round two. Remember to dress warm and sail safe.
Lake Wentworth
Lake Wentworth NH has resurfaced. Kiters were on it yesterday and a few boaters will be setting up today. Slight dusting should blow off and a few bumps from snow machines. Not fully scouted yet. Happy New Years. Square pond in Shapleigh, ME was sailed yesterday.
Toads wild ride!
4 brave souls with storm sails braved Lake Wentworth today for some playtime. Plenty of good ice but one sailor managed a runner in hole incident which resulted in a rapid disassembly of his craft. A sketchy tow back to the pits was accomplished. Be there tomorrow with a little less wind I hope.
Keeping the sport alive
Here’s the cover of this issue if Boathouse News from the New Hampshire Boat Museum with its new location in Moultonboro, NH.
I had the pleasure of restoring this wonderful old boat for the museum and it was used in last seasons ice boating display which included this one, a vintage DN, a Skimmer, and an ice Opti. I’d love to see a permanent section of the museum devoted to Iceboating.
Currently closed for the season and renovations, but will open in May. It’s really a treat to see the displays of boating in New Hampshire.
How much is enough?
Now that I have the first sail of the season out of the way, the question came to mind of how much actual sailing time is required to say that you did indeed sail? I skated Lake Wentworth on Tuesday, a little snow/rain came through Wednesday/Thursday and setup occurred on Friday with howling winds. An exploratory sail happened with my super DN and storm sail. Running loose sheeted I made several runs up and down one side of the lake. This probably took maybe 20-30 minutes. Shakedown run was good but winds were building so I parked the rig. I think I would have considered that a short but definite sail. Saturday I had a rehabbed vintage DN that I wanted to test drive. With no wind to speak of, I figured I could at least do a push test. However, as the telltale began to flicker, I thought perhaps it might be enough to move on the rough ice. After getting my sprint training, a zephyr came up and I made 3 runs of about 1/2 mile in length. Another little puff gave me 2 more. Not bad I thought with an untried heavy rig and a totally flat sail. The question is, did it qualify as a sail? How far or how long, does one need to be moving under wind power to qualify as a countable day of sailing? I recall one day at the end of last season where after pushing out of Wolfeboro bay, I managed a 1/4 mile run with one tack and almost made it back to where I started. Since no one else moved under wind power, I was told that indeed I had sailed. No one can dispute that a day of racing or completing the Hard Way indeed qualifies. But how about when everyone is rigged and the teaser gets you out just far enough so the “walk of shame” back to the staging area has to occur. This may be followed by a repeat scenario the next hour and so on throughout the day.
Regardless of how you want to qualify a day of sailing, you can simply state that you had a day of ice boating. This covers all the bases no matter what occurs on the ice. Even if the boat doesn’t get set up, it qualifies as a scouting trip. If there is no wind it, becomes an on ice tuning clinic and information exchange meeting. It may even turn into a food fest once the grill comes out. The end of the day watering hole can still be counted as part of the experience, wind or not.
As the season begins, may you have smooth safe ice, adequate wind, and great companionship whether it is a day of sailing or a day of Ice boating.
Season’s Greetings to all.
The Cost of Fun
I remember my dad pouring over this flyer sometime in the 1960’s just after he’d been bitten. He had already acquired the set of DN plans and was just figuring how to make it happen. I recall money being tight with a young family of 6 and a move to a new house which he had to finish the upstairs for me and my sisters. My mother was a voracious coupon clipper and many of our presents were bought with green stamps. We would rob piggy banks for a kiddie size ice cream at the, “Big Scoop” on Rt.1. The good news is we never felt poor. We had the basics and were creative in making our own fun with the rest of the neighborhood. They were good years for me. (The time warp thing.) let construction begin.l
The wood for a modified plan was relatively inexpensive but the high cost of the hardware needed some resourcefulness.
Imagine a pair of side chocks costing $8.00 whole dollars! The steering chock was another $6.00. A set of runners were almost unattainable at$40.00, $8.00 dollars more if you wanted a hardened edge. The sail added a whopping $100.00 to the bill. Now my dad was a pretty typical one if I remember correctly. The thing I admired most was his resourcefulness at making things appear. Bit by bit, parts started appearing. Not quite like the pictures, but close enough to know what they were supposed to be. It’s nice to know a welder now and again. With a set of welded chocks and some T iron runners, we set forth for the rest of the hardware. Blocks,(aka general store pulleys), galvanized cable with screw clamps, and a willing mother to try and sew a sail. We probably saved another $50.00 over this flyers cost. Yes the boat got made was a success, albeit limited.
