Okay, so some of you have been on the ice already while the rest of us are waiting optimistically for that any day now moment to come. Many new comers who have just acquired a barn find or new to you boat, may be faced with the fact that the runners may not be all that sharp under those layers of rust. If you have some simple wood working skills and a belt sander, you can bring those blades back to life. Obviously the jig is geared for plate runners. Insets should have a more qualified person and device for that race quality edge. With hours of practice and a good light box, I have done a reasonable job putting a sharp edge and rocker using this set up. The rig is simple using a piece of 4×4 squared off, and scrap plywood. A few bolts are used to allow adjustments to get the edges parallel and even in height. The distance between the edges should be wide enough to allow the sander to sit flat and level but not slide off. I used a couple different sanders and they all seem to work with this setup. Warning! You want to remove the bag so sparks won’t set any residual sawdust on fire. I use belts that have passed their useful life for wood. Different grits can be used depending on how much you need to grind. I find a used 120 grit gives a pretty good final edge. Honing would be the final step if you feel you need that mirror image for that little extra speed.

With practice you’ll feel the best way to move the sander over the edges. Start with going the full length of the runners in a smooth movement. After about 10 sweeps I will flip the runners side to side and work on the matching edge. I also have a damp rag to keep the edges cool. Don’t destroy the temper. Adjustments can be made for areas that may need a little more material removed. Checking on the light box will give an idea how well it’s going. If you don’t have a light box, I have used the table saw top with a light behind it.

This method has worked for years with me but I’m just a cruiser and the edges seem sharp enough for my sailing. I hope this helps for those just getting started and may not be around someone with a fine detail machine.

Stay sharp and catch you on the ice……soon.

A good crowd showed up online last night most knowing that suitable ice conditions were a long shot. This was confirmed with a quick confirmation on a region-to-region basis. One location was a maybe and is being checked out this morning. Schroon Lake in the Adirondack region of NY might just have the goods we are seeking.

The Adirondack region came through last season when we were blocked out of our regular haunts. The area has a growing group of enthusiastic iceboaters who have been welcoming of their New England neighbors. Like many lakes, access can be a challenge, and respect for the launch area and surroundings is key.

Our Cruise Chair (south) Bob S. has secured access to Webster Lake from the launch at Waterfront Mary’s for this season. The owner noted that we as a group had been polite, policed our garage, and left her with a very positive impression of the NEIYA crowd. Once there is ice on Webster be sure to patronize Waterfront Mary’s.

Stay positive we have lots of winter to sail and will update you if the exploration of Schroon Lake turns out to be a GO for the weekend.

Think Ice,

John
DN5023
John@neiya.org

This cold snap has been making ice for us and we just need our usual conditional window to get out and sail. There is a general consensus that maybe just maybe there is a body of water that was just ready to turn when the snow fell and may get a chance to sail soon. Eyes are out from the Adirondacks across all of New England from the north down the shore. Could we see something happening on the Cape?

Snow covers much of our recent ice over most of the countries but that will melt or evaporate and this cold is increasing the thickness. The bigger lakes are cooling down awaiting our return to their launches.

Iceboating is about optimism. Sailing faster than the wind at one point the fastest human-piloted vehicle and still fastest without nonengine driven.

Remember our call tonight Thursday at 6:30 PM. If you forgot the number reach out to me. Bring your questions and thoughts for a short update on ice in New England and surroundings.

Think Ice,

John
DN5023
John@neiya.org

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Register Now and Save $50 for IDNIYRA North American Regatta!

BY DEB WHITEHORSE | JAN 16, 2024 | 2024, 2024 NA, HOME PAGE | 0 COMMENTS

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Secure your spot in the 2024 IDNIYRA North American Regatta and save $50 when you register early. Register here

On February 4, the entry fee will increase to $190.

Neat article here about iceboating on the Chesapeake; read and enjoy while we wait for good news from up north….

Thanks to Ed Thieler for sending the article in.

Think Ice!

The Chesapeake Log, Winter 2017 by Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum – Issuu

Greetings all just a quick reminder that we are holding our regular Thursday call @ 6:30 pm. Same number as usual. If you forgot the number reach out to me.

We hope to discuss some of the most recent ice reporting and maybe just maybe a sail before the weather once again turns on us.

It has been a tough beginning but we still have plenty of winter to go.

Think Ice,

John
DN5023
john@neiya.org

Some of us may be limited in our lifestyles, ie by not having storage room, or a car/truck big enough to haul our toys, or the size of our bank accounts. When it comes to ice fun, you don’t have to, “Go big or go home!” Whenever I could borrow my dad’s book, Ice Boating, by S. Calhoun Smith, I was drawn to these little guys. This looked about the right size for me, a ten year old, at the time. My dad was too busy building his rig, (see post First Ride) so I never mention the Icebird to him as a project. However being an aficionado of the unusual, this small craft was always in the back of my mind. Somewhere along the line I acquired a crude set of plans and in my adulthood built the, “Ironing Board” as my wife used to call it. I can’t say that it had many long distant voyages, but it was always an attraction when set up.

