But they are really fast ......

So while most of you are enjoying yourselves in Miami this week I decided to take a different direction this winter.

Snowmobile Racing and now, Ice Boats ....

The woman ice boater in this 1st pic just came up from North Carolina yesterday ....

Click here to view all photos.

You get a ride Tim?? Those things actually get moving pretty good.

Interceptor here has one of those contraptions . Always wondered if the ice breaks will it float ?

No ride. I hardly had enough time to get pics before losing daylight.
And yes, they were hauling !!!

Tim
I saw them running in the Navesink River when I was driving over the bridge a week or so ago. Looked like a fun time for all involved.

We have our ice boats on Grand Traverse bay this winter. The boats are a rush, you can be sailing along at a good speed and suddenly the wind picks up and the boat just accelerates and there is little noise except for the runners on the ice. The modern boats are built using a number of composite and wood construction including carbon fiber masts and booms, kevlar sails. My hull is wood, foam/ply laminate bulkheads and carbon fiber longitude stiffeners. The boat is 21' long, 10'plank and 42" side runners, 36" nose runner. Has a 80 s.f. North sail. You do need to dress correctly ! I wear something similar to a snowmobile suit but it also has USCG approved floatation built in, full coverage helmet, insulated mittens and studded boats for traction on the ice.
ed

The yellow boat in the picture is wicked fast
https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.n...76335159_o.jpg

Great looking boats !!!

What kind of speeds do those reach?

the big skeeters top 100. I have been in a nite with gps over 80

Jesus! Are you hooked on with a harness or anything? Hurt like heck to fall out of that!