I wonder what today’s prices are for the same parts. I often see old boats advertised for under $1000. And if you want the top end gear, 2nd mortgage time. All in all though it is still a relatively inexpensive sport…..unless you need to travel to find ice. Thank you to the racers and the great advancements to the sport. Everyone should drive a Ferrari some time. Frugal Yankees know that swaps are happening with some bargain prices on most anything boat related. If you travel with a trailer and want to checkout the Midwest area, you can come back with a fleet reasonably priced. And don’t forget the internet. Community sites and Marketplace have some great deals. I hope everyone who wants something new to add, can find it with no regrets for cost.
There’s been frost on the pumpkin for a few nights and it seems to be getting darker earlier. Look for the skaters to signal the start of the season.(They weigh less that an iceboat though.)
Think ice and I know some of you have seen this price flyer before. Let the show begin.
How can I fit it all in?
This not about my busy schedule and many varied hobbies and interests. It is about the laws of physics which states that no two objects can occupy the same space simultaneously . We then go on to learn that atoms are mostly space. Armed with that information we only need to figure out how to intertwine the atoms of those two objects to allow one space to be utilized to the max.
When I picked up roots in 1980 and headed west, all my worldly possessions fit into, (or on top of), my SAAB 99, including an extra kayak for a friend. Two of us lived in what was affectionately known the Wilson Boxes. Approximately 30×40 feet in size. No extra storage and I certainly wasn’t going to pay for a storage unit.
The next move to Alaska had an 8x8x6 foot high box trailer towed behind a 72 jeep wagoneer. My wife had a Subaru with a U-Haul behind. The move east in 1986 had the same box trailer, no Subaru, and we mailed about 25 max load boxes to our folks. Within 2 years we had built a nice log home and managed to fit everything in it. And then we thought, “Gee, wouldn’t it be nice if we had a garage to keep the cars in.” A 2 car size would take care of our needs, but what if we expanded to a 3 car for maybe a workshop and storage upstairs, just in case. Now you may be thinking this would be enough for any couple, but no. Two Rhino shelters were added as we settled into that phase of life where all your toys need a home. The good news is I’m beginning to reverse the trend at 73 years of age, however slowly.
So you may be wondering why I needed to set the stage for this post. It does have much to do with Ice boats during the 340 some odd days that they are not on the ice. They need to be put somewhere safe and sound through the summer heat and spring rains. This not only includes the hulls and gear but especially the sails which I believe are made with a mouse attractant that contains a trigger for mice to find entry into any container devised by humankind.
Show up at any race and you’ll find a variety of small cars with a DN strapped on top and so much gear inside that you need to drive on instruments. Some of these sailor live I. A small apartment. Or maybe a group has a communal trailer with half a dozen boats and gear secure and ready to go at a moments notice. But I digress, this is about the non sailing days. I had a wonderful little enclosed trailer that worked well for many years, I just didn’t dare to drive too far with it. It held 2 DNs and gear nicely. Then the children came and of course we tortured our two girls with every outdoor activity we could. This ment a new boat was needed and a Gambit became part of the fleet. With a sidecar added the whole family could go……..but a new trailer was needed. Then my first stern steerer entered the scene. It needed its own trailer, more space needs. That one now sail with the New York crew but a second one has a home at my place. The trailer for this one is multipurpose so it needed a summer home. The 2 skimmers recently added to my fleet will amazingly fit into our town and country van……..however the e bikes reside there in the summer.
So here is where it all fits in…for now. The super DN, my wife’s DN, and my BDX reside full time in the trailer minus the runners and sails. ( those are inside for rust proofing and mouse proofing.) the Skimmers hang on the garage wall over the 20 stern steerer on brackets. I have vintage DN parts stored out of wind and weather. I have one vintage DN that was on display at the New Hampshire Boat Museum that needs a home, with me or someone who wants to try the sport. Maybe in two years I’ll have reduced my accumulations to the point where the cars might fit back in the garage.
Not a bad system for me, but I hear there is swap coming up. I might need to call my sponsor for support for this addiction. Hope you manage to find all the gear for the year, maybe even all in one place with no rust and no mouse stains.
See you at the meeting.
