Newer fiberglass boats and skim ice

Just wondering how folks with newer fiberglass boats handle early spring and late fall skim ice. Avoid it completely? Just go slow?

Skim isn’t a problem at all for the fiberglass. I’m more worried about the transducers considering some of these are north of $1k now.

LOL. Great memory. A few years ago a Bud and I went out to catch some ring perch on their way to wintering area. If you hit it right at this spot, you will catch perch after perch on crappie or walleye jigs, without meat. Well we got there a day late and there was skim ice and I proceeded to go through it with my boat. A glass Skeeter. My buddy was flipping out! We broke up the ice and did catch some Ringers, but missed the great bite. As soon as we had the boat on trailer on dry land my Bud was on his back looking for damage to my boat. NONE. I said heck we were only going 40 MPH. Joke there, all at idle. Anyways, fiberglass is ok for skim ice, but not like a plate aluminum rig. Thanks for the funny memory.

I worry more about transducer or electronics

olas88 wrote:

Just wondering how folks with newer fiberglass boats handle early spring and late fall skim ice. Avoid it completely? Just go slow?

Get right through it. It’s the only way. Launching is the only concern

Send it

Skim ice is really common on Superior, we see a lot of it in the spring.

I run through it on plane all of the time (seriously). It’s never left a single mark. Just keep your eyes open for ice bergs and dodge those when you see them.

There’s times when I have to run through miles of it just to find open water.

The reward can be bountiful. The state record muskie caught last November on Mille Lacs was caught by a guy who had to battle skim ice to get out to the main lake. After they fished for a couple hours and came back to the access, it was fully locked back up with ice.

B-man wrote:

Skim ice is really common on Superior, we see a lot of it in the spring.

I run through it on plane all of the time (seriously). It’s never left a single mark. Just keep your eyes open for ice bergs and dodge those when you see them.

There’s times when I have to run through miles of it just to find open water.

What kind of boat do you run?

It’s a 208 Grady White. I used to have a 186 Tyee GL and never caused any damage to that either.

And just to be clear, we’re talking skim ice, like a 1/4″ or less.

If the landing is iced up with anything thicker than skim ice, when you back in, have someone in the boat smashing the ice where your transducer is going in. A shovel, broom handle, chisel, stick, etc will work.

Then be sure to drain your trailer before exiting the ramp. The next guy will appreciate it.

The risk is thicker ice in your prop. Hull will push through and spread skim ice. If breaking through. Thicker stuff, you can bust a blade off chewing ice

Never wrecked a transducer from ice. Probably broken over 800 acres of the stuff with the same ducers still on the transom.

Skim I just drive through, slowly… though I have full sent through 5 miles of skim.

I use to run my surface drive mud motor setup on a .125 thick welded aluminum duck boat through the ice alot. It would take some paint off the bottom but no dents. On the thicker ice the boat would just climb on top and go into a slide. More than once we had to get out and push the boat because we got onto thicker ice and it wouldn’t drop thru. An expensive fiberglass hull would make me a little nervous though.

I’ve run the Ranger through a lot! P2 while the Mn is letting loose. Go slow and you will be fine.

Been through skim ice with a new fiberglass boat and didn’t think twice.
Glass is tough. More than skim and well the pucker told me to wait a day or two.