Iceboating is an extreme sport and not as well known as many other sports. First of all you need ice, so that means many parts of the world are not in an area where you could try the sport. Skeeter ice boats are very popular and what’s called a DN class of ice boat can reach speeds of 60 miles per hour.

Another website AdventureZoneTOURS has outdoor recreation message boards and invites you to share and post places where you have enjoyed iceboating. The message boards have listing for all 50 US states and is seeking suppliers that are involved in ice boat rentals of equipment, places to stay, guides, tours and more. Read press here.

Here’s an example video from youtube.com by tantara77 called Sunday Iceboating on Lake Lotawana showing a sunday iceboating trip with dad.

Wikipedia.org defines iceboating:

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An Ice boat (more commonly spelled as one word - iceboat, once called an “ice scooter”) is a boat or purpose built framework similar in appearance to a sail boat but fitted with skis or runners (skates) and designed to run over ice instead of (liquid) water, known in the sport as “soft water.” Iceboats commonly used for racing are usually only for one person. However, several classes of two seat iceboats are common. On some boats, a “side car” can be fitted to take others along for a ride.

Traditional iceboats from the late 19th century were used for transportation and racing. These boats reached lengths of 30 to 50 feet and were transported between sites on rail cars. Sailing was done in several locations where the sport continues today with active clubs, including the Hudson River, Long Island Sound, Detroit, Sandusky Ohio, Gull Lake Michigan, Lake Geneva Wisconsin, Oshkosh Wisconsin, and others. These older large “stern steerer” iceboats can seat several in their “baskets.” Several of these boats are maintained and raced today. The Northwest Ice Yacht Association sponsors an annual regatta that includes classes for these boats. This annual regatta recently celebrated its 100th anniversary.

Ice yachting is the sport of sailing and racing iceboats. A related sport, land sailing, are iceboats with wheels replacing the runners. A sport mostly practiced in the US on the western dry lake beds and in Europe, Australia and New Zealand on wide tidal beaches.

Ice boats have their history in wide, stubby, multi-runner vessels used in the 1800s. These early vessels were capable of operation on both water and ice and were used primarily for winter transportation and ice fishing. In 1869 the largest ever yacht was built for racing on the Hudson River called the Icicle.

Modern iceboat are supported by three skate blades called “runners” supporting a triangular or cross-shaped frame. Runners are sharpened to a fine edge which holds on the ice against the side force of the wind in the sails. The traditional stern-steered boats were largely replaced by front steering boats, following the development of this style in a boat named the “Beau Skeeter.” This yacht appeared in the 1930’s and became a class which adopted the logo of a mosquito. This boat led to the “Skeeter” class which evolved into a very efficient aerodynamically clean machine. Most ice boats are rigged as catboats, with a single sail, though some older larger classes are rigged as sloops (with a smaller jib sail forward of the mast).

Think Ice!!

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The website at iceboatingbuddy.com invite’s groups to forward us their news to share here with our readers as well as at our outdoor recreation message board at

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