Tom
The motor turns just like and outboard does, the boat however doesn't turn as quickly as with and outboard. The boat is only a 12ft and it has about 3 inch runners welded along two of the bottom ribs. You can see the runner in the photo where the green ends and grey starts on the side shot. I'm guessing it will turn better with and inch or so of snow on the ice. When I was on smooth ice it took quit a wide turn as it will slide side ways unless it catches rough ice or a soft spot. Being as how I have only had it out the first time I'm thinking I'll figure out more what it can and can't do. I know from talking with others that own scratcher and from my walleye fishing boat slidding, that they don't like soft ice, slush, deep snow. Pretty much anything that would slow down a sled will slow or stop the boat. I know enough to not go out without oars and Pike pole minimum. If you break thought the ice and do not know how to get your boat back on good ice you can really get screwed. I've been messing around on the ice my whole life so I have a pretty good idea of what scares me.
As far as the question about the speed I really don't know yet. It don't feel that fast to me and this boat only has a 5hp motror! I plan to take my GPS with on most future trips, so I'll get a ground speed from that. I personnally don't think it is something I'd want to be going really fast with anyway. Turning fast I could see catching a ridge and flipping??? Falling through thin ice or hitting something sticking up throught the ice at higher speed might not be to cool either. Like anything else when things go wrong speed can mean the differance in the damage.
Mostly time will tell what I think of the rig overall as a tool, it's just a toy for me at this point.
Mac
