Iceboating Returns to the Toms River

[Leewardian]

It's been about a decade, but we got some decent-enough ice last week.

I wrote it up and posted a bunch of photos and videos I took of it for anyone interested:

https://www.barnegatbaymaritimemuseum.org/news/iceboating-returns-to-the-toms-river

If anyone wants to read some more about iceboating in general, I covered it for the first time way back in 2011 for my newspaper, a digital copy of which can be paged through here:

https://issuu.com/riversidesignal/docs/riversidesignal20110204-04

Also there's this fun video put together by Peter Slack during the last time we saw ice here, in 2015:

Erik

 

[RJG]

That looks like fun!

 

[Leewardian]

That looks like fun!

It is!

Here are some 2011 videos I took that also show the view from the cockpit.

Erik

 

[M1 Abrams]

I have a brother who is very cold-averse. For a chance to tear around the ice like this, though, he might change his ways! Looks like a great way to satisfy the need for speed without having access to a fighter jet or a fuel dragster.

Doing a quick search on the subject, I was surprised to discover that one notable enthusiast of ice boating was none other than Franklin Delano Roosevelt. (Edit/addition -- FDR's uncle, John A. Roosevelt, was a great ice yacht sportsman. This is mentioned in Leewardian's linked Riverside Signal article.)

FDR and Ice Yachts

 

[Leewardian]

I have a brother who is very cold-averse. For a chance to tear around the ice like this, though, he might change his ways! Looks like a great way to satisfy the need for speed without having access to a fighter jet or a fuel dragster.

Doing a quick search on the subject, I was surprised to discover that one notable enthusiast of ice boating was none other than Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

FDR and Ice Yachts

In 2011 when I accidentally found iceboats on the river by taking the scenic route to the bank I went nuts and even delayed my newspaper a few days to fit all sorts of cool stuff like that in the issue. The Icicle beating the steam train on/along the Hudson is wild.

Being invited on every time I've been out there has been a treat. These suckers go faaaaaaaast.

 

[Leewardian]

I have a brother who is very cold-averse. For a chance to tear around the ice like this, though, he might change his ways! Looks like a great way to satisfy the need for speed without having access to a fighter jet or a fuel dragster.

Doing a quick search on the subject, I was surprised to discover that one notable enthusiast of ice boating was none other than Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

FDR and Ice Yachts

Also here's some of the larger craft on the Hudson, also shot by Peter Slack of Island Heights:

 

[M1 Abrams]

It's easy to see how this could get in your blood and never leave it. How long does it generally take for a person to learn to competently handle an ice boat? Once that has been achieved, and one has sufficient knowledge of ice conditions not to literally wind up on thin ice, it would seem difficult not to have a great time.

I do feel sorry for future generations locally who may have to travel long distances to find suitable conditions for ice boating given the trend toward warmer winters here and generally.

 

[Sue Gremlin]

That is on my bucket list.

 

[Leewardian]

It's easy to see how this could get in your blood and never leave it. How long does it generally take for a person to learn to competently handle an ice boat? Once that has been achieved, and one has sufficient knowledge of ice conditions not to literally wind up on thin ice, it would seem difficult not to have a great time.

I do feel sorry for future generations locally who may have to travel long distances to find suitable conditions for ice boating given the trend toward warmer winters here and generally.

Lots of info on the DN Class association website here - https://www.idniyra.org/
As for sailing it, if you have the basics of small craft sailing down, it isn't that difficult to transfer those skills over to the iceboat, and I've never met an iceboater who isn't enthusiastic to offer some time and tips to get people started or even sit them down on theirs and let them tool around a bit. Easier to find a regular winter crowd of it up on the Great Lakes and areas north of us, though.