New Ice Castle/need advice

[BLACKJACK]

Just popped for a new 6.5 x 14 ice castle, got some questions on outfitting it:

1) Is it worth spending $300 to spray foam the floor (2inches)?

2) Don't want my old auger spitting black gunk out the exhaust onto the walls, should I get an electric or one of the new propane ones?? Does the electric auger have enough 'juice' to drill 10-15 holes?? Does the propane auger still leave an exhaust smell?

3) The top bunk seems like quite a 'leap', what do people use to get up there?

4) Chairs, need some new ones, want something more comfortable than folding chairs, yet don't want them taking up too much floor space, what do you use?

5) Battery compartment is set-up for two batteries, two wires with alligator clamps, but nothing to hold that batteries in place, any recommendations on how to hold them down?

6) Can I just use the deep cycle trolling motor battery out of my boat?

6) Eventually I want to get a genrator and in-house charger, any recommendations on what kind of charger and size needed?

Thanks guys!!! I'm sure I'll have more questions!!

Bring on the ice!!!

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

1) Yes. It will make your house much warmer, and protect the flooring from moisture.

2) I use the Amsoil at 100:1 to avoid the oil and exhaust. I also keep the exhaust pointed away from the wall. Electric would be best.

3) Build a folding ladder, or even just one step on the wall.

4) We use the cloth camp chairs. They are pretty comfortable, and don't take up much space.

5) You can get a battery tray with a tie down from Fleet Farm.

6) Deep cycle is what you want. The one out of the boat should be fine.

7) I use the Minn Kota 330. 3 banks, 10 amps per bank. Better yet is the RV style "charge wizard".

[Iambjm]

I kinda like this idea. I am thinking of adding a couple in the area between my holes. they can be taken out when you don't need them, and they swivel so you can fish holes on either side.

[BLACKJACK]

Thanks Lipripper. I looked at that charger, if I'm only putting in two batteries, I could go with a two bank charger like the MK 220D, correct?

Found the battery trays already, duh.

Amsoil would be a good alternative to an electric, if I can't afford one.

A ladder probably would be best, I have a four foot step ladder, but that would take up a lot of room... What do the rest of you guys do?

Lamb, that chair looks sweet but it also looks like a space sucker upper, even if you pull it out, then it either has to go out into the snow or back of the truck.

[iffwalleyes]

Here is what I have done

1. yes you will enjoy this greatly flip flops in the fish house man.

2. Use a smokeless oil as suggested. I don't like the idea of an electric auger but that just me.

3. I am in the process of building a ladder that will attach to the top bunk to help hold stuff in place on the bunk when in transit but will easily detach and work for the ladder.

4. Office chairs make excellant choice very comfortable. I found with fold up camp chairs I sat to far back and it became uncomfortable while trying to watch my flasher.

5. Simple ratchet strap will take care of this cheap and easy run it under the tray and around the batteries

6. exactly what I do you want deep cycle other wise you will always be charging batteries

7. If the generator is in the market for you. Look at a Honda or another brand that has a DC charging ability. The EU2000 would be a great generator for a fish house. My plan is to add a trolling motor plug on the exterior of my house that runs to my batteries so that when my generator is running it is both charging my batteries and then running any of my 110 items.

My though was that if I added a onboard charger I would spend 200-300 or so bucks and then still need a generator to run it the on board. So instead of spending that I put it towards the generator and paid a little more for the generator. If you don't plan on any weekend outtings then it would be ok to have and on board for when back from the trip. I was on LOW and after 2 days my two deep cycles were dead and I was scrambling to get power into them.

I am using a honda EB3000c nice generatory a little heavier but not bad. I found it on E bay for 700 bucks a heck of a deal brand new they are over 1200.

[clownshack]

1)I ran mine, 14x6.5 Ice Castle prowler, for 1 season without spray foam. Last year I sprayed 2" on the floor. If you bank your house well, you cant tell much of a difference. Makes a huge difference on clean ice.

2)Ice Gator. Reverse. Then laugh at people coughing, stinking and making a mess in their shack.

3)We use a folding chair,jump. not really enough room for a full size person on top anyway. I have just ended up lifting a few inebriated folks up there.

4) Cushioned folding chairs work for us. Easy to store.

5)I fit 3 trolling batteries in mine, couple of hooks and a bungee.

