Fish house furnace help

[MJ1657]

Need to get started on my wheel house build. I need some advice on which forced air furnace to purchase. I would like to use the style that blows out the front and has a duct you can run out the side. Hope that makes sense.

House is 8x16.

[Gordie]

MJ go to Milaca unclaimed freight they carry a bunch or those styles and if they don't carry them the Fish house store just up the road on 169 will have something

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

I think the Suburban SF 20 is what you are looking for. They made two different models, so be sure to look closely at the description so you know what you are getting.

[sunniewally]

american rv company

might check this place out

[hawkeye43]

Do you really want one that needs a battery all the time to work??

[MJ1657]

Do you really want one that needs a battery all the time to work??

From what i'm reading they are the best for even heat and keeping the house dry.

[MJ1657]

MJ go to Milaca unclaimed freight they carry a bunch or those styles and if they don't carry them the Fish house store just up the road on 169 will have something

I've been there and bought a bunch of other stuff for the house. I guess where i'm going with this post is what is the best furnace out there. It's one thing I don't mind spending a little extra money on to get a better product.

I would like one that is fairly quiet and low amp draw.

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

I just bought one of the SF25F's from the American RV Company link above for $200. That is a GREAT deal on that furnace (normally $600).

[NoWiser]

Count me as one who doesn't understand the forced air furnace craze for fishhouses. Why not get a nice wall mount furnace, and a 12 volt ceiling fan? It essentially does the exact same thing by keeping the air moving, is completely silent, and will still work if your batteries go dead. It also draws a lot less power than a forced air furnace. We've had this system in a 8X20 house my dad built 25 years ago and it works flawlessly. I've been in a few houses with the forced air systems, and would never consider putting one of those noisy things in a house I was building myself.

I know this wasn't your question, but I think it's an option that more people should look into. It's a much better system, IMO.

[Gordie]

Count me as one who doesn't understand the forced air furnace craze for fishhouses. Why not get a nice wall mount furnace, and a 12 volt ceiling fan? It essentially does the exact same thing by keeping the air moving, is completely silent, and will still work if your batteries go dead. It also draws a lot less power than a forced air furnace. We've had this system in a 8X20 house my dad built 25 years ago and it works flawlessly. I've been in a few houses with the forced air systems, and would never consider putting one of those noisy things in a house I was building myself.

I know this wasn't your question, but I think it's an option that more people should look into. It's a much better system, IMO.

+1

[Mid-Lake Rock]

I think the Suburban SF 20 is what you are looking for. They made two different models, so be sure to look closely at the description so you know what you are getting.

This is what I run in my 8"x16" + 3" V. Keeps the house warm on the coldest of nights. One thing I did was separate the two vents that supply heat. I have one up front and ran 4" duct work to the middle of the house that helps keep the rear warm.

If you are concerned about noise, I don't think this model is very loud. To make sure it was plenty quiet, I got some fire resistant acoustical tiles and built a box around the furnace to reduce noise further.

[Fishn addict]

Forced air furnace you will not be dispointed. Check out fish house supply there out of Bufflo mn the suburban SF20 will be all you need. I'm 50 built my first fish house at age 13 have built several fish houses over the years. Hopefully my last one was last summer 6' 6" x 16' V front. Sure the forced air furnace is a bit noiser but comfort comes along with it. My floors never dried out as fast with a wall mounted furnace and a ceiling fan set up and I could never walk around in stocking feet with out being cold. Insulate your floor and it will pay off. as far as the battery buy an invertor that also charges you battery most likely you will use a generator and your never have a problem. We run 3 house off 1 Honda 2000 best $900.00 you'll ever spend for fishing with a wheel house. I ran duct threw the floor and have warm air coming out all my holes if I want and the other vent dumps the air out across the floor. The heat at the holes works really well and I haven't seen a other set up like it yet.Building you own house is quite rewarding hope it's ready for the 2012/13 season.

[arcticcat400]

Lip Ripper

i looked at that heater are there more parts needed when you buy that furnace? it sounds like a good deal but looks like there might be some things not included with it?

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

Yeah, the two parts total up to about $25.

[Mid-Lake Rock]

Forced air furnace you will not be dispointed. Check out fish house supply there out of Bufflo mn the suburban SF20 will be all you need. I'm 50 built my first fish house at age 13 have built several fish houses over the years. Hopefully my last one was last summer 6' 6" x 16' V front. Sure the forced air furnace is a bit noiser but comfort comes along with it. My floors never dried out as fast with a wall mounted furnace and a ceiling fan set up and I could never walk around in stocking feet with out being cold. Insulate your floor and it will pay off. as far as the battery buy an invertor that also charges you battery most likely you will use a generator and your never have a problem. We run 3 house off 1 Honda 2000 best $900.00 you'll ever spend for fishing with a wheel house. I ran duct threw the floor and have warm air coming out all my holes if I want and the other vent dumps the air out across the floor. The heat at the holes works really well and I haven't seen a other set up like it yet.Building you own house is quite rewarding hope it's ready for the 2012/13 season.

^^ What he said. I don't have heat going to each hole, but that is great idea. With my forced air, I've never had much of a problem with holes freezing. Only exception is when there is no snow for banking. Even then, I just crank up the heat and it really helps with freezing. The other thing that has been mentioned multiple times is how fast the floor dries after getting setup.

I use the combo of the Honda 2000i, a charger and inverter. It makes the weekends so much more comfortable. No issues with heat, I can charge my phone when needed, watch TV, listen to music and have good lighting.

[MJ1657]

Thanks for the help guys. I'm going to go with a forced air for sure. I have an onboard charger and a generator so battery use is not a huge deal.

I might have to check that furnace out Lil Ripper bought.

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

Thanks for the help guys. I'm going to go with a forced air for sure. I have an onboard charger and a generator so battery use is not a huge deal.

I might have to check that furnace out Lil Ripper bought.

Just an FYI, if you do go with that furnace, some of their info on the site is incorrect. You DO NOT need the access door, as the SFxx-F models are accessible from the interior, as their customer service confirmed for me:

"Part numbers 260553 and 051249 are not items that we carry, but we can obtain them for you on a special-order basis. Special-order items are non-cancelable and non-returnable.

The price for the 260553 VENT CAP/RAIN SHIELD would be $17.95, and the price for the 051249 TUBE ASBLY INTAKE F/VENT would be $9.95.

If you would like for us to special-order these items for you, please contact us at 626-513-4777.

You are correct, the “F” suffix models are serviceable from the inside, they do not utilize the exterior access door. This appears to have been included in the description by error."

As to the forced air vs non forced air, they both have their pluses and minuses. My opinion is that if you have a bigger house and a generator they are the only way to go. I really like tucking it under the stove and not using a 3-4' section of wall for the heater, as the models for the bigger houses are huge. If I were doing a smaller house I would probably use the non forced air.

[MJ1657]

Thanks for the info. Amp draw is listed at 6.5 which concerns me a little. I thought I have seen models that draw quite a bit less. Its hard to beat that price though.

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

Anything over 20k BTUs is in the 5.5 to 9 amp range.

[boxcar46]

I have a 16,000 forced air in my 6.5x12. I have two 6 volt deep cycles hooked in series to make 12 volt just for my furnace. I go out on Friday and come home Sunday. I've never run out of battery juice yet. I also have one deep cycle to just run my lights,tv and radio. I do keep them on maintenance charger's year around and check the level in them every couple months. 2012/2013 will be the 5 season on them.