Outdoors Women Challenges

[Iambjm]

I reached a milestone this past weekend, I turned 65 years old. I have been reflecting a lot about my role as an "Outdoors Woman" lately. I am not a hunter but fishing is my passion, I am also the type of person who hates being told "you can't do that". I pride myself in the fact that I want to do things for myself, within reason. I would never attempt to do something I know I am not qualified to do, but I will give 110 percent to learn new things. Years ago my husband goaded me into learning how to run the boat, then the locator, then my brother gave me some tips and lessons on trolling and boat control ( a very stressful task as he had no patience), then I took up ice fishing so it was time to learn how to use a tip-up, use the auger (without burning holes in every jacket I own) then came the ATV and how to get on and off the ice without getting it stuck in the snow.

I have now graduated to buying myself a wheelhouse and finishing the interior myself. I have already posted a few pictures of my progress but decided to start a blog about the trials and tribulations of said project. I also plan on keeping a journal of my first winter on the ice with my "Yellow Submarine". I could have gotten along without this and continued to use a flip over, but because of disabilities my husband has he hasn't been able to enjoy all the ice fishing I have in the last few years. He has been stuck at home while I have been gallivanting all over the countryside having a good time. This year we will be able to fish together and also take our great dane Lola with us (that is really going to be a challenge).

This journal hopefully will show other women that if I can do it, so can you. I know that there are a lot of very capable women on this forum that are doing a lot of the same things I am and more. But I wonder if there are a lot of women out there lurking like I used to, that would love to learn more about being self sufficient in the outdoors.

[Iambjm]

If you haven't already seen it here is my "yellow Submarine" as it looked when I bought it. When I got it home my first thought was "OMG what have I done"!!!

[Iambjm]

I then sat down with pencil and a whole bunch of paper to layout a floor plan and make a list of the things I was going to need to finish this "puppy". I drove my husband nuts with 100 different plans on how to finish this. What was I thinking, it's a "fish house" how many different ways can a person finish it. So many decisions, many sleepless nights. So I laid out a game plan, I searched the forum for all the other wheel house builds and started to compile a folder on my computer of pictures. Then I did a google search for wheelhouses and found lots more pictures of ones on the market. With the final layout done I jumped right in and started by buying the tongue and groove. Gee the 1x2 firring was kind far apart so it was back to the store, get more firring and add some. Then it was "wow I have all this space in between the firring, let's add some more insulation. You got it, back to the big box store for insulation.

[Iambjm]

So after adding the insulation it was back to the tongue and groove. Not having a nail gun and afraid that I would end up cracking the tongue and groove if I just nailed it directly I pre-drilled all my holes. Used Pl200 to also glue it to the firring. I had a small dillema about getting the wiring installed, but a friend came to the rescue and said bring it down and we will do it. (I am paying him of course) I did cut my own holes for the outlets and used shallow receptacle boxes. That part was pretty easy for me. Once all the walls were done it was time to decide about cabinets, ceiling, floor. Do I spray foam the underside or sandwich insulation in the floor? Paneling for the ceiling or tongue and groove? Build a cabinet front or go with some stock cabinets? Wow I am running out of time, make up your mind woman!!!

[chad austin]

Lambjm,

I've been following your posts of your "yellow submarine" and I am impressed. You have a very nice looking house in the making. Looks like the craftswomanship will be unmatched!!

A little off topic but have you always lived in Rapids? Most of my aunts and uncles are from there as well as my parents but we had to move as the job situation was really grim in the 80's.

[Iambjm]

Lambjm,

I've been following your posts of your "yellow submarine" and I am impressed. You have a very nice looking house in the making. Looks like the craftswomanship will be unmatched!!

A little off topic but have you always lived in Rapids? Most of my aunts and uncles are from there as well as my parents but we had to move as the job situation was really grim in the 80's.

Nope born and raised on Mpls, just moved here in 2006 when my hubby retired.

