Winnipesaukee Forum - View Single Post

NoBozo · 12-26-2009, 01:29 PM

The DN 60 (Detroit News, 1937) is the largest "One Design" iceboat class in the world with almost 6000 boats worldwide. Most, if not all iceboats, DN and otherwise, are homebuilt and many of the builders are skilled craftsmen when it comes to working with wood..the most popular building material.

"One Design" means there are strict rules as to materials and dimensions allowed to compete in sanctioned racing.

There are many Odd configurations of boat which people put together that don't fit into any particular class as far as racing is concerned. Innovation is always going on in ice boating circles to improve speed, comfort, or ease of assembly. Ice boats must be portable as it is almost always necessary to travel to find good ice.

The boats must be assembled On Site and typically take a minimum of half an hour to assemble. Bigger boats than a DN for example, can take over an hour to assemble...depending on how much "shooting the breeze" goes on with fellow enthusiasts. Ice boaters DO like to talk.

Some of the latest technology can be seen in carbon fiber masts that bend like a pretzel under load and cost thousands of dollars to buy or build yourself.

There are a few individuals out there that specialize in building certain parts..such as masts, hardware, rigging, runner planks, and once in awhile a fuselage... (hull). Although there have been limited sources in the past, you can't just go to a store and buy an iceboat. If it's available at Wally Mart it's not an iceboat, it's just a toy.

The original appeal of the DN was that it could be cartopped, where anything larger or heavier needs to have a custom built trailer. The "Big" boats require a few helping hands to help carry the parts down to the ice for assembly. Most times the ice is not conducive to roll the trailer on to.

On Lake Winni, Spring is the best time to iceboat, when the snow settles during the day and freezes at night allowing a few hours of sailing before the ice softens in the afternoon sun. Sometimes you luck out and yesterdays.. or the days before ice will ice out and re-freeze to new black ice. Heaven.

Contrary to popular belief, an iceboat that Lifts a runner is wasting power, as a perfectly tuned and balanced boat will transfer ALL the sail power to foreward motion and not into Lifting the boat. Normally when the boat encounters a wind gust the runner plank will "squat" down closer to the ice and accelerate the boat ahead. Lifting a runner is called "hiking". NB (Ice Boater for 40 years, Now Retired)

12-26-2009, 01:29 PM	#7
NoBozo Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Portsmouth. RI Posts: 2,231 Thanks: 400 Thanked 460 Times in 308 Posts	The DN 60 (Detroit News, 1937) is the largest "One Design" iceboat class in the world with almost 6000 boats worldwide. Most, if not all iceboats, DN and otherwise, are homebuilt and many of the builders are skilled craftsmen when it comes to working with wood..the most popular building material. "One Design" means there are strict rules as to materials and dimensions allowed to compete in sanctioned racing. There are many Odd configurations of boat which people put together that don't fit into any particular class as far as racing is concerned. Innovation is always going on in ice boating circles to improve speed, comfort, or ease of assembly. Ice boats must be portable as it is almost always necessary to travel to find good ice. The boats must be assembled On Site and typically take a minimum of half an hour to assemble. Bigger boats than a DN for example, can take over an hour to assemble...depending on how much "shooting the breeze" goes on with fellow enthusiasts. Ice boaters DO like to talk. Some of the latest technology can be seen in carbon fiber masts that bend like a pretzel under load and cost thousands of dollars to buy or build yourself. There are a few individuals out there that specialize in building certain parts..such as masts, hardware, rigging, runner planks, and once in awhile a fuselage... (hull). Although there have been limited sources in the past, you can't just go to a store and buy an iceboat. If it's available at Wally Mart it's not an iceboat, it's just a toy. The original appeal of the DN was that it could be cartopped, where anything larger or heavier needs to have a custom built trailer. The "Big" boats require a few helping hands to help carry the parts down to the ice for assembly. Most times the ice is not conducive to roll the trailer on to. On Lake Winni, Spring is the best time to iceboat, when the snow settles during the day and freezes at night allowing a few hours of sailing before the ice softens in the afternoon sun. Sometimes you luck out and yesterdays.. or the days before ice will ice out and re-freeze to new black ice. Heaven. Contrary to popular belief, an iceboat that Lifts a runner is wasting power, as a perfectly tuned and balanced boat will transfer ALL the sail power to foreward motion and not into Lifting the boat. Normally when the boat encounters a wind gust the runner plank will "squat" down closer to the ice and accelerate the boat ahead. Lifting a runner is called "hiking". NB (Ice Boater for 40 years, Now Retired) Last edited by NoBozo; 12-26-2009 at 07:50 PM.