Perm Shack Feedback - What are the Do's and Don'ts

[JoeMX1825]

I've always been a mobile ice fisherman with flipover houses, but down the road in my retirement years i'm going to want a perm shack. Now I don't want something huge, 14' or 16' long at the max! I'd like some feedback from perm shack owners on mistakes they've made, things they would do different, what they wouldn't be without, etc.

Examples of questions I have are:

* Buy new or used?

* 6.5' or 8' wide?

* Rubber floor or carpet?

* Pitched or flat roof?

* Bay Window?

* Bathroom?

* Microwave/stove top/oven? what do you use the most?

* Spray foam or normal insulation?

* Minimum # of windows?

* What type of sleeping options are a waste (smaller side flipdown bunks?)

I really want to avoid wasted space and options that sound like a good idea, but are never really used or practical in a fish house..

Thanks!

[OutlawBiz]

My opinion...go fish with buddies in their various wheel houses & determine what YOU do/don't like about each of them! Everyone has their own likes/dislikes...just like pickups & beer.

New is always nice...used can save you some money. New you pick your floorplan, used you get whatever is for sale at the time.

Personally I like the 8' width. I've had the 6.5' too. 6.5' is nice for tracking the vehicle better through the snow and seeing behind you while in tow, but 8' wide is nice and roomy when fishing.

Rubber flooring is nice if you have a rear door & haul ATV/UTV. Don't have to worry about staining or wearing the carpet with tires/oil etc. Downside to rubber floors is they can be quite slippery when wet.

Bathroom...nice with small kids/wife along...waste of space otherwise. Mine gets used as more of a closet for hanging coats/bibs, stashing extra chairs, slush bucket, shovels etc. more that anything.

Microwave is nice & easy. But, you'll need a generator for that. Stove top requires a bit more 'dishes' but no generator...you decide.

Spray foam is definitely the preferred choice I'd have to guess if you asked most. Much more efficient.

Sleeping options...again...personal preference. Are you by yourself or with kids / buddies most often!? Side bunks are nice for space saving but they can be tricky to get in/out of (especially after a few cold ones).

Long story short...what's 'perfect' for one guy may not be for the next.

[RiverChuckNorris]

Just to clarify, are you talking wheelhouse or perm/skid-house?

[JoeMX1825]

Just to clarify, are you talking wheelhouse or perm/skid-house?

I'm open to whatever is easiest to get on/off the lake, I don't want any hassles (who does).. I plan on retiring in a lake home, so I'll most likely tow from my yard's shoreline out to the lake and back. I will not be transporting on the road unless going from an access on my lake to my backyard. I will most likely be using a 4wheeler/UTV with tracks if needed.

[walleye 4 me]

if using an ATV with tracks and only fishing the lake your cabin is on I would be looking at a Aluma Lite skid house from Soderbloom's. I wouldnt bother putting bunks in it when you can go to shore and sleep in your cabin.

[JoeMX1825]

if using an ATV with tracks and only fishing the lake your cabin is on I would be looking at a Aluma Lite skid house from Soderbloom's. I wouldnt bother putting bunks in it when you can go to shore and sleep in your cabin.

Yep, that's what I'm leaning towards..

[dfv87]

OK my 2 cents worth...

new or used... I like to know what I have on a purchase like this and order exactly what I want so new, but if $$ is a concern then used is good but plan on making some concessions to what you want.

6.5 or 8... I have a 6.5 and always wish for a 8... nuff said

Rubber floor or carpet... rubber floor it is not close.

Pitched or flat, pitched unless you tow ALOT. then maybe but even then not automatic