hammocks in fish houses

[canoepaddle]

Question; Has anyone considered using hammocks in your wheel fish houses? I'm interested in getting a wheel fish house but I want an open floor plan so I can maximize the available floor space for fishing. I'm wondering if anyone as looked at using hammocks as their sleeping platforms? I use one on my trips to BWCA and I think with the right set up they would work great for sleeping in a wheel house at night with the ability to take down when not in use. I'm thinking I would have a set up of 4 hammocks that totally go away during when it's time to fish. Anyone else use this?

Let me know.

Thanks,

canoepaddle

[blakeb]

sounds like darn good idea

[picksbigwagon]

I think it would work, but from experience watching friend of mine topple off of the top of a three tier bunk and crashing to floor to get a rattle wheel, I think hammock experience would be needed, especially if you tip a few before bed, especially in a sleeping bag

[Ryan_V]

I LOVE the idea!!! We have bunks/beds in our permy, but as an extra when there's one more along for the weekend, that's sounds very interesting!!! i might give it a try. I have a hammock, all I need is to lag a couple eye bolts into a joist and away we go!!

[chris63]

I know of old-timers who used to use heavy canvas between two bars for beds.They would roll them up+in/out with ease.This system is more solid/safe than hammocks.Have fun don't fall in! c63

[herefish101]

the problem with a hammock in a wheel house, there are a couple. First off alot of wheel houses are only 6.5 feet wide, that is not enough room to strech a hammock across, maybe in an 8 foot wide shack. The other problem is the walls of most wheel houses are 2x2 framed, I dont think you would want to put that kind of latteral stress on such a skinny wall. It would work if you hung them from the celing, but it would be hard to sleep when your folded in half. Good idea for a perm, but my two cents, i dont see it working in a wheel house.

[cold one sd]

I know of old-timers who used to use heavy canvas between two bars for beds.They would roll them up+in/out with ease.This system is more solid/safe than hammocks.Have fun don't fall in! c63

I'm one of those old timers. I used 2" iron pipe and canvas in an old converted pop up camper. In the morning I would just hang the outside pipe in a cradle on the wall above the other pipe and start fishing. My sleeping bag would fold up to be about 6" wide and if I didn't want a bump on one end I would throw the pillows in my pickup. My son and I went this way for about ten years and would do it again. I have a single storage box/bunk in my wheel house at this time anyone staying with me at night furnishes their own cot and bedding. In the morning the cots and stuff go out and stay in the pickup until it is time for them to be used again. I have some extra room this way.

[rugbymn]

I think a cot would be better. Like one poster above said, the studs in a fish house wall aren't going to be strong enough to bear that kind of load pulling on it.

I have a cot and it works just fine and folds up pretty small, too. The only thing to be aware of is that the under side of the cot gets pretty chilly if you don't have an insulated floor. Bring a blanket to put under you and it will help insulate the cot.

[canoepaddle]

I understand the question about the strength of the walls. I envision using an aluminum frame in the walls and roof to provide the needed strength. Depending on the length of the house, I may need to make holders on the wall to drop in a cross bar. After using hammocks for camping the last couple of years, they are so comfortable to sleep in and they would be easy set up and take down, with maximum floor space for fishing. Just thought I'd see what others thought. Thanks for the comments

canoepaddle

[herefish101]

I understand the question about the strength of the walls. I envision using an aluminum frame in the walls and roof to provide the needed strength. Depending on the length of the house, I may need to make holders on the wall to drop in a cross bar. After using hammocks for camping the last couple of years, they are so comfortable to sleep in and they would be easy set up and take down, with maximum floor space for fishing. Just thought I'd see what others thought. Thanks for the comments

canoepaddle

I hope you didd'nt think my post said this was'nt a good idea, because it's a great idea, I just think you would need to custom build your shack, or as you said put in a cross bar to help the walls share the load. There is nothing better than an open floor inside a shack, and hammocks are very comfy. Good luck.

[motley man]

The roll-up canvas bunks work great and only take about 4" of wall space rolled up. Punch it up on web to see how to make them.

[canoepaddle]

No problem herefish, I'm just looking to combine my love of sleeping in a hammock and the potential of doing it in a nice wheelhouse. I grew up in an 8x8 permanent with two fold out beds. Great with only 2 but if you were the third or fourth and had to sleep on the floor, lets just say that was a very cold night. I figure I have several hammocks for camping and can use them in a fishhouse if I build it right. Just wondering if anyone else had done it. While most have great fishouses with lots of comfort, I lean more toward nothing on the floor except comfortable chairs and maybe a base to put a pole and table when needed. Open floor plan leaves move room to have ice fishing holes.

canoepaddle