New Design of Portable Ice Houses

[northernsportman]

I am designing a portable fish house for my engineering class, what features would you guys like to see in a portable fish house? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

[redseal]

Built in wind turbine, flushable toilet, elbow room

[tsande00]

What style of portable are you designing?

[Hardyboy]

Everyone is modding in lighting and switches so factory built ins would be cool. And another idea would be a built in tackle storage,something vertical for jig boxes to stand up in.

[northernsportman]

I'm thinking flip-over on a sled would be best, but I'm open to other ideas.

[CJH]

1) LED lights integrated into the tub interior and exterior where the tent opens up. Lion battery packs could easily power these lights and some accesories. (like the ones used in modern cordless power tools)

2) Comfortable boat style chair that doesn't weigh 30 pounds!! Fold away?

3) Integrated storage-lots of options here for tackle, equipment, flashers, etc....

4) Some type of rack to hold the auger.

5) Better rope/harness for those of us that pull by hand.

6) Build skis into the bottom of the sled for easier pulling. Frabill had something like this for a while on their more expensive houses, not sure what happened to it. (haven't been shopping for a new house in 5 years)

These should give you some design ideas!!!

[dairyman]

something with rod storage---------

[Get'n Jiggy]

insulated

[herefish101]

built in storage in the sled, for propane tank, heater, rods, everything you need integrated into one sled, all in its own compartment so it can't slide around.

[leech~~]

I am designing a portable fish house for my engineering class, what features would you guys like to see in a portable fish house? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Maybe some kind if light weight sections that would lay flat on a sled and erect qwickly in the wind and cold into a nice size hard wall porty would be nice? Fast setup like a Hub without the problem of holding the darn things down in the wind would be great! Hope you pass the class and make a millon $$ with what ever idea you come up with. We "your future" customers are pulling for you!

[northernsportman]

Great ideas so far! Keep em coming please!

[fishing tech]

Hangers for your jackets, integrated wiring harness for a 1 battery system to run led lights, vex, camera and whatever.

Room for 2-3

moveable seats

[magicstix]

You have to define portable first. Walking or pulling with a ATV or sled.

When I hear portable, I think of lightweight, walking. I believe the manufactur have gotten away from lightweight.

Any metal should be aluminum. Alum. bench seat that flips forward so you can access the tub.

[leech~~]

Great ideas so far! Keep em coming please!

Now, you have to start thinking about if you are going to be graded on costs to build and manufacture your design? Do you design and build a new type of overall system affordable to the masses? Or do you build a great working one with lots of options? Remember most manufactures build a house then charge extra for the option add-on's later! How do you keep it affordable? Huum?

[Bigtom]

A built in heater that is under your seat with two vents that come out by your legs.

Also a weighted bottom on the sides so your house does not have to be banked and the wind won't blow in.

[slammer]

Some kind of center console to house electronics that flips out of the sled. Built in lights and switches with compartments for everything and anything. Dont forget the cup(beer) holders!!!

[harvey lee]

This will be a very expensive portable.

[fishing tech]

Sounds like a permanent shack.

[hoggs222]

How about some sort of solar panel on top of the tent to maintain this power system?

[Sonicrunch]

This will be a very expensive portable.

I want a rocket pack attached so I can make trips to the moon and back.

[Stringerless!]

Camo material so I can use it as a ground blind 2 . Round bale pattern ?

[dmichaelm]

Lightweight floor integrated into a hub style shelter. All one piece.

[crappiekid]

black material to absorb the sun

insulated for moisture and effiency in fuel consuption.

Flip over tub style

zipper door in front and back

2 vents

12 volt power center that can plug into your truck and or a portable carry battery

built in fan to move air

led lights built into the piping

open floor pan in tub as some of us use the tub to tow equipment / stow away gear. Frabill style windows that are detachable so a person can replace the cracked ones.

A plastic sled that wont wear or crack.

MOUSE PROOF MATERIAL!!!!!!!!!!!!

yes this will be a spendy house but one that will last a life time.

good luck and call me when you complete this as i will buy it from you !!! I get the patent.

[Tom7227]

After spending a lot of time with my son on an engineering product I have to give you the advice I gave him - it has to be affordable. All of these ideas are great but they increase the price, and the weight, to the point that it will be tough to market. The previous poster who pointed out that the current makers have lots of stuff they sell as add ons has the right thought. It gives versatility and the chance for additional sales - which probably will be more profitable than the base unit. If you chose to get fancy then I think you should design the items to be add ons and allow for more profit and individuality by owner. It's made Harley dealers rich.

Which led me to an idea - some sort of ability to personalize the exterior with decals or some type of paste on jobberdos. Those look a like blue and green ones don't allow for self-expression.

[TroutYammer]

Make one just like the Cabaelas pop-up hubs (made by Clam) but implement better quality control on the manufacturing floor with special attention to seam quality and placement. Use higher quality metal for the hub/bolt assmeblies (try stainless) and engineer better zippers into the unit for durability.

You will be able to charge a few more bucks for the quality that is lacking in the current Clam/Cabelas units.