Ice boats were used for getting to the mainland untill 1917 when the first ice-breaking car-rail ferry was used between P.E.I. and the mainland. Until then, when the ferries could not run, men would walk across the ice. If there was water, they would sail or row across it, and when they hit ice, they would drag the ice boat across the ice again.

Ice boats were made of wood and metal, and the sail was made of canvas. Canvas is heavy material, so it would not snap off or rip. It was a very sturdy material.

Ice boats had oars to get across the water if there was not enough wind. This photo was taken in 1890.

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