Boating through ice

[michael_reiber]

The local marina has been frozen over with a very small amount of ice and we have just been breaking our way out super slowly like we normally do but someone had said the ice that thin can slice the gel coat and damage the fiberglass, which totally makes sense and we had never thought about that. What is everyone else's opinion on ice? Do you still go out of the marinas frozen over?

 

[mayday]

The local marina has been frozen over with a very small amount of ice and we have just been breaking our way out super slowly like we normally do but someone had said the ice that thin can slice the gel coat and damage the fiberglass, which totally makes sense and we had never thought about that. What is everyone else's opinion on ice? Do you still go out of the marinas frozen over?

hmm, a bit sceptical about that - we've played ice breaker lots of times over the years ( had to bust through some today in fact) - never noticed any issues on our waterline (33' glass boat)

 

[Tugcapitan]

Speed is the issue with thin ice and hull damage. With the right thickness and consistency it could slice the bottom of your hull half off! Taking it slow and breaking the small stuff up shouldn’t pose a problem worse than scratches.
Merry Christmas!

 

[Cuba Libre]

Buy a tin boat-- no worries......( but sure is noisy )

 

[Last Chance]

Had to icebreak through about 3 inches of the crap at West Bay Marina in 2009. That and a little water got in the Starboard water seperator and froze so we did it on one engine LOL. Fishing was good off of Clover though.

 

[Toba]

I've come out of a few marinas in ice in small fiberglass boats in double eagle and hourtsons. If you have someone with you put them on the bow to bash the ice with a paddle to have a small path. Never had a issue.