ice boat sketch 1Over the past 20 year or so Gary Eklof from Lake Minnetonka invented and manufactured a low cost ice boat called the Slicer. With the clever use of his own castings, Gary used commonly available 2” pipe, mixed sailing hardware and outsourced boom, mast and a sail by Bowers to offer an ice boat under $2000.

The boat was 10’ LOA x 7’ 10” wide with an 18’ mast and 6’ boom. Main sail is 50 sq. feet. A molded seat with a back rest was the body. It was designed as a starter boat and as a fun boat for experienced pilots who wanted to sail locally instead of driving 700 miles for clean ice.

In the winter of 2015 my brother Ric and I each bought used Slicers from early buyers at Gary’s recommendation--the first 0 boat went to Ric and the 8 boat for me. I asked around about the Slicer's sailing habits. The upshot was to make longer runners for a harder bite in stronger wind, tighten up the casting/pipe joints and to extend the length/width of the boat closer to DN specs. Oh and make a body for wind protection.

I had the unfortunate occasion to lie in a DN and I don’t know how you guys do it. This Slicer, which I’m going to call Slicer Magnum, is going to have an upholstered more upright seat because hey, I’ll be 75 and I want my back to remain part of my body.

The Concept

I want to build a wind defeating body but one with style on a small scale of course. This was the back-of-the napkin idea.

ice boat sketch 2

3D Modeling

And we begin. This is going to shock ice boaters but no plans will be drawn to craft this thing up. I’ll send more photos as I go and you can determine if no plans was a good way to go.

ice boat 2 ice boat 3

ice boat 1


Slicer rebuild report, 11/20/2024

The hull is now done after 8 years. That number 8 is Gary Eklof’s manufacturing order.

slicer ice boat nov 2024 1 th slicer ice boat nov 2024 2 th slicer ice boat nov 2024 3 th slicer ice boat nov 2024 4 th slicer ice boat nov 2024 5

Slicer rebuild report, 10/22/2024

Painting is done. Next is graphics. This year I shifted into high gear because I’ll turn 83 in a couple of months and I want to sail it once before I croak.

Slicer rebuild report, 9/29/2024

Bottom complete. I sprayed bottom with rubberized Flex Seal to fill all the wood pores.

Slicer rebuild report, 10/31/16

Body and seat are formed and in primer.

  

Seat in orange and black to compliment exterior colors.

slicer ice boat oct 2016 4 th slicer ice boat oct 2016 5 th

Slicer rebuild report, 9/24/16

Now it’s beginning to look more like the intended drawing and models. Next steps are 1) installing floatation foam, 2) body finishing and 3) cutting holes in the bottom for my steering feet—then comes the paint.

  

Next report will show metal running gear. I’ve been humping to beat the cold weather because paint doesn’t dry well in cold temps. You can see the new seat which was made from four 3/16" plywood pieces fiber glassed together and the foam cushion has been shaped and tomorrow goes off to the upholster.


Slicer rebuild report, 9/7/16

Now you can see this thing looking more like the drawings and models. It’s been tough trying to think through all the human and mechanical specs that the hull has to encompass.

 

That black spray stuff is Duratech, which is a two-part high-build primer. It will allow me to fill and seal all the wood grain and create a smooth surface for paint. The hull is limited to 8-feet plywood sheets, which is right for this small boat. I’m trying to create as many dead space cavities as I can to fill with pour-foam polyester for floatation.

 

I know the boat looks high but its highest point is 21”. I’ve been working hard on this project before it gets cold, which would inhibit painting, and so I can get back to my motorcycle and snowmobile projects and customer work.