Wheel house interior question

[MJ1657]

If funds will allow I might be in the market for a wheel house.

I am trying to decide if I want to buy one with an interior or do it myself. My question is for the guys that have finished one themselves. Did you save any money by doing it yourself? I know when you do it yourself its exactly how you want and its much nicer. Im talking strictly did you save any money.

My plan is knotty pine and or cedar, bathroom in half of the v and 3 or 4 bunks. Probably no cook top.

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

I would say its probably going to end up a wash cost wise, but you will end up with exactly what you want, and probably higher quality.

Watch Menards for buy one get one free 5/16" tongue and groove. It is usually pine, but I have seen them do it with cedar.

[MJ1657]

Thanks lil ripper. Whats anyones thought on using pine? Its obviously cheaper and I like the look of pine trimmed out with cedar.

[SapperACE]

I used the 5/16 knotty pine in my house 2 years ago, and it is holding up great and looks awesome.

As far as the question of finishing yourself compared to buying one complete, I think you can save alot doing it yourself, especially if you consider the quality. The Lodges and the Salem's are the hightest quality houses i've seen on the market, but even those don't compare to the quality of mine. I have about $8000 into my finished house after buying a top quality shell. A simular sized lodge or salem to mine would cost you $12000 to $15000 complete.

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

That's exactly what I used-pine trimmed with cedar. It should hold up just fine as long as you seal it, and keep it from sitting in water.

[MJ1657]

Thanks for the input guys. Your house looks great Sapper. Curious what brand and the size of your houses.

[Mid-Lake Rock]

Try to get the cook top w/ stove if possible. I wasn't planning on using one. Ended up installing one like in the post above. I use it all the time. Pizza, brats, breakfast food, casserole, etc. I also learned from a resort owner that those cook tops also come in handy if you have a problem with the heater. My cooktop can heat my 16x8.

I used the same pine as the ones above. Check every week at Menards and it will go on sale for buy one get one free.

[iffwalleyes]

I might have deal for ya on a cook top. I am looking to add a gas range/stove to mine. Only have a cook top now. I would put it in there you will use it more than you think.

[MJ1657]

You guys are probably right that I should have a cook top at least.

[SapperACE]

I would have to agree with all of the above posts. An oven/stove is a must! Personally, I rarely use the cook top, but my oven seems to run constantly. Frozen pizzas, hot ham and cheese sandwiches and baked fish (my favorite). If you plan on doing any overnight fishing, an oven/stove is a must. Jakes RV salvage in Fairmont usually has several brand new ones on hand for $250-$300. Money well spent in my opinion.

In response to your earlier question, My shell is a shack rack frame with a polar palace enclosure. The same guy does both, but he recently went out of business. I would check out Performance Engineering. Just google them. They build a really nice shell at a great price.

[MJ1657]

Ill check performance out. Im also going to look at a Carsellas. I want it to have a spear hole and Ive heard he has done that.

[SapperACE]

I have seen a few of those carsella's. They look like a good house. I have seen others on this forum saying that they have had issues with them though. I'm talking administrative issues (i.e. not getting done on time) not structural or construction or anything like that. Other that that I think that would be a good starting point.

[MJ1657]

Is 6 or 6.5 wide big enough for 3 or 4 bunks or do you have to go to 8 foot wide for it to be comfortable.

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

If you go in a 6.5' wide house, and then an 8' wide house back to back, there is no comparison at all. The 8' wide feels like a stadium. The 6.5' wide feels like a long narrow hallway. If you are thinking of putting bunks on the side walls, I wouldn't even consider 6.5'.

[SapperACE]

I totally agree with ripper. 3 or 4 bunks in a 6.5 wide house will be very tight. His comparison between the hallway and stadium is so true.

[MJ1657]

I figured that was the deal. Looks like 8.5 would be the way to go.

[hawkeye43]

Mine is 8.5x 12, I wish now I would have put a spear hole now. But I think my new house might be sold. Time to start over.

[MJ1657]

How big will you go with the next house?

[hawkeye43]

I was thinking smaller and tonight on the way home I saw 8.5x18 frame, all stainless steel that weighs 1120 lbs that caught my eye. I can see that the wheels in my head are going to be turning tonight.

I don't need to sleep out in the house like I use too. I need to be able to move quickly and get away from people. I have found more fish that way then anything. A quad with tracks and a light weight house with skis that can be ready to moved in 30 seconds is what I thinking about.

[MJ1657]

Reading through several of the fish house build threads has gave me most of the info I was looking for.

Now I just have to decide on how big of a house to buy. I'm open to any advice.

[Huey]

MJ- If you'd like any help working on this fishouse, let me know. I'd be happy to help.

I'd like to build a similar house, but it will be a few years the dream will be reality for me. A wheel house is on my list of things that I want, but can't afford and have no place to store.

[MJ1657]

Sounds good Huey. I'm not sure yet if its in my budget.

[B-man715]

Hey MJ, for size it all depends on how many people you plan to take fishing. For the misses and I, my 12x6.5 hydro shack is perfect. We can fish 3 people, but two is comfortable. My buddy on the other hand is married with 2 young boys. He has an 8x18 with a bathroom and it works out perfect. It's also big enough for 4 guys to go on a LOW trip, we just bring a cot or 2.

[MJ1657]

I want to be able to sleep 4 people. Im definitely going with a v eight foot wide. I was hoping 8 x 14 would be big enough.

[LightningBG]

I think you can get away with a 8x14. Its just going to be a little tight while the bunks are down (assuming you'll use bunks). But that shouldn't matter if you're sleeping. Just have to make sure someone can get to the rattle reels.

Here is where I would start off for planning....

Assuming you dont need a bathroom. Put a cabinet up in the V.

Space for the stove/oven, furnace, batteries in the bottom side.

Cabinets above for food, tools, etc.

on the wall between the cabinets, TV.

Bench in back with a fold down bunk above.

bunks on each of the side walls, that can be folded up and chained/latched to the wall.

This is to scale. 8x14 (+V) all beds are 6.5ft+, 34 inches wide.