2010 Fish House Build

[spotty]

Looks great. Have you used hydraulics in the winter before on a house. I like that idea. I would use ATF fluid in the tank though. It's thin enough that your hydraulics will still work even in the bitter cold. It also has cleaning agents so it won't rust due to condensation in the cylinders and tank when it's not in use.

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

Looks great. Have you used hydraulics in the winter before on a house. I like that idea. I would use ATF fluid in the tank though. It's thin enough that your hydraulics will still work even in the bitter cold. It also has cleaning agents so it won't rust due to condensation in the cylinders and tank when it's not in use.

I haven't personally, but I know a fair number that have. I can't imagine doing it any other way for the few $ extra.

[bigu66]

Hey Ripper. How exactly did you do your siding? How did you get even pressure when you glued the siding on?

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

The aluminum siding is glued to the studs. I used bar clamps and 2x4s to hold the siding in place until the glue dried.

[BartmanMN]

Big Buck Buster, are you trying to sell your yellow fish house from last year right now online? I see one out there and was wondering if it was yours, since I know you have built quite a few and seem to know what your doing.

[Big Buck Buster]

That is not mine. However, it is the house that I built for him, and the same house that is pictured on here.

You mean this one:

[Duke82]

Did you clamp the top and bottom and run a 2x4 on the outside to hold it tight till the glue dried?

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

Ran the 2x4's vertically, and clamped them at the top and bottom. The bottom of the sheets had 3m VHB, so there was no need for clamps-it sticks instantly.

[BartmanMN]

Yes, that is the house that is forsale. I remember whatching your build process on that one. http://www.hotspotoutdoors.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/2179365/8

Would be an awesome house for someone to pick up. A lot of competition at that price, but for a customized house with all the right products, you couldn't go wrong.

[Bothun]

I hope that the company you had foam the house did the clean up and scraped the studs clean. I'm a foamer and any company that doesn't clean up there work after the job is complete is just plain lazy. (unless this was stated at time of sale and the price was reduced)

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

I hope that the company you had foam the house did the clean up and scraped the studs clean. I'm a foamer and any company that doesn't clean up there work after the job is complete is just plain lazy. (unless this was stated at time of sale and the price was reduced)

I got what I paid for, and I took the low bid...

The 2 days I spent cutting and grinding the overspray was not worth the $75 I saved. In fact, I would have paid many times that when it was over 100 degrees and I was wearing goggles and a dust mask, covered in insulation bits. My mistake was that I assumed everyone would have done the cleanup, and when you assume......

[Bothun]

The sad thing is you shouldn't have even had to assume they would do the clean up.. I have never even heard of a company not doing that.

[NAG]

Great looking house!! I have a couple questions if you have time to answer.

1.) How did you attach your walls to the trailer?

2.) What type of wood did you use for the roof and is it sspray foamed to? 2x4's and 1/2" plywood?

3.) Did you use tongue and groove on the ceiling to?

[Cast A Way]

Did you use 2 x 4s for the bunks?? I am about to build mine and am going to span 90 inches for my top bunk. Thought about using 2 x 3 frame with a 1/2" top and paneled bottom for the bunk to keep the weight down and 2 x 3s for the wall supports hoping not to have to use any chain or cables to help hold it up.

[kevfish1]

i would use 2x4 for da bunk. Unless you know only little people will use it. Nothing worse than a bunk come crashing down. wont make dat much difference in da total weight.

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

I used ripped 2x4's covered with 1/2" plywood. There is a little bounce, but nothing that would ever break.

[niterydr]

Still waiting for the final virtual tour. Nice build!

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

I actually haven't done much on the house in the last month or so. Going to be starting a new build for a friend tonight, so the final details on mine will have to wait a bit.

[svonasek]

Were you able to find the vhb and glue locally or did you have to order it?

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

I got the VHB off either Amahzon or ehBay. I paid $150 for 4 rolls, vs about $600 for 4 rolls locally. It's good stuff for metal on metal, but will not work for wood to metal. PL Premium took care of that.

[Big Buck Buster]

The VHB will work on wood applications if you either varnish or epoxy paint the wood before you put the VHB tape on. This is what the direction said from 3M.

[Carpenter]

Lip Ripper, thanks for the play by play! Wow for a nice shack!! Would you mind sharing what you have into the build? And how much it weighed in the end? Thinking the trailer was the biggest investment?

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

I'm at $11,000, and still have a few more receipts to add up. It'll end up right around $11,500 ready to hit the ice (figuring nothing for labor). Frame was about $3,400 including tax. The total sounds like a lot, but it includes:

Hydraulic frame w/brakes

All LED running lights

Smooth aluminum siding (no screws)

Diamond plate trim

Rubber roof

Entry door with window and screen door

2 windows

Spray foam floor, ceiling and walls

50 year warranty AdvanTech floor w/Herculiner coating

Professionally built cabinets & countertops

3 batteries & 3 bank 30 amp Minn Kota onboard charger

Tongue & groove interior

Forced air furnace

Stove

All LED interior lights (3-overhead & 6-hole lights)

Car stereo w/4 6x9s

Mattresses covered w/marine vinyl

Foam pads for the wheel wells w/camo covers, and a table on a removable pedestal base

Propane tank holder & dual auto-change-over regulator

Camo curtains (a must!)

I didn't really set a budget per say for this, but I had a rough estimate of around $9-10k. It is remarkable how quickly the little things add up to be $100here, $100there. I saved a ton of money by buying supplies online (would have spent another $1500-2000 buying locally). I really enjoy building fish houses...starting one for a friend right now, 8x14 + 3'v, and I'm going to build a 8x24 Taj Mahal for myself in spring. This one came together quickly in terms of labor hours, but there was a lot of advance planning and time spent looking for the best prices on materials.

With 3 batteries & 2 full propane tanks, I am at 3500#.

[Carpenter]

Thanks Lip_Ripper!

Had our first little fisherman this year. Trying to figure out how to explain to mama that this will be better...for him...to fish out of than my Frabill 3man sled portable.

Now all we need is ice!!

(but the boat isn't going away for another month)

[crappiebuster]

Most extensive wheel house build chronicle I've ever seen. Kinda gives a guy an idea of all the work that goes into it. How many hours of labor do you figure you have in it?