Obviously I took some leeway with the design, but it would still scoot around the ice fairly well. The size was agreeable to just chucking it into the van and the weight such that my wife or young children could easily haul it to the ice. It only took 10 minutes to set up and the fun began. It provided the wonderful experience of, “first ride” to all who asked although maybe not the adrenaline rush of bigger boats.

A few years later while freezing myself on Moosehead Lake with beautiful black ice and temperatures that never made it above zero degrees, that’s Fahrenheit for clarification, I met a fellow DNer who came up from New Jersey with his mother and……her Icebird. Although this was a while back, I believe there is still an active class of these that when ice happens, they gather. As we all know, the definition of a race is, “two boats on the same lake”. Naturally if I had one and another one showed up here in the lakes region oh NH, I’m sure we would sail up next to one another and…………? I might need to check my parts stock and piece together one of these for poops and giggles. Maybe even try for the Hardway record as the smallest craft.

Fun is fun, no matter what the size. Think ice.

It feels like winter has finally arrived in the Northeast. Yes, we have had some snow and ice. Some have sailed in Maine on what was called epic black ice. But to me, the weather seems to have a different feel. We are making ice and hopefully sailing on it soon.

Bill Buchholz has been keeping an eye on and keeping a steady flow of ice news out of Maine with blow-by-blow axe accounts here https://iceboat.me Keep an on eye on Maine as it looks like something will happen soon. Seems to be Charlie S. has been keeping a keen eye on Winni and surroundings. There is ice but it needs to thicken before we set the blades down. Bob S. is watching but nothing much to report at the moment.

To the North Andre Baby and company sailed in Thedford Mines Canada. They are eyeballing and will be sailing outside Montreal. Any takers for Montreal Ice?

As we all know there is some weather coming in this weekend. How much and where who knows. Get Ready to hit the road as something might happen up north. It could be some races or just cruising some nice new ice.

We will be having our group call tomorrow Thursday 6:30pm. Bring your ice questions boat repair or building queries and of course planning for the weekend, etc.

Think Ice,

John
DN5023
John@neiya.org

P.S. Can’t remember the number drop me an email.

Sounds like sail-able ice in Quebec folks!

See the link below for details.

Break out your passport and stay tuned to the CIBC site for details. Think Ice!

https://iceboat.me/2023/12/30/ice-in-quebec-2/

James “T” Thieler

Many of us remember our first sail on ice regardless of our age at the time. I never got to ride with someone as a first timer. Prior to the days of the internet, information was on this sport was sketchy at best. My dad first got the bug from seeing a short blurb on WBZ news with Don Kent. Being a DYI sort of guy, he fashioned the boat pictured. All hardware was fabricated as well as the homemade sail. (Note the wrinkles. Granted mom helped with the sewing. She did a much better job on clothing.) Although he had been to Attitash Lake in MA, to chat with others prior to the build, the maiden voyage occurred on a small brackish pond in Rye, NH. There were a couple of other homemade rigs playing around when ice came in. After setup and some light wind push around, dad decided it was somewhat safe for me to take the tiller. At 11 years of age, I was a little apprehensive but the light air was very manageable and definitely not to exciting. But it was my first ride. Shortly after this the family moved to New York and things got stored for a few years. In high school and with a drivers license and borrowed car, I introduced my buddy to the sport. We found a nearby lake with a strip of ice that we ice fished on and set the rig up. Still a rookie, I manage a few tacks with an increasing breeze. Now I understood the adrenaline rush you hear about. Time to let my friend give it a go. He made it across and turned for the run back. It was exciting to watch him pick up speed, then he got hit with a gust and up he went. Out went the sheet and down came the boat hard. Things folded up quickly as the runner plank broke and things collapsed. Okay, Bob got the prize for the most exciting first ride. We called it a day and packed up the pieces to go. This was in the ‘60’s and life moved on. Parts of the boat were saved and made their way back to New Hampshire where they retired. Life found me with a family and in Wolfeboro, NH where on a winters day I saw some of these craft zipping around the local lakes. This was in 1988. The spark was still there and grew to a flame. A phoenix arose from the ashes and I was on the ice again.

Since that time, I have lost count of the number of first timers I have given a ride to and exposed to the sport. I have enjoyed introducing young and old to this special activity with many converts. The youngest being my daughter at about 2 years of age, (slow ride with safe ice and well wrapped) to an 80 year old just last year who bought a rehabbed DN I just finished.

As things are changing in the world today, I seem to always find time to talk and give that, “first ride” to all I can. I hope in a small way I am contributing to the growth of this sport whether for just fun or to feed into the racing program. While waiting for local ice, take yourselves back to that day of your first ride. I see many smiles out there.

Think ice and Happy New Year.

Hey Folks- Great write up here on iceboating in Maryland and the 1977 DN World Champs on the Eastern Shore….

If I recall that regatta is the place where Lloyd Roberts and some other people had the idea to write a thorough, all-you-need-to-know book about iceboating. Soon enough “Think Ice!” was (and still is) a must-read for any aspiring iceboater.

Click, read and enjoy! T

The Chesapeake Log, Winter 2017 by Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum – Issuu