DN The world's most popular iceboat is the DN60. Designed in 1937 it was a home workshop project in the Detroit News.The DN is a one man craft that carries 60 sq. ft. of sail.The boat hull is built mostly of wood. Masts are made of wood, fibreglass, aluminum or carbon fiber. Most boats are constructed by their owners, but they are also commercially available through select boatyards. The boats are lightweight, sporty, inexpensive to build and are easily transported on the roof of the car. The International DN Ice Yacht Racing Association run regattas in the U.S., Canada and Europe.

SKEETERTodays skeeters evolved from a design dating back to the mid 1930's. Since the formation of the class association in 1939 the 75 sq. ft. sail area has been the only limitation of the development of this class and boats are both homebuilt and professionally made. Todays skeeters are up to 30 feet long and are made of everything from wood, fiberglass, carbon fiber or kevlar. The skippers can sit in the conventional rear cockpit area or in the case of the newer very high tech boats, in front of the mast under a closed lexan fairing. These boats are very swift and graceful and can reach top speeds of 140 mph.

ICE FLYERThe Ice Flyer is the newest design in the world of iceboating. Designed by Wally Hall in Colorado, it consists of a fiberglass fuselage powered by a windsurfing rig. The boat uses a wooden plank and springboard and the same runners and chocks as a DN. The skipper sits in front of the mast and steers with his feet while sitting up in an almost upright position. A very fast and comfortable boat, it is equal to a DN in size and performance, and can be easily transported on the roof of your car. This is the webmasters boat of choice.

SOUTH BAY SCOOTEROne of the most unique boats is the amphibious South Bay Scooter. The scooter began its's career in the Great South Bay of Long Island. It was used to supply the Coast Guard lifeboat station on Fire Island when the bay was partially frozen, and was used as a work boat and life-saving craft on the unpredictable ice. The broad, heavy, shallow, scowlike hull was influenced by the duck hunting boats of the region. Length averages about 20 feet, and the boat rides on four almost full lenghth fixed runners on the bottom of the hull. Ther is no steering runner and no rudder. Steering is accomplished by maneuvering the jib which mounts on a boom which extends well beyond the massive bowsprit or "horn". The scooter sails across ice , and when it encounters open water it simply keeps on going, skimming across small stretches at high speeds and then slamming back up on the ice. Scooter skippers are a unique breed that are fun to watch especially when they are spinning around out of control or getting wet when they don't quite make it back up onto the ice. Our commodore, Jon Kerr, sails a scooter.

NITE A Nite is a boat designed by Dick Slates and built in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. It has a fiberglass hull which seats two, a springboard, and carries 67 sq. ft. of sail. It races as a C-class Skeeter and reach speeds of 100 mph. Most boats were made by S & R Marine of Pewaukee, but there are now some wooden versions being made in New England. Our club has versions of both models. These are great boats for bring a spouse, child or a friend for a ride. The Nite can be steered by the use of either the wheel or foot steering.

There are many other designs of iceboats that can be seen sailing on area lakes in the winter. Among them are the Renegade, the Lockley 45 Skimmer, an Arrow, Yankees, and various homebuilt designs. The only way to find out what is right for you is to come up to one of the lakes and sail them. See you on the ice.