Northumberland Strait iceboat

A Northumberland Strait iceboat is a rowing boat, typically 5 metres (16 ft 5 in) in length, 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) in beam, with runners fastened to the hull for dragging over sea ice.

[1] Constructed of wood, similar to fishing dories built in Atlantic Canada and New England, the iceboats were operated in the Northumberland Strait during the 19th century and early 20th century, running between Prince Edward Island and the mainland provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia during the winter months between December and April when sea ice made passage by non-icebreaking steam ships impossible.

[2] Throughout the 19th century, iceboats became an essential link to mainland North America for Prince Edward Island, transporting both mail and passengers.

There are several accounts of boats becoming mired in these conditions and oars being broken during attempts to row through the slush.

[citation needed] Original Northumberland Strait iceboats are preserved at the Northumberland Fisheries Museum[5] in Pictou, Nova Scotia as well as the Gateway Village tourism complex in Borden-Carleton, Prince Edward Island; an outdoor interpretive display can be seen in Cape Traverse (pictured).