(Bill*Kearney)wrote
Since I've never used the boat as an ice breaker I don't know the risks
involved.
Ice is hard, probably quite a bit harder than the sides of your hull.
They make icebreakers out of VERY thick STEEL for a reason. I can't
imagine it would take much more than a thin bit of ice to present real
problems for the typical recreational boat hull. The problem being angle
of impact. The sharp edge of a 1/2" chunk of ice hit at speed transfers
a heckuva lot of force at a very small point of impact.
Then there's insurance, your policy quite likely will have coverage
problems. Made worse if you get into enough trouble that someone got
injured. To say nothing of the 'die a quick death' risk due to the
frigid water. That leaves their estate to sue yours, extending the
mistake well past your own lifetime.
It dawned on me that if something happens due to weather or ice, the
risk is totally on us. The buyer can say, "Gee, that's too bad", and
head for home.
Yep.
If the water is completely clear, and you're SURE your insurance is
active and in-force for being under way, then it'd be like any other day
out. Just make sure the dinghy's on board and working.

I'd also like to add that even the thinnest ice, also known as "Skim
Ice" or "Razor Ice" can be extremely hazardous to FG and wood hulls
alike. I've seen fairly deep slice marks down the waterline in running
boats thru this type of ice, especially at slow speeds. UD