Old iceboat
 

Could anybody give me any info on an old iceboat that I have?

The details are at: http://geoffreygoldberg.com/miller/miller.htm
Any info would be appreciated.

On 10 Dec 2004 14:20:45 -0800, "Dave" wrote:

Could anybody give me any info on an old iceboat that I have?

The details are at: http://geoffreygoldberg.com/miller/miller.htm
Any info would be appreciated.

I think this is a early DN. I hesitate to actually ID it as a DN only
because of the shape of the upper body. The basic box is similar to a
DN, but the rounded top sides make it to be something different.

There were a number of two man DN boats made as the DN series is
basically a home build.

One other idea may be that it's an early 1900s "laker". Those were
usually club builds. My reason for this possibility is the sail ID.
T would seem to indicate a class and that plus the number indicates a
club class.

This is a good resource for early ice boats.

http://www.ulster.net/~mriceboat/welcome.html

Give them a shot and see if the can help you out.

Good luck.

Later,

Tom

On 10 Dec 2004 14:20:45 -0800, "Dave" wrote:

Could anybody give me any info on an old iceboat that I have?

The details are at: http://geoffreygoldberg.com/miller/miller.htm
Any info would be appreciated.

Reply Part Deux:

I spent some time this morning doing a little research in my own
library and on-line. I've concluded that this is a one-design, quite
possibly early 1900s, more likely mid-'30s.

The sail designation would indicate a one-design racing class which
could mean anything from a club designation to home made racers. It
was pretty common for a particular style ice boat to be built in the
mid-West among friends and relatives. In fact, as history tells it,
the DN (for Detroit News) boats were based on this friends and
relatives approach.

It could also be a island runner - an ice boat made to take supplies
and people across frozen lakes from mid-lake islands. In one of my
photo books, I came across something similar to your boat, but clearly
not the same boat at all - the design was similar in concept to your
boat.

Without actually seeing the boat, it's hard to tell how old the wood
is. Is the curved top made from formed plywood or veneer? How about
the skate spars - fir or pine? I assume the mast and sail spar are
made from Douglas Fir - that's pretty typical. Are the skate spars
laminated or one piece? Sometimes, if you look inside the hull, in
particular along where the keel is, there will be a builder's
signature with a date - might want to look for it. Are the sail
battens laminated?

Some more pictures including closeups of the steering and rigging,
would help.

Other than that, I can't identify it specifically based on my meager
knowledge of the subject. Try that reference source I posted in the
previous post.

Good luck.

Later,

Tom

On Sat, 11 Dec 2004 12:43:20 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

On 10 Dec 2004 14:20:45 -0800, "Dave" wrote:

Could anybody give me any info on an old iceboat that I have?

The details are at: http://geoffreygoldberg.com/miller/miller.htm
Any info would be appreciated.

Are the sail tracks iron, steel or aluminum? That would help pin down
the time frame a little.

Later,

Tom

Tom,
The blades are steel T sections attached to laminated wood runners. The
mast is also laminated of various types of wood. The sail bolt rope
attaches to the mast and boom thru the groove in the mast and boom just
like modern aluminum masts and booms. I do not know how to tell if the
plywood is formed or layed-up veneer. I'll look for some more
identification this weekend. The sail was made in Toronto Canada and
the battens are solid wood. Thanks for information. Dave

Tom,
The blades are steel T sections attached to laminated wood runners. The
mast is also laminated of various types of wood. The sail bolt rope
attaches to the mast and boom thru the groove in the mast and boom just
like modern aluminum masts and booms. I do not know how to tell if the
plywood is formed or layed-up veneer. I'll look for some more
identification this weekend. The sail was made in Toronto Canada and
the battens are solid wood. Thanks for information.
Dave

On 16 Dec 2004 20:11:44 -0800, "Dave" wrote:

Tom,
The blades are steel T sections attached to laminated wood runners. The
mast is also laminated of various types of wood. The sail bolt rope
attaches to the mast and boom thru the groove in the mast and boom just
like modern aluminum masts and booms. I do not know how to tell if the
plywood is formed or layed-up veneer. I'll look for some more
identification this weekend. The sail was made in Toronto Canada and
the battens are solid wood. Thanks for information. Dave

Gotta be a one-off or a island boat.

Later,

Tom