Museum Finds
I’ll start by saying that in true frugal yankee form, I have not turned the heat on yet. I’ll hold out until October like the die hard I am. That being said, this little cold snap has many of us thinking ice already. I did move my trailer to assess the delaminating plywood covering and contemplating a more robust covering. (Okay I should have used marine ply.)
Any way, to get back to the title, I’d like to share a small display on Iceboating that I stumbled upon in a small museum in Mahone Bay , Nova Scotia. Our little camping excursion this year was the Cabot trail and following the coastline around the rest of Nova Scotia. Being a bit of a museum addict,( of certain genre) I caught several nice museums on this trip. Yes even the one on Rug Hooking in Cheticamp was nice. Yarmouth had a great one on the cod fishing industry and Lunenburg had a nice historical waterfront with a dory shop and a cooperage that is still making barrels with original machinery.
Mahone bay had just an older house of historical value and artifacts. I noticed two small models in a glass case and then caught the write up. It seems the bay would often freeze over and play time would occur. I was aware that the Maritimes did have ice sailors and often have seen their post.
I hope you enjoy this little display.
Think ice.
If you’re up around Lake Winnipesaukee, check out the iceboat display at the New Hampshire Boat Museum. There is also a steamboat gathering at Lee’s Mills on Winni and the classic/vintage race regatta is going on in Wolfeboro this Friday and Saturday.
Off Season
New Hampshire Boat Museum
The first advice I received when I retired was, “Don’t volunteer for anything for 1 year.” Good advice to give you time to prioritize everything on your retired “to do” list. I think I held out for 6 months. Anyway since I’d already done some stuff with the NHBM, I figured it wasn’t new so it didn’t really qualify. It started as 3 hours on Monday morning with a great group of retired boat people restoring wooden boats for the museum housed in the old Allen Albee summer resort in Wolfeboro, NH. Three hours a week wasn’t too much time to devote to something I liked doing and the coffee and donuts were good. 10 years later I realized my mistake! As anyone knows, volunteering for a worthwhile cause always exceeds the estimated time you feel you can give. Three years ago the museum acquired its new home now on route 25 in Moultonboro, NH. That’s up the north end of Lake Winnipesaukee. My 5 minute drive is now a forty minute drive. For some reason I don’t clearly recall, my wife and I became part of the exhibits committee as well. Notice how my free time is diminishing. To add to this, the new museum needed volunteers to refurbish the new digs to make it really look like a museum. Thus I was back to a 40 hour workweek, still fueled by coffee and donuts with a few nice lunches thrown in on occasion.
To get back to the title, my off season this year was to help with construction and design the ice boat display. Naturally I have my own vision of what it should be, but then reality hits with space, number and types of craft, and acquisition of said craft. The museum had a Marconi rigged stern steerer from a few years back. (It was one of my first restoration projects with them.) A sweet little number that is still ice worthy even with cotton sails. This was to be the focal piece and does have a commanding presence. Although I could have easily expanded to at least 20 boats, I don’t really have that much authority…….yet. A DN would obviously need to go in along with the “Blue Streak” development story. Luckily I had recently acquired one from the last NEIYA swap. I thought it should look pretty so after another 40 hr work week I think visitors will get the idea of what the early DNs were like. This one is estimated early ‘60s based on sail info. A future display may have a modern one for a compare and contrast exhibit. (Now if only power ball would pay off so I could afford one.) a third item ended up being my wife’s Skimmer. Newly powder coated red with a new sail. (See previous post on diy.) due to the ease of setup and small storage needs, hopefully we may see growing interest. Maybe even a Skimmer Hardway fleet. And finally a trip to NY to get a loaner Ice Optimist. Another few days of labor had this one looking spiffy too. Right beside it is an Optimist dinghy that was built in one of the museums classes and used in their sailing program. Maybe we can get some youngsters involved in our winter activity. Lastly I felt that a Hardway display was needed since, after all, this is Winnipesaukee territory.
So this is how I spent my off season. Okay I’ll add a trip to Vermont to pick up a gaff stern steerer, originally from this area. Hopefully we can get a group of locals to do like the Hudson River group does and get these craft back on the ice.
So if you find yourself in New Hampshire this summer, stop by to get a quick fix for your winter passion and to see a great display of watercraft related to the waters of New Hampshire. Nhbm.org is their website. Now I think I can finally start working on my own soft water fleet that I didn’t get to in my other off season. Happy summer and think ice, if only in your drink.
