Production Ice Boats & Contraptions – Getting Started on Ice the Easy Way

“I want to try this ice boating. But I Need THREE EASIES:
Easy to Set Up. Easy to Sail. Easy to Put Away.“

Ice boating has always lived in that wonderful space between ingenuity and obsession. For generations, the typical iceboat was not something you bought in a showroom. It was something you built in a basement, a garage, or a backyard workshop using plywood, steel tubing, salvaged hardware, and a copy of Popular Mechanics for inspiration. Part engineering project, part winter survival therapy, these homebuilt machines reflected the personality and creativity of their owners as much as their sailing ability.

But not everyone wanted to become a boat builder before becoming a sailor. Over the years, a handful of designers and companies recognized a gap between curiosity and commitment. They asked a simple question. What if someone could buy an iceboat, assemble it quickly, and go sailing?

Several attempts were made to bring iceboats into the world of practical consumer products with standardized parts, predictable performance, and accessible pricing. Some succeeded briefly. Some disappeared almost immediately. All of them tell an interesting story about innovation, ambition, and the challenge of turning a niche passion into a manufactured sport. Let’s take a look.

Before we dive in… maybe support this effort?

---

---

The Skimmer 45

I do remember working in the Pocono Mountains at the Pocono Boathouse, just off Lake Naomi, when I was just 10, and how my father started selling Lockley sailboat products. I think it was called the Sea Witch, sort of a giant cooler with a sloop sail rig. Then, when they were bringing in a shipment from their plant in nearby New Castle, PA, they also brought a new ice boat they had started manufacturing for us to display and sell on consignment.

Well, as a bunch of interesting young sailors, we immediately opened and assembled it, sat in it, and imagined what would happen if that plastic seat broke and the blade ran you over. It was a novel contraption.

When the Lockley Skimmer 45 was introduced in the early 1970s, it represented something genuinely different in the ice boating world. Instead of a one-off garage-built machine, Lockley positioned it as a complete, portable recreational product that anyone could buy, assemble, and sail. The brochure promised “a whole new world of adventure,” highlighting the lightweight tubular frame, fast rigging, and performance capable of handling both light air and stiff breezes.

Lockley was already an established sailboat manufacturer, and the Skimmer 45 was marketed with the same consumer-friendly approach used for their fiberglass sailboats. It was promoted as a low-cost cruising and racing iceboat with marine-quality construction throughout, a 45-square-foot sail, and full portability. The emphasis was accessibility. This was a boat you could buy, transport, rig quickly, and sail the same day, without ever picking up a saw or building jig.

What makes the Skimmer 45 especially remarkable is that the story did not end in the 1970s. More than 50 years later, the design is still being produced, no longer in Pennsylvania but in Wisconsin, where manufacturing has continued under new ownership. Today, a brand new Skimmer 45 sells for about $2999, making it one of the few iceboats in History with a continuous production lineage spanning multiple generations of builders and sailors.

Perhaps most telling is that the original vision still holds. Then and now, the Skimmer 45 was meant to remove the biggest barrier to entry into ice boating. You did not need a workshop. You did not need specialized tools. You just needed winter, wind, and the willingness to go fast. And that idea still works.

This is the inside fold of the original “Assembly and Operations Instructions, Replacement Parts Price List, Warranty” for the Lockley Skimmer45 as of September 1, 1974. Obviously, the Lockley Corp is no longer supplying replacement parts. However, this provides a detailed list of the parts that came with the original Lockley Skimmer45. I don’t imagine the design has changed much over the years, so if you’re missing a piece or part, I suggest contacting the current manufacturer of the ice boat, which you can find on the product info page.

Today, you can purchase a Skimmer45 iceboat from Windward Boat Works in Princeton, Wisconsin, for around $3000.

The Freeskate

Paul Mindnich and Dave Clapp were the co-inventors and developers of the Freeskate, a recreational ice-sailing Board system created in Long Branch, New Jersey, in the early 1980s through their company, Air Borne. Their idea was to combine windsurfing technology with iceboat runners to create a fast, portable, and accessible sailing craft usable on ice or land. Built with carbon graphite and fiberglass construction, featuring four precision runners and an adjustable mast step, the Freeskate was marketed as a performance product aimed at experienced boardsailors seeking high-speed winter sailing.

The invention achieved rapid early success. By January 1984, more than 100 boats had entered the market. Promotional material described the class as the fastest-growing one-design ice yacht class in the world. National championship events were organized in New Jersey, including competitions at Budd Lake and the Navesink River in partnership with the North Shrewsbury Ice Boat and Yacht Club, helping establish organized racing around the design. Retail pricing ranged from about $420 for the deck, wheels, and blades to about $770 with a complete rig, making it relatively affordable compared to traditional iceboats.