6)Best bet.

Extra 6)Was using a 3 bank marine and it worked all right till it decided not to work anymore. Last year we just brought along a 40 amp smart charge. None of the marine bank chargers I found could charge near as fast as 40 amps. Keeps the generator noise to just a hour or so per day if we need to top off a battery.

[BLACKJACK]

Thanks for the advice guys. My plan is that I will probably go on shorter, one night trips to start out, so the on board charger would be nice to just plug the house in when you get home, to charge them up. Then longer term, get a generator that can just be plugged into the house to charge the batteries while on the ice and also run 110 while I'm out there. Sound like a plan?

Still looking for a good idea on a ladder for the top bunk... Can use my four foot step ladder for awhile until then. Am also thinking about getting an easy setup cot, could be used for the second person, or a third person.

That spray foam insulation on the floor, if its exposed to the elements, road grime, wet snow and ice, mice, will it hold up?? Or does it need to be covered??

[BLACKJACK]

Another (electronics) question:

Went out and looked at a Minnkota 210D onboard charger, its a two bank charger. This ice castle is set up with an outside 110 plug for plugging into an outlet at home or a generator, then inside, under the bed it has an outlet, and two sets of black/red alligator clamps to hook to two batteries.

1) Any reason to go with a three bank charger if I only run two batteries? Or should I got with the three bank just in case I decide to run three batteries?

2) Do I need an invertor inside the fishhouse?? Besides the onboard charger, the only thing that I might want to run is a TV/DVD combo, I'll never put a HD screen in. And can't I buy a 12 volt TV to use?

3) Not understanding the invertor thats built into the Honda generators, that just to make them quiter, correct?

Thanks!! Bear with me, when when I start thinking about volts and amps, my brain fogs over....

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

1) Planning for expansion isn't a bad idea. With a forced air furnace, you'll probably want 3 batteries.

2) Never is a very long time!

3) The way I understand it, an inverter generator puts power out at 12v, and then "inverts" it to 110.

[Eelpout08]

I personally would go for an RV style converter/charger because it doesnt take much load to get past the 6 amps that the on-board chargers put out and then you wouldn't be charging the batteries even with the generator running.

Also keep in mind that it doesnt pay to have a multi-bank charger unless you are going to isolate the batteries with switches and only use one at a time. Otherwise they are all hooked together and for all practical purposes they are one battery.

[heat checker]

2x2 wooden ladder works well in ours. Hinge to top bunk, cut and hinge again width of top bunk down from top bunk, to fold up underneath top bunk when not needed. Couple of eye hooks to hold it there.

[d beyer]

What is the spray foam you guys are talking about for under the floor? The new house we just bought is not insulated on the floor. also where do you get it from? Thanks

[chad austin]

For the top bunk I would build a ladder that could double as a side rail to keep your inebriated friends from falling off the top bunk. Just make two of the "rungs" longer than the actual width of the ladder and get stake pocket brackets to mount to the side of the bunk. This will eliminate any storage issues with the ladder and your friends will thank you.

[larryz]

If your Ice Castle is wired the same as mine was one set of clamps is for the furnace and the other set for lights and outlets. On mine I ran three batteries, one for the lights etc. and the other two jumpered together for the furnace. This arrangement worked very well. I also charged the two jumpered together as well as the single with a 25 amp smart charger.

[BLACKJACK]

larry, thats exactly how my house is wired, it has two sets of wires with alligator clamps on them, plus it has a 110 plug where you can plug in your charger. I didn't realize one set of wires was for the house and the other the furnace.... Guess I should have asked more questions!!!

Why did you go with two batteries for the furnace? Does it take that much juice?

What kind of smart charger did you get?

[BLACKJACK]

Another question:

Will that spray foam hold up to the weather, moisture, road grit? or does it need to be covered? Or does it need to be painted? Hate to spend $300 on getting it spray foamed and then have it peel off in a few years.

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

The spray foam is rock solid when its finished. You will want to spray paint it, as I have read about UV causing it to break down.

[larryz]

If I remember right the furnace clamps had only one set of wires while the other clamps had several. I was told by many that two hooked together would last longer than the two individually, and yes the furnace takes a lot more juice than the lights and stereo that I installed under the tv shelf did.

It is a Vector 25, 10 and 2 amp charger. Model VEC1095APOB. It has worked well for me.