DIY
Iceboaters tend to fall into the DYIers of life category . Maybe it all started way back when with the Bluestreak 60 in Detroit, spurring on many home builders. A vast majority of ice craft that we see, tend to be either home built or purchased from a few skilled builders. Perhaps due to the limited time and places to sail, the sport has scared away the big factory entrepreneurs from hitting the market. Even to find the simple parts is becoming more limited. The first set of plate runners cost me $295 from that old reliable William B Sarns company. I’m not sure who produces them anymore. (I have a few sets so haven’t really been looking.) Thank you Northwind for picking up the slack out east for other hardware. Inset runners tend to be the most seen gear on the lakes, at least in the racing circles. The vintage sailors tend to brag about their “classic” gear such as cast iron, T iron, or iron shod runners, and of course their wooden mast. I will admit to not seeing too many cotton sail these days. I digress though. Even if you bought a starter boat, chances are you had some patching and painting to do. (Although I do know those who have hired this out.)
I think my DIY gene came from both my parents. My dad was a pattern maker by trade and had the tools and the knowledge to take a set of plans and produce a quality product. My mom was constantly sewing clothes for myself and 3 sisters. It only seemed natural that when I finally settled down in ice country that I make my own craft. With at least a dozen new craft and many more rehabs to my name, I still enjoy the Zen of the build. Whether it be hard or softwater, there is nothing half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. That includes building them too.
This season found me refinishing my super DN after 30 some years of use and abuse and sewing a couple of new sails. One for my wife’s Skimmer, and a second for my friends. (Sailrite gave a good deal if I bought 2 kits. Okay so I didn’t lay out the sails myself, although I do have the book showing me how.) so with the old office counter top revamped as a sewing table, two new sails were completed, in time for the last sail of the season. They’ll be all set for next year as long as they keep the mice out!
My wife drew the line at me buying tools for a metal shop, but I did acquire a stick welder that has produced a few usable items. The grinder helped too. A local, “Maker Space” does have a nice setup if I desperately need to manufacture an obscure part.
So if you have been blessed, (cursed) with the DYI gene, embrace it and set your mind for the meditative zen of Doing It Yourself.
Should I Stay or Should I go
Generally I’m not much of a traveler in my own mind. Having said that, I’ve lived in MA, NY, NH, GA, CO, WY, and AK. Ive been to Sweden, St. John and Vieques. Since my wife retired we have done road trips with our 13ft. Scamp camper at least one time, usually more per year. (Definitely not the rig in the picture.) We’re usually on the road from 4-6 weeks hitting National, State and town parks everywhere east of the Rockies and north of the gulf states. Slept in friend’s driveways, Walmart and Cabella’s parking lots, BLM lands, National parks and forests, and a few rest areas. The question is, Why do I find it difficult to load the iceboats up and head to where the ice is?
For some reason 1 1/2 hours seems to be my comfort level. That generally covers the Lakes Region of NH, down to the Mass border, west to the Vermont border and Sebago in Maine. 10 years ago following my retirement, (wife still working for 3 more years), I was enticed to load my DN on top of my little Scion XA and headed to Moosehead. (Thanks BIll for the incentive.) Two wonderful days of sailing and a great no wind day of skating was the reward. All on perfect black ice and temps that constantly hovered around ZERO F! For a couple years I checked out the Maine spots including Dami, Pushaw, and Sebago. On Pushaw, after everyone left on Sunday, my daughter joined me and we had the whole lake to ourselves, except for a scaled P-51 mustang that flew by us about 10 feet off the ice with the pilot giving us a friendly wave.
In these later years, (maybe influenced by the covid restrictions…..and aging bones), I find it hard to get the logistics out of the way to make longer trips, especially overnights. I am living a little vicariously through our compatriots out in the Midwest sailing on what seems to be a banner year for ice. I probably missed a good opportunity to load my stern steerer on the trailer and head down to sail with the Hudson River crowd. My local group always provide fun times in a variety of crafts and we welcome visitors from near and far to play on home ice. At the end of the day, the hot tub on the back deck and their warmth of the wood-stove are hard to beat for enjoyment. A little night cap, (for medicinal purposes), gives me about a 10 minute timeline before the eyes close.
I guess I just need to make that budget plan and commit to going on the road and sailing new ice while making new friends. I just need one of those autonomous vehicles with a bed in the back so I just set the auto pilot and wake up in the Midwest and just wait for the call to ice, somewhere within a hours drive.