Mindnich and Clapp also proved the performance potential of their invention through competition, winning multiple Freeskate North American Championships themselves and helping legitimize the class as both a sport and a product. Their work represented one of the few true New Jersey-based commercial ice-sailing innovations. It contributed to the broader growth of modern recreational ice-sailing by bridging the worlds of windsurfing and iceboating.

Getting involved with a Freeskate-style ice sailing Board today is still relatively affordable compared to traditional iceboats. A basic entry setup using blade kits and an existing Board can cost a few hundred dollars. At the same time, a complete recreational package with runners and a windsurf-style rig typically falls in the $700 to $1,200 range, with higher-performance setups reaching $2,000 or more, depending on the sail and hardware.

The original Air Borne Freeskate sold in 1984 for about $420 without the rig and about $770 complete, which was considered accessible at the time. The design proved successful enough that manufacturing rights were later acquired by Fiberspar of Massachusetts, reflecting broader industry interest beyond New Jersey. Today, the class is no longer produced as a large one-design racing fleet. However, Freeskate-style boards are still occasionally manufactured by specialty wind and ice sports companies, and many enthusiasts build or modify their own using modern materials and wing or windsurf rigs, keeping the concept pioneered by Paul Mindnich and Dave Clapp very much alive.

The Blokart (Blo-Kart) Ice and Land Sailor

The Blo-kart story actually connects naturally to ice sailing first. In 1999, in Tauranga, New Zealand, inventor Paul Beckett created a compact wind-powered kart that could be transported in bags and assembled in minutes. While it was designed for land, sailors quickly realized something important. With steel runners installed, the Blokart behaved like a miniature iceboat. Fast acceleration, strong apparent wind, and tactical sailing angles very similar to DN racing.

Blokart has regional dealers throughout the Northeastern US, including York (PA), Long Island (NY), and Haddonfield (NJ) (Fran Gramkowski), to name a few. Check their global dealer map HERE. Estimated pricing and configurations are available HERE.

Ice conversions became popular enough that international Blokart ice racing developed, including world championship events in Europe. For many sailors, especially in regions with unreliable winters, the Blokart became a practical way to experience iceboat-style performance without owning a full-size ice yacht.

From there, the land sailing side exploded in popularity. Introduced publicly in 2000, the Blokart spread worldwide by removing barriers. No trailer. No shop built. No complicated rigging. Just wind and open space. Racing circuits formed, including major North American gatherings at Ivanpah Dry Lake on the California-Nevada border.

Word has it that there are a bunch of Blokart Ice conversion users out of the North Shrewsbury Ice Boat & Yacht Club in Red Bank, New Jersey. We’re going to do additional research, but NSIBYC ice legend Dan Clapp told us from the club that the land version is absolutely awesome, but the ice conversion is not nearly as fast as his bubble Skeeter. But then again, what would be?

In New Jersey, the connection again comes back to ice sailors. Some Northeast sailors use Blokarts on frozen lakes during good winters, but more commonly, they sail on land when ice does not form. South Jersey beaches such as Wildwood, Brigantine, and Long Beach Island, during the off-season, provide ideal conditions when local rules allow. Large paved areas with permission are also used. For New Jersey sailors, the appeal is simple. It delivers iceboat-style speed year-round. North American Blokart Sailing Association
www.nabsa.org. We’ll keep digging because I think this might be my next toy.

The Ice Optimist

The Ice Optimist began with a very practical idea that grew out of two popular sailing worlds. By the 1970s, children across the globe were learning to sail in a small boat called the Optimist. It was simple, inexpensive, and forgiving, which made it perfect for beginners. At the same time, in the northern parts of Europe, such as Estonia and Poland, ice sailing was a long-standing winter tradition. The problem was that the main iceboats, especially the DN class, were fast and powerful machines that could be intimidating for young sailors. Someone eventually asked a straightforward question that changed things. What if the same Optimist sail kids used in summer could be mounted on an iceboat for winter?

Around 1978 in Estonia, sailors built the first Ice Optimist using a small iceboat frame similar to a DN but scaled down and fitted with a standard Optimist mast and sail. The result was exactly what they hoped for. The boat was slower, more stable, and much easier to control. Children who already knew how to sail could transition naturally to the ice without learning an entirely new system. Over time, the idea spread across Europe, and by the early 2000s, the Ice Optimist had become an officially recognized youth training and racing class with organized events and programs.

