An unusual iceboat from the Richard Lichtfeld collection is up for auction on a website. Many years ago, Richard purchased the CRAWFISH from the Eibisch brothers in Columbus, WI. They presumably built the boat using plans published in a DIY magazine, potentially Modern Mechanics, in the 1930s or 1940s. Download the plans in a pdf file. The auction ends on July 19, 2023.
Lake Winnebago ice sailor Andy Gratton checks in with his version of an iceboat board game:
I was doing some catching up tonight and saw the nice iceboat game from Michael Young. That reminded me of the game my two kids and I used to play way b
ack when they were in grade school. I dug it out and included some pictures. We used markers and a spinner from another game. I would have made 3D-printed stern steerers for markers, but 3D printing was barely known. Everything on the game happened in the 1992 regatta at Oshkosh – Rosemary capsized, Todd Haines was thrown from Mary B, Country Woman broke the halyard, I think John Davis got stuck in a snowdrift, there was an ice shanty on the course, and more than one boat spun out. This isn’t nearly as fancy as the new game, but it’s fun for small kids. Print it off and play it if you want. Three laps!
Read Andy Gratton’s classic story, The Day The ROSEMARY Tipped Over.”
1940 Harley-Davidson Propeller-Driven Ice Boat that will be auctioned in September 2023.
Wisconsin is famous for iceboating and for being the birthplace of Harley-Davidson motorcycles. A rare iceboat powered by a 1918 Harley-Davidson J model 61/24 HP V-Twin engine is going up for auction in September. The Hudson River Ice Yacht Preservation Trust in New York is interested in acquiring this sled for its collection. The iceboat was likely constructed by someone using plans available in Popular Mechanics magazine or a similar source.
Backyard mechanics in the 1930s also used Harley engines in the Mead Ice Yacht Company’s ice sled kits, like the one below, from an article about rare Harley artifacts and ideas “that didn’t stick.”
Tip of the Helmet: Bob Wills, President of the Hudson River Ice Yacht Preservation Trust
Mead Motor-Sled Kit with Harley Engine
Here’s a novel way to keep your knowledge of iceboating rules sharp through a board game invented by Michael Young of the Chickawaukee Ice Yacht in Maine. Michael created the game as a birthday gift for a fellow ice and land sailing friend. He collaborated with fellow boaters Jeff Roseberry and Jim Turner and used some of their ideas leading to the birth of the first-ever iceboating board game.
The board is a 3 mm printed plastic sign-board, the game pieces are bronze filament 3D-printed DNs, and the Action Cards are business-card-stock with Pemetic Ice Yacht Club printed on the backs which pay homage to the now-defunct club on Mount Desert Island, Maine.
Via Michael:
The rules are simple. All ice boating rules apply. Landing on the Black Ice (dark blue band around the board) doubles the Action Card, good or bad. Roll the dice, move in straight lines only, then draw an Action Card and follow the instructions. Some Action Cards are beneficial, some not, and others are just for a laugh. A one-lap race is enough, but players can decide at race time. A blank Action Card is included so local conditions/rules can be used or added.The winner must fully cross the finish line after the roll and draw card to win. Sorry, no trophies for winners included, bragging rights only!
To keep costs reasonable game includes
- 1 Game Board 24″ x 24″ (folds to 12″ x 24″)
- Action Card Sheets (need to be detached)
- Die
- Iceboating Right of Way Rules
- Game Rules
- Eight numbered game piece DNs.
UPDATE June 24: Via Michael: Cost is $90 which includes shipping and handling in the US, Canadian orders will be $60 per game with shipping and handling priced at what it costs to do. All checks will be in US dollars so as not to deal with exchange rates.
Contact Michael to order or for more information at michaelyoungswh @ gmail.com
Screenshot by John Bauldry
It’s about time that Star Wars meets iceboating. A big Tip of the Helmet to Michigan DN sailor John Bauldry who captured this screenshot of an iceboat from the Star Wars spin-off The Mandalorian.
Via John’s Facebook Page: “Watched S3-E7 of the “Mandalorian” last night, Chapter 23, “The Spies.” It featured a giant iceboat used to traverse across Mandalor. Picture is a screenshot from the episode trailer with sails furled. Pretty cool!”
National Iceboat Authority Web Page
Location: In person at the Elks Lodge 711 Jenifer St, Madison, WI 53703
Time: 6:30 PM
YOU ARE SKIPPER NUMBER
TO ROUND THE MARK SINCE NOVEMBER 1999.
