Home-built ice boat skims off White’s Pt. by Bill Caesar

WHITE’S POINT-Every true Islander knows that the best way to survive the Canadian winter is to make it as much fun as possible. To this end, Dave Organ of White’s Point outside Little Current has erected a 16-foot masterpiece of fun in his garage.

For years, Mr. Organ had been a “liquid sailor,” and often thought how neat it might be to carry on sailing through the winter months. The Strawberry Channel outside his front door often freezes solid with ice stretching miles down to Manitowaning, so the temptation to build an ice boat was very strong.

Finally, when he turned 73 last year, Mr. Organ knew the time had come. Scavenging bits and pieces from old boats and the lumber yard, he was able to assemble a truly remarkable machine based on the designs of a Canadian from northern Manitoba.

After a few weeks, he was ready to try out this invention, equipped with mast and sail, a pair of comfy seats, and three horizontal arms shod with skis. On New Year’s Day, “Dave’s Folly” was launched and sailed off to the south towards Sheguiandah, while a cold but enthusiastic crowd of neighbours cheered on the septuagenarian ice sailor.

Although the wind was light and there were some patches of snow, the boat was clocked at almost 32 kilometres per hour on its first outing. Fortunately there’s lots of winter left, so there could be lots of opportunity to see if it gets up to its rated speed of 80 kph.