Happy trails to all you road warriors, and be sure to post so I can see what I’m missing. It’s a great motivator. Now I guess I’ll go skiing again and pray for the thaw to happen, or maybe double check the trailer and how much money in the coffers.
Since the furry rodent saw his shadow, winter is still among us. Hope is still there. Happy Trails to you , whether on ice or traveling to.
New Month of Ice
Reports are a little grim for this time of year but hope springs eternal in the hearts of us ice sailors. Although the snows have been light, they seemed to have squelched many a sailing venue for the moment. Massachusetts has some potentials with Webster Lake as well as Quabog benefitting from the next system. Bob S. Reports there is plenty of ice, just needs a new surface. Meriden Pond and Bantam in Connecticut also sound like possibilities. Although our southern friends did get some sailing in, New Jersey warmed up a little too quickly. Some of the NY stern steerers even had ice time.
Good luck to the eastern crew who are trying to show them foreigners that we can indeed sail fast……..even if we don’t get a lot of practice.
Photo call out
I’m looking for photos from earlier Hardway runs on Lake Winnipesaukee. I’ve got some nice ones from like 2015 on but nothing earlier especially, from the first runs. I’d like to run at slide show for the iceboat display at the New Hampshire Boat Museum In their new building on rt. 25 in Moultonboro, NH. Thanks for any help. If you have an old print, perhaps a phone shot will suffice.
Thanks
So as the trailer lights are now fully functional, I was able to join the crowd at Elacoya, although on Sunday. I launched and crossed the infamous “moat” that seems to always appear here and made my way out at the end of the first race. It was then disclosed the racing was done. I hung around a got a few racing hints while the majority of racers packed up and headed back.
About this time my current sailing pal showed up and we decided to explore some. We’re a couple of locals and have spent more than a few days on Winni, as we affectionately know her as. Hoping the snow prediction was a big hoax, we’d thought to checkout a possible Hardway. I knew Wolfeboro bay was good so we headed to Parker island. Didn’t quite make it but that end of the route looked good but rough. Back for lunch, and with wind and ice holding well, we thought to head up to Meredith. Sailing inside the first moat we headed up along Welch and made it to tip of Governor’s Island. With the afternoon waning, we started back only to find a sweet plate to chase each other back and forth on. Finally calling it quits headed back and packed up. With a short trip around the lake get back home, we inadvertently made a right hand turn into the local watering hole, something like barn and girl or similar. So with a glass raised we saluted another wonderful day, “All By Ourselves.”
Like many of us, we are awaiting nature’s Zamboni to work its magic. As I like to say after a day like this, “That’s another day they can’t take away from us.”
Lake Wentworth.
Most of the lake s outed today. One small ridge that was slushy. The wind holes all seem frozen to a good depth. We tend to stay away from going between close islands.
So it’s a weekend update you want! Sorry I had a root canal on my mind.
Lake Wentworth had a wonderful and varied flotilla this weekend.
Yes snoopy was at it again along with 2 hammocks, 2 gambits, a few DNs both old and new and one lonely skimmer. 15 boats total on Friday with great ice. This old salt appreciated the break on Saturday to recover but would have traded no wind instead of snow. After a good scouting the fun began with some great speed on the hard ice. Several voiced the fact that they should have sharpened their runners. The wind provided the right direction for chasing down the enemy, oops competitors, on long tacks of catch me if you can. Enough space was given as well as turn warnings. A few passerby’s were treated to quite the winter sight of ice boats, wingers and free skates zipping hither and yon. About have the fleet left based on the snow prediction while the others covered things up and did the no snow dance. Some of us did the town of Wakefield’s Christmas tree bonfire and nightly festivities at Moose Mountain sledding hill. Sunday found just over an inch of light, white, powdery stuff. Checking the wind forecast, we felt we had time for a leisurely breakfast before the long 5 minute drive to the lake. Timing was about perfect as the wind built to a strength to easily push through the snow. It held until the glorious sunset that Wentworth is noted for. There are still 6 boats awaiting the next winds to hopefully sail the full lake with few hazards while we wait in hopeful anticipation for Winni to build depth.
ps. The root canal, 2nd for the same tooth, was a wonderful experience that everyone should have at least once in their lifetime. This is my fourth so I guess I’m good for a few more lifetimes.
Ready for more fun but I’ll need to start saving again for that carbon fiber mast. I probably could have bought a new class A skeeter by now with my lifetime dental bills. I wonder if all the Hawaiian Punch I drank as a child had any influence?
New England Ice Yacht Association 