Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club

Santa has left us a big smooth pate of 5-6″ ice on Pushaw Lake. The rain didn’t bother it much; the plate is still tight to the shore.

Looking south into Goulds Landing, above, and below looking north up the lake.

These were taken yesterday, and this morning Bob called from the lake to say the the surface has dried and hardened over night. It could probably be sailed today, but let’s plan on tomorrow at Goulds Landing.
Forecast is sunny, 40, north 5-10. There are still some cracks and small drain holes, but the entire lake has not been scouted. Let’s do it tomorrow!

No wind on Pushaw Lake today, and as we couldn’t muster enough hope to pray we stayed home and did Christmas stuff. We are hoping the plate survives this next storm. This lake just cries out to be sailed and explored. But the ice on Sebec Lake is the best I’ve seen so far, and I would advocate for that venue post storm:

Sebec Lake Webcam

Is there anybody out there willing to drive to Dover-Foxcroft in the next day or two to have a look? CIBC used to sail there quite a bit. Please give me a call: 975-6980.

Doug Raymond and his daughter got some sailing in today on on Woodbury Pond in Litchfield. It happens to be right out Brianna’s back door, and they had just enough wind. Atop Mt. Washington today they had a 15mph breeze. This is basically light and variable for them, and means generally no wind to speak of anywhere in New England.

Notice the nice plank compression and boom bend.

And just if you have any doubt as to how much fun iceboating can be, check out these guys. DO try this at home:

▶ Ice boat Ледовый буер – YouTube

David Godin did a fly-over of Pushaw today and send a video clip which did not come through on the recent post.

Meanwhile, here’s news on Jeff Kester’s runner project:

I have received them back from the heat treater and am starting to edge. I have 2 extra sets of three:

· 1.4028 chromium martensitic stainless steel

· 0.246” thick

· RC 52-53

· Styled after Jack Jacobs alligators

· 42” side runners and 34” steer

This is a knife stainless steel, it has better corrosion resistance than 440C and at this hardness has much higher impact resistance. I am interesting in selling in any of the following conditions:

· Cut, Heat Treated, Straightened $ 550/set available now

· Cut, Heat Treated, Straightened, surface sanded, & edged $1175/set available within 4 weeks

· Complete with Carbon over wood core stiffeners $1850/set Ready for next season

I am edging mine to 80 degrees and have 90, 95, and 105 degree options as well. I added a reversing switch to my runner sander so both sides will be sanded from the same direction, this should make centering the edge more accurate.

Thanks,

Jeff Kester

716 499-9175

Nobody else showed up this morning, so after checking in with the Skaters to see if they were coming I started to rig. I figured their presence would satisfy the “don’t sail alone” rule. Turns out the bow runner was left at home, so I took one of my ice skates, found a block of 1″ wood, jammed it into the bow chock and lashed the skate to it. The boat would go straight, but wouldn’t turn. There were a few cracks around the island in the background, so I decided it was best if I went back. Had a nice downwind sail until I found that I was in the wrong bay and had to stop at a house to ask directions. One of the challenges of a variegated shoreline on an unknown lake.

There are a few who will try tomorrow in spite of the poor wind forecast. It’s a beautiful lake, a little complicated (like many beautiful things), and will be fun to explore.

I’d call the surface a five: not lovely but very sailable. See the directions to Gould’s Landing at the end of Essex Avenue in yesterday’s post. Set-up between 9:30 & 10:00. Pray for wind. Thanks to David and Karen Godin for this quick look at the worst crack:

Bob Lombardo skated around Pushaw today and shares this report and photos:

Okay here we go. Karl and I skated about 2hrs today around the perimeter of the new plate that slushed out and froze up . Its big, but not 5056 acres, maybe 1/3 of that. The good stuff is about 1/2 off of Goulds Landing which I will show a photo of. You will maybe need an 8′ plank in morning but maybe not, 14 degrees tonight and I almost was able to stand on the moat. The ice from shore out to the to good stuff is white with some slush underneath, and may not be solid in the morning so it may be a struggle to get out of the cove. Not being an ice boater or ice specialist I can’t say. But if you can get out there, which I know you can, then there is lots of firm grey orange peel ice to sail on. Pressure ridges yes, and you will have to scout them. The thing with them now is they are slushed over and some are hard to spot, but at 14 tonight you may be able to sail right over them. Goulds Landing is at the end of Essex St., the same Essex St. that runs thru Bangor. Best to drive outer Broadway past the shopping center and take one of those right hand turns that will take you over to Essex and then head out of town. Call me with questions 944-6802. Unless of course you have somewhere else to sail. I feel like I am going out on a limb but the ice is so nice to see after that shit weather yesterday. The pickpole hole and measure stick measures about 6″ mixed bag.

So there you have it. Thanks Bob. Any takers for this? North winds 5-10 forecast. Get the phones ringing!