Ice boat
From Freepedia
An Ice boat 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. Ice boats are small, usually only for one person.
There are usually three skate blades supporting a triangular or cross-chaped frame, covered with colorful aerodynamic skins. Most ice boats are rigged as sloops, though the larger classes have jibs. Smaller boats steer the front skate, while larger ones have a rear rudder skate.
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.
Contemporary recreational ice boats were originated around 1937. The Detroit News sponsored a competition for the best ice boat design, which became the DN. Modern designs move as much as five times the wind speed and often achieve 100 km/h (60 mph), while larger boats (such as the DN class) can exceed 170 km/h (100 mph).
Iceboats are not produced commercially on a wide scale (if at all), but remain the province of hobbyists and enthusiasts. Iceboating popularity is limited in the continental US, as few places there have ice thick enough to safely use the vessels for an extended duration. Despite that, regattas are held regularly, including world championships. In the United States there are active regattas on the great lakes from Detroit, MI, and Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire.