The boat itself is intentionally simple. It has a central body made of wood or composite materials, a cross plank that supports two front runners, and a single rear runner for steering. The sail and rigging come directly from a regular Optimist sailboat, which was part of the original brilliance of the design because it kept costs down and parts easy to find. The runners are steel blades mounted in holders, allowing the boat to glide over the ice with very little friction. Like most iceboats, it can be taken apart for transport and typically fits on a small trailer or roof rack. Once someone learns the routine, the setup is relatively quick compared with larger ice yachts.

Today, Ice Optimists are still used, although they are not mass-produced. Many are built by clubs for youth programs, designed by individuals, or made by small specialty builders connected to the ice sailing community. They are usually found through sailing clubs, class associations, or used listings rather than through retail stores. The original goal of affordability has remained intact. A person building one themselves might spend around $1000, depending on what parts they already have, while a professionally built version often falls in the $2000 to $4000 range. That price difference compared with larger iceboats is exactly why the class was created in the first place.

The Ice Optimist ultimately represents an effort to open the door to ice sailing. It took a sport known for speed and intensity and made it approachable for beginners, especially young sailors. Even today, it remains one of the simplest and least expensive ways to experience sailing on ice. Today, Composite Concepts makes Ice Opti kits. You can contact Composite Concepts owner Ron Sherry. You can also contact Ron Rosten, the North American Ice Optimist Program Director in Madison, WI. He’d be glad to give you building plans and construction tips, point you to sources for materials/parts, discuss the club’s approach to teaching juniors, etc. Email Ron Rosten

The Ice Fish (if you can find one)

The Icefish iceboat was introduced in the early 1970s by Wind Dynamics Inc. of Arlington, Massachusetts, drawing on earlier concepts by Herbert Loeffler that shared design DNA with the Sailfish and Sunfish. It was intended as an affordable recreational ice sailing craft and likely sold for approximately $300 to $500 when new, comparable to small sailboats of the same era. The boat featured a lightweight aluminum tubular frame, three steel runners, front steering, and a molded tandem seat for two sailors, and was powered by a stayed mast carrying a Sunfish-style lateen sail.

Despite being simple and capable of impressive speed on good ice, the Icefish never achieved widespread popularity, and production appears to have been limited to relatively small numbers. Buyers would have purchased the boat either directly from Wind Dynamics using the address and phone number shown in brochures or through small regional marine dealers in northern states where ice sailing was common, with some units possibly sold as kits or partially assembled to reduce shipping costs.

Ice Birds – The Affordable Home Build

The Ice Bird class iceboat traces its roots to the early 1970s, when New Jersey ice sailing enthusiasts began experimenting with smaller, more accessible designs that newcomers could sail without the complexity of larger racing machines. The concept was championed within the North Shrewsbury Ice Boat and Yacht Club community along the Navesink and Shrewsbury Rivers, where sailors wanted a simple, entry-level boat that could be built or acquired without advanced woodworking skills or major expense. Rather than a single commercial manufacturer driving the class, the Ice Bird emerged from grassroots, practical innovation from around 1973 to 1975, reflecting the club-based culture that has always defined ice boating in the Northeast.

The boat itself was intentionally modest in size and easy to handle. Most Ice Birds measure roughly 8 feet in length, with a beam of about 6 feet, using a lightweight wood or tubular-frame construction with a simple mast and sail plan. The design emphasizes stability over outright speed, making it ideal for beginners and younger sailors learning the sport. Early builds were relatively affordable compared with racing classes, often costing only a few hundred dollars in materials if home-built, with completed boats typically remaining far less expensive than DN-class iceboats. Despite its simplicity, the Ice Bird still delivers the thrill of ice sailing, capable of speeds many times the wind velocity thanks to the low friction of steel runners on ice.

The North Shrewsbury Ice Boat and Yacht Club in Red Bank, New Jersey, remains closely associated with the Ice Bird tradition and continues to be one of the most active ice boating communities in the United States. The club welcomes newcomers and spectators whenever safe ice conditions form on the Navesink and Shrewsbury Rivers. Those interested in getting involved can connect through the club’s website or social media, attend winter sailing days, or speak directly with members who are often eager to introduce beginners to the sport. Ice boating is highly dependent on weather, but when conditions align, North Shrewsbury offers one of the best opportunities in New Jersey to experience the excitement of sailing on ice.

And if You’re Really out There…

There’s always Kiteboarding on Ice…..

Ice Boat Manufacturers

Here’s what we have so far…..

