Small Permanent Fish Houses

[20lbSloughShark]

What is everyone's opinions of the very small permanents 8'x6' and under. I recently got to see a 4'x8' and I immediately fell in love. It was more portable than my "portable", extremely warm, and plenty of space for 1-2 people. I don't move too often, once an hour is a lot for me when I am pike fishing. I just want a shack I can nap and be warm in while waiting for tip ups. The advantage for me not to have to load everything back up to move is huge to me. I found a decent one for $200 that comes with a trailer. Its not much of a risk for $200, but will I quickly get bored of it and want bigger? BTW the guy with the 4'x8' (just him) had his loaded on his trailer before me and my dad stuffed our hub into its bag, and we also had to unload the hub, he just left his gear in his house. Anyone that has tried, was an overnight sleep with rattle reels reasonably comfortable. It all comes down to price, a drop down 10'x8' would certainly be the optimum, but they are way out of my price range. The one I saw was a simple skid house, and he used a winch to load it. he loaded and unloaded in under a minute.

[dairyman]

One of my first hard side was a 4x8---I used to load it right into the back of my pick-up and head to the lake with it. As the years went by it got be pretty heavy for just an old duffer to load by himself. My .02

[grasshopper]

My house is 6x8.Takes me 15 minutes to setup. Don't have to unhook from 4-wheeler or truck. Big enough 4 2 people, but sleeps just me.

[20lbSloughShark]

We have a 6x8 sitting in the yard, but that thing is a tank. I am looking more for a nimble thing I can lift off the ground if I have to. I assume if it takes you 15 minutes it is also pretty heavy. I put a 4x8 plywood down and put all my stuff on it, and it was plenty big. I was unsure if 4x8 would be comfortable, but being all alone today in my 6'x6' hub made me realize it is more than enough. BTW if you drive out, stay on plowed or previously traveled paths. The snow was nearly up to the bottom of the door on my truck, and it was pushed to its limit to keep moving lol. Is there any negatives? Ex: sliding across the ice if I leave?

[McGurk]

I think if I was to get a "permanent" house I'd go this route, too. My other thought would be to make MooseHunter's Green House. It is made of 4x8 insulated panels, and assembles into an 8x8 house with a floor and sloped roof. I think I'd make mine a 4x8 instead, so I could load it already-assembled onto a smaller trailer for moving it on the lake. My other thought is to get a drop-down 8x8 trailer that I could set up my Clam 4000t directly onto, and have 6-8 catch covers mounted into the floor of the trailer. I know that CanvasCraft used to make a Northlander ATT drop-down trailer with a flipover insulated house, but they ran $3500 for the small one. For that coin I would built a hard sided house around that trailer that I could remove.

On a side note, I was able to hang out in an 8x24' Ice castle this weekend for 20 minutes, and I thought it was the least fishable house I'd ever been in. There was hardly any floor space left by the time you got all of your cabinetry installed and finished out. It was very claustrophobic and not very comfortable. A person might think it is the bomb to have a $25k+ house, but I'd rather have an empty 6x8 with folding chairs and cots any day of the week.

[20lbSloughShark]

I was never able to locate a 4x8 for the right price, so I have decided to build one. I'm going with 5'x8' for just a hair more room because I want to add bunks, but should still be light enough to pull around. I may be crazy, but I am planning to basically make it my sled. I'm guessing it will be around 300 pounds which early in the season should be plenty light to pull around on ice; I'll just drop it off on shore, and pull it by hand. Later on as the snow gets deeper, I will drive out. I was talking to a carpenter, and as usual my designs were WAY overbuilt. Right now for walls I am planning on using 1"x2" for the frame, and 1/4" plywood on the outside, as well as 3/4" foam insulation. The floor and roof will be much stronger, and I am thinking 2 4"x4" for skids, and 2"x4" for support. Everything including the roof will be built 16" on center, except where two sheets of plywood meet. I now have a good floor plan make, and a fairly detailed wall that I will post up.

[Trump34]

I'm guessing it will be around 300 pounds which early in the season should be plenty light to pull around on ice;

Is this empty or loaded weight?

My portable weighs about 150 empty and I'm guessing around 225 loaded. That in some cases is about all I can handle by hand.

[Eric_Kruger]

I built myself a 4x8 two years ago, I would go 5x8 the next time maybe even 6x8 and leave the space of that extra foot or two as fishing area with a 4x8 sheet of plywood being the main floor....not sure if that makes sense or not. but by the time I put a two foot bench all the way down one side there wasnt much room left for a vex,heater,gear.....

[otterman91105]

I had built a 7 x 8 and it seems a little small. But it's perfect for two people. Very comfortable.

[McGurk]

I'm interested in your build, and if you were willing I'd love to see your plans, some pix of construction, and the finished product here. There isn't too much documentation of a lightweight build here. For reference, you might want to look into the bowfishing/ spearing forum as they like their small and light houses. Might give you some more ideas.

[MJ1657]

I was on a local lake that a guy had a "tip up" house built. Three of the walls were approx. 1/3 plexiglass or a lexan type material.

Btw i have used 1x2's for my plywood floor and end spear houses and they work just fine.

[Hawg]

I always thought the perfect tip house would be an old phone booth. Mine's not real light, but I have a 6x8 wheelhouse I may be selling this fall if I can afford a summer build. It's a wide open floor plan and has 1 removeable fold up bunk. I'ld like to see you put 2 bunks in a 6x8 because if nothing else the stove/furnace would screw you up. Remember, a trailer, even if you build it for a small 6x8 is going to be around $1000-$1200 by the time it has wheels, winches, etc. I'm a fan of the wide open-all floor space houses also. Seems all the fancy houses are like Ranger Boats, one small isle down the middle is the only room you have to move around. My house fishes 4 as easily as some of the 16 foot cabins.

