Finally got out on the ice with the buggy. Plenty of ice but light wind all week. A warm front came through this weekend so that may be the end of ice sailing here. We'll see

Wed was the better of two sessions working a 6m Gin Eskimo. I should of put up the 8.5 or 11.5





Temp hit 55f here today and the wind was very light, 2-6mph. Slow slush ice with a lot of waiting around for wind. None of the ice boats were able to get going. A guy on the ice had a Gopro drone and sent a link, last 2 videos are from today

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/uh1b658kak309mu/FNj-OJCb4p

Very cool! Thanks for sharing.

Jim- i like it even underpowered seemed you were able to ride while the iceboats sat still. Do the ice boats get in the way like the blokarts do? or is the space big enough that it is a non event
thanks for sharing
scott

You were getting along pretty well! I'd love to try that someday.

That looked pretty awesome, thanks for sharing

How hard is it to make blades for the buggy? Is there anything that keeps the blades from rotating or does just the weight of the rider and buggy? Cool video especially the drone footage.

Pretty sharp, I may have to ditch the wooden carriers for my blades and weld them up into some taller steel blades like yours. Your vid is exactly what I want to be doing with my iceboat/buggy!

Scott, Those Ice boaters have generations of sailing exp. It's the oldest iceboat club in the country. Founded 1880.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZye7HgDuIM

They are old school purists but turned some heads when I got going in just a puff of wind on rotten ice. As soon as they saw me going, a few tried to sail but no go. I was out with an 11.5m Gin Eskimo in the video. Could of went bigger
When we were out the first day in better wind, we were all sailing pretty much the same tack so really no issues. The river is much larger then the hardpack at Wildwwod.
Upwind abilities between us was about equal as well. Went far downwind and came back in 2 tacks, the same as the iceboats.

ssayre, The runners/blades I got here from a PKF member last year. I think they were made for Libre buggies. 17" long. They ride on bearings so they rotate with the contour of the surface.
I made a wooden kite iceboat a few years ago and used DN iceboat runners and blocks. They pivot as well. That boat is 11' long x 8' wide. Runners are almost twice as long as the buggy runners. Not nearly as nimble. Turns are wider but the ride is much smoother. I only got out once with the wood boat, but I think she will haul ass in the right conditions if I have the balls to let her rip. Might get back out this weekend if the ice holds.

Here's a screnn shot US10 - JayMz...

Don't you just love the sound of rumbling across the ice!

That's great!
:D
BTW who is the music? Sounds like Mogwai?

Love the vids!! So seldom we get ice conditions like that Nice job on the ice boat

Thanks Guys. And Thank you djinnzfree for the screen shot.

Ice is a rare treat here as well. Last ice was 2009 and it only lasted a week or two. The River is salt water and a few miles from the Atlantic.
Yesterday we got 7 inches wet snow with more tonight turning to rain tomorrow. Then back into the teens overnights. Ice should be back through the weekend

Chris, the song in the first video is Ethel by Russian Circles off their new release Memorial. The song in the kite boat video is Verses off their album Station. Post Rock/Metal at it's best. Similar to Mogwai but heavier with a Tool influence.

Memorial http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klVU-O5M-jA

Station http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFzAd4PNCaY

Really interesting, i have to consider that one cause it its really fun to watch...

Quote: Originally posted by Feyd

That's great! :D BTW who is the music? Sounds like Mogwai?

NBC Sports has found the best band you never heard.
Russian Circles song Mladek is used in the NBC Sports commercial airing during the Olympics. If only they showed a kite, it would be perfect.





Mladek live in NYC last night

Quote: Originally posted by ssayre

How hard is it to make blades for the buggy? Is there anything that keeps the blades from rotating or does just the weight of the rider and buggy? Cool video especially the drone footage.

Nice !

Like you , our ice days are few and far between. I am wondering if you think you would have gotten away with studded tires on a buggy ? Or would the rolling resistance mean too little wind ? Have you tried tires and studs ?

Big points for getting going before the Ice Boats !

With temps in the 50's now our Ice and snow cover is DONE Time to start thinking about soft water and sand.

Ken, I would think that studded tires would work fine, just more resistance and not as fast. On dirt bikes with studded tires, you get crazy lean angles on ice with tons of grip. We've used Kold Kutter screws which screw into the knobby blocks of a dirt bike tire. I dunno how you would stud a smooth or ribbed buggy tire but I'm sure there is a tire out there that may work

There's always the bicycle chain method. I dug up an earlier thread and saw where someone had put a bicycle chain around the buggy tire. It was made to fit snug when the tire was aired up. I was wanting to try that and never got around to it this year.