[Iambjm]

Spent the day putting the ceiling in, I am tired and sore from reaching overhead all afternoon.I am also sandwiching insulation in the floor, and planning where to put the holes. I am using oak cabinets rather than building my own, got em on sale a while ago and will be so much easier. I do have to quit driving around with it, people keep asking me if they can look at it. I had to take it into town yesterday to check into an alteration and pick up more wood. (I don't think my bank account will ever recover)

[Gordie]

Looking great Iambjm

[reinhard1]

i'm very impressed with your house. you have a great area there for fishing and hunting. i have fished the lakes off of 38 many times. Kramer, Northstar, and Clubhouse. lot's of good memories. good luck.

[Iambjm]

So the weather was beautiful today so I kicked into gear on the yetti, each time I went to cut more pine in the garage I could see people out fishing on the lake. I was so torn, grab the rods and go fishing or keep cranking away to reach my goal of finishing this by the 26th, our 41st wedding anniversary. I got the sandwiched insulated floor done, ceiling is almost done, installing lights, cleaning up my mess. I learned something today, if you are doing this with tongue and groove pine, do the ceiling FIRST! Very tedious, and my back and shoulders are killing me. I think I need to work out with weights so I will at least be able to drill some wholes in the ice, as right now I am feeling pretty weak......

[Rick]

Nice looking Yellow Submarine.

You must be a Beatles fan

[Lisa Almquist]

That looks great! Good job Barb!

I'm a little anxious that it's being called the Yellow Submarine. Submarines are designed to sink....call it the Yellow Hornet, Yellow Bomber or the Yellow Funship! LOL-I'm just teasing ya Barb. Can't wait to see that Yetti in action!

[Iambjm]

Maybe I should have a naming contest? Today is a down day for me, the ceiling kicked me for a loop. I feel like the Hunchback of Notre Dame. Tomorrow it will be back to work again, a very good buddy of mine told me his son-in-law went back into the woods to a little pothole lake and came home with 2 northerns that were 8 pounds and over. I can hardly wait to hit the ice again. I am going to try some different lakes this year and have plans to hit Sturgeon Bay this Feb. for whitefish. I am also trying to encourage some friends into going to the Burntside Bash.

[muskybait]

looks great barb you will catch lots of fish with that...

[Iambjm]

So are you going to come visit me when I get it on the Ice Muskybait?

[Iambjm]

Holidays are over, I spent Christmas day working on the Yetti. I have the cabinets installed and one of the windows trimmed out. Ready to cut the countertop and install that today, and hopefully finish the other window. Then it is just build the bunks, carpet, cut holes and some misc trim work. I had really hoped to have it done today as it is my 41st wedding anniversary and Jim and I were going to take it out to a lake and celebrate, but life keeps getting in the way. I had my first injury the other night, I was drilling a hole in one of the cabinets with a 3/8" drill bit and it caught my sleeve and wrapped it up like a corkscrew. I thought it was going to drill through my arm, it left a 4" x 1" bruise on my forearm and I can't explain how painful it was. I am hoping to get some decent pictures today now that I have found my regular camera.

[Iambjm]

It has been a really slow week for me, I had to take a day off from working on the wheelhouse to let my sore muscles take a rest. Never realized all the little things can eat up so much time, running back and forth to the garage to cut wood has been a real pain. Plus the fact that the garage is not heated. I was feeling a little overwhelmed yesterday when I got the bottom bunk in and realized it was just too high. I did it a bit higher because my husband has difficulty getting up if it is too low. But when I realized how high it was going to be once I added the 8" mattress I ripped it out and shortened the legs by 3". I let the dog in yesterday and she immediately claimed the bottom bunk for herself.

[Jim Almquist]

Looks to me like a certain puppy wants to hit the ice

Looks good Barb!!

Highbanks has the road open so you better keep hitting it hard!!!

[Iambjm]

Well I am finally getting close to being done. I finished the window trim, which I decided to fancy up and doing regular casing and miter the corners, not sure if I would do that again. The countertop is on and I need to cut the hole for the cooktop, add the trim, put a couple of coats of polycrylic on it, and add a couple of shelves to the sides of the lower cabinets, upper cabinets and on in between the two upper cabinets to hold my microwave. I have all the lights working, added two hole lights to the front of the lower bunk, now it is time to cut the holes in the floor and add the carpet. Now if we could just get enough ice for me to use it.