[fishkins]

I built myself a 4x8 two years ago, I would go 5x8 the next time maybe even 6x8 and leave the space of that extra foot or two as fishing area with a 4x8 sheet of plywood being the main floor....not sure if that makes sense or not. but by the time I put a two foot bench all the way down one side there wasnt much room left for a vex,heater,gear.....

Makes perfect sense to me, that xtra foot makes a WORLD of difference.

[Buckskin]

I'm also a carpenter and have built a couple of my own fishhouses, the latest one a 6 1/2'x16' wheelhouse. I would strongly recommend using 2x2's for your walls, not 1x2's. It will only add a few pounds but be twice as strong, you're walls will never be straight using 1x2's not to mention real flimsy.

[20lbSloughShark]

I assume you mean 2 bunks as in 4 beds in a 6x8? I plan on putting one bed 1 1/2' off the floor, and the other around 4' off the floor. @fishkins I'm not sure if your sarcastic or not, but that extra foot does make a huge difference, IMO if I need to go bigger it will weigh to much for me to pull by hand. At that point I would go bigger and get a drop down trailer. A basic trailer is not over $1000 unless you buy new. I bought one the other day for $50, a 5x10 tilt utility trailer. I'll just slap a boat winch on it and its a perfect $100 trailer for skid houses. 2x2's sound much better to me. I generally over build things, I started thinking 2x4's and 1/2" plywood. 2x2 frame 16" on center and 1/4" plywood will be plenty sturdy? I may add aluminum siding in the future, but I will just paint it for now. What do you think for the roof?

[MJ1657]

Rubber roof.

Easy to install and very durable. The save big money store has everything you need.

[fishkins]

@fishkins I'm not sure if your sarcastic or not, but that extra foot does make a huge difference, IMO if I need to go bigger it will weigh to much for me to pull by hand.

No sarcasm implied, had a 5X7 shack years ago and had a flat bed pickup

we used to haul it on, great for 2 guys. Had a bench on one side you

could sneak a nap on.

[Buckskin]

For the roof just take 2x6's measure up an inch at each end find the middle and connect the 1" mark to the center on each side and you'll have plenty of pitch, that's if you're gonna use plywood or aluminum. Otherwise use a 2x6 and slope it from 1" to full width at the other side and put rubber on it.

[JSK76]

I was looking to build a small house I could hall in the back of my truck over this summer. I was at menard$ today looking at light weight ways to build a semi portable house and found this 4x6 shed. Shipping weight is 95# (lifted one end of the box and it was very lite) and I bet the cardboard box counts for about 10#. Put some reflextic in it and catch covers and your set, all for 299.99!

[20lbSloughShark]

I don't think 2x6's are necessary with the pitch I am planning on. I am planning have it attach at the top of the wall which is 6' tall, and will be 1' higher on the other end; 6' one side 7' the other. Is it worth it to use all green treated wood, or just on the outside?

[Buckskin]

I would definetely use it for the floor and outside plywood

[MJ1657]

You dont have to put a pitch on the roof. Much simpler to build without it.

[20lbSloughShark]

I have thought, and argued, and tested, and am still believing an 8x5 floor plan is plenty big. I do not want a big sleeper to spend a week on LOW, I basically want a portable shed to keep my stuff in while I'm at collage. Plus I absolutely HATE putting gear away, it is just an absolute pain. I decided the two most important things for me are weight and warmth. My dad really wants me to make a 6 1/2'x8' and put bunks in the width, I just think that I will be disappointed in the weight. I would really like to be able to pull it out with a snowmobile or even by hand on glare ice. Basically the whole thing is a frame of 2"x2" with a 3/4" plywood floor, and 1/4" plywood siding. The skids will be 2 4"x4" with the ends cut at angles like skis. I am planning on painting it only and adding a rubber roof, but I may decide on aluminum or plastic siding later. 7' tall walls, no slope, and window on all four sides to see my tip ups. All pictures are to scale 1"=1'

Here is my "concept" 6' tall door with a window, and a simple pad lock.

The floor plan, to scale, the dashed line is an outline of a flip up bunk, I'm not sure how I am adding a top bunk yet.

This is a length wise wall, both walls are basically mirror images, the rear is basically a shortened version. The front with door will different, it has to be heavy duty to prevent burglars from getting in.

[MJ1657]

Sounds like a good simple plan.

Keep the bottom of the door up a little bit higher so you can bank snow against the house.

[leech~~]

Here's a little house I almost bought off the List site a month ago. It was an 8x8 over all size but only a 4X8 floor. I didn't buy this one because it weighed a ton and I would have to jack it on and off of my sled trailer each time I used it. I am planing on making one this summer on a small drop down frame my buddy is going to weld up for me. Yes the color was a little "bright" for me but it was setup pretty nice with good lighting, nice wide bunk-seats, carpeting, radio, CO alarm, solar charging panel and new heater. It had 6 holes so you could fish 3 guys in it pretty nice. Mainly I want something I can sleep over night in once in a while since now I fish with a sled and porty most of the time now so I end up only doing day trips and missing the night bites or end up getting a motel. I'm going to make it pretty much the way the guy had it but a lot lighter. Good heavy floor and bunk support but lighter from there up. That way I can pull it with my small SUV and maybe do a few nights up at Red or LOW next winter. It will sleep two pretty nice.