Boat Name	Manufacturer	Material	Sail Size	Cost (Era)	Link
Lockley Skimmer 45	Windward Boatworks	Tubular steel frame with fabric seat	45 sq ft	$2,995	More Info
Wind Power Freeskate	Wind Power Watersports	Composite aluminum runners	Varies	$850	More Info
DN (Detroit News)	Detroit News Hobby Shop and multiple builders	Wood composite fiberglass carbon	60 sq ft	$3000 to $10000+	More Info
Nite	Dick Slates design. S&R Marine and others	Fiberglass fuselage wood plank	67 sq ft	$5000 to $8000 used	More Info
Ice Optimist	Williams Infusion and European Builders	Fiberglass frame using Optimist rig	35 sq ft	$2000 to $4000 modern	More Info
Nite DN Skeeter	S&R Marine	Fiberglass wood composite	Varies	Varies modern builds	More Info
DN Components and Boats	Northwind Ice Boats	Composite wood	Varies	Varies	More Info
Ice Bird Iceboat	Icebird Class various builders USA and Europe	Aluminum tube frame plywood seat steel runners Dacron sail	~55 sq ft	~$1500 to $4000 used builds vary (2000s to 2020s)	More Info
Blokart Land Sailor	Blokart International Ltd. New Zealand	Stainless steel frame composite wheels Dacron sail	2.0 m 3.0 m 4.0 m 5.5 m	~$2350+ new (2020s)	More Info
Blokart Ice Conversion Kit	Blokart International Ltd. New Zealand	Stainless steel frame with aluminum runners composite components	2.0 m 3.0 m 4.0 m 5.5 m	~$900 to $1500 kit (2020s)	More Info

If you know of a manufacturer, retailer, or distributor, let us know.

---

Known Locations & Clubs

---

State	Location	Club	What Ice Details They Provide and For Where	Phone	Link
NJ	Red Bank	North Shrewsbury Ice Boat and Yacht Club	Local ice hotline and condition reports for the Navesink and Shrewsbury Rivers	(732) 747-5665	More Info
NJ	Red Bank	Monmouth Yacht Club	Live Video and Conditions directly next door to North Shrewsbury club		More Info
NY	Lake Ronkonkoma	Lake Ronkonkoma Ice Boat and Yacht Club	Ice reports and sailing notices for Lake Ronkonkoma	(631) 475-7747	More Info
MA	New England Region	New England Ice Yacht Association	Regional ice condition coordination and regatta site announcements across New England	(508) 481-1011	More Info
ME	Rockland	Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club	Local condition updates for Lake Chickawaukie	(207) 594-2184	No formal website
MN	Statewide	Minnesota Ice Sailing Association	Statewide ice sailing conditions and regatta announcements across Minnesota lakes	(612) 470-8004	No central website
MI	Traverse City	Grand Traverse Ice Yacht Club	Ice condition updates for Grand Traverse Bay and surrounding Michigan waters	(231) 929-3836	No formal website
OH	Toledo	Toledo Ice Yacht Club	Local racing and ice reports for western Lake Erie region	No public hotline	No active website
MI	Gull Lake	Gull Lake Ice Yacht Club	Local ice sailing conditions for Gull Lake Michigan	No public hotline	No active website
WI	Green Lake	Green Lake Ice Yacht Club	Local ice condition updates for Green Lake Wisconsin	No public hotline	No active website
WI	Madison	Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club	Ice condition reports and race updates for Lakes Mendota, Monona, Waubesa and Kegonsa	(608) 347-3513	More Info

Share Your Story & Photos

Drop us a note with your story and a photo – We’d love to share it – Click Here.

More Jersey Iceboating Posts

About the Author

Brooks Betz is a researcher and writer for Mr. Local History and the New Jersey History Project, focusing on uncovering overlooked stories, places, and people that shaped New Jersey and American life. His work draws on archival newspapers, maps, photographs, and firsthand accounts to turn forgotten details into clear, engaging History. The approach is best described as HistoHistory, a Social Twist, grounded in personal references and firsthand knowledge gained through years of research, interviews, and on-site exploration.

The only thing I remember more is the people I friended along the way. It’s been years since I thought about them all, and now I’m inspired to rekindle some of those friends, memories, and hopefully make a few new ones. Mr. Local History & Gambit Iceboat DN Painting – Mr. Local History (aka Brooks Betz, Basking Ridge, New Jersey). I can be reached at brooksatmrlocalhistory.org. “Be Safe and Sail Fast.”

Our Readers’ Top 10 MLH Posts this Week