[Iambjm]

I am really getting excited now, I pick up the carpeting and my mattresses today and start cutting the holes. I was going to do the holes yesterday, but got distracted and put up another cabinet and a shelf in between the 2 in the front for my microwave. Then a friend stopped by to check it out and then had to go to a meeting last night.

[chaffmj]

Nice work Barb. Looks like you do it for a living.

Maybe see you on Red or at the Bash.

Chaff

[muskybait]

I would love to come and visit. let me know when you are going out. the fishing has slowed some here but still a good bite. and the ice is ok

[Iambjm]

What a challenging week this has been, I have been trying so hard to get this thing done. I did get the bottom bunk finished, the holes cut, 2 coats of polycrylic on the cabinets, the cooktop is in, top bunk is 90% done, trim work starting to go on. I have been fighting a really stuffy nose all week and Thursday I was going to work on it and as I was going to heat it up with my Mr. Buddy heater I screwed on a new 1# propane tank, heard a slight hiss but couldn't smell anything so I hit the igniter and FLASH flames shooting out of where the tank connects! Scared me so bad I grabbed the heater by the handle and lobbed it out the door. It landed by my husbands truck and I was terrified the tank might blow so I gave it a mighty kick with my steel toed boots and it went flying down the driveway in flames. Fire went out after about a minute and while I don't see much damage I would never use it again. I let it cool off and unscrewed the tank and it was still hissing 5 minutes later. Faulty tank? I don't know, I did notice it wasn't completely tight when I went to remove the tank. I have been using a hose hooked up to a 20# tank but it went dry the day before and I didn't have time to get it refilled. Needless to say I got the cooktop hooked up and checked all the fittings with the help of a friend as I don't trust my sniffer anymore. Did the spray test to make sure there were no leaks and I am now using the furnace to heat it.

This whole thing is starting to become a real comedy, my hubby has back issues so he wanted something really comfortable to sleep on. I checked out foam prices and for an 8" piece of foam I would have to pay around $140 for just his bunk. So I got this bright idea to order an 8" queen size foam mattress from Wallyworld and cut it in half. Cutting an 8" x 60 x 80 foam mattress in half is not as easy as it sounds, I used a filet knife which worked fairly well but I didn't get it exactly even. It is quite comfortable, I slept on it the last 2 nights to test it out. The top 2" layer of the mattress is memory foam, and it gets stiff as a board when it is cold.

I had planned on taking it to Mille Lacs this weekend, but the hubby said he didn't feel well so we decided to stay home. He has been sleeping almost around the clock since Thursday, and doesn't have much of an appetite so maybe it was a good decision. He has numerous health issues that's why I am doing this whole project, so he can get back out ice fishing again. I plan on getting some pictures today or tomorrow once I am done installing the carpet.

[Iambjm]

I finally did my maiden voyage to Upper Red Lake last Tuesday. Despite the fact I manage to break the front winch cable and had a major issue with one of the fenders breaking in half after hitting a huge pothole I made it to Red Lake with my hubby and my great dane. What a learning experience, the dog takes up half the fish house and proceeded to want out every 15 minutes. Because she doesn't always play nice with other animals I had to walk her on a leash every time I took her out. So there I am on slick ice with an 130 pound dragging me around, also seriously cut into my fishing time. The Yetti was really warm even with several hole covers open, a bit more cramped than I like but I think we will be boarding the dog in the future. I am rapidly learning things I need to add, I picked up a road holder before we left that holds 4 rods and I will be going to town tomorrow to pick up 1 or 2 more. The fishing wasn't real great but I did get 2 - 20" and a 17 1/8" eyes and the hubby had something big on but it broke his line. We came home on Friday and I turned right around and headed to Mille Lacs on Saturday to fish with a friend. My tally for Mille Lacs was a few small perch, a 14", a 21", and a 24" walleye all the eyes came on the rattle wheels.

[leech~~]

lambjm, as far as finishing your molding around the inside. Have you thought about maybe picking up some of the unfinished pre-made molding from places like Manards? It's pretty cheap and ready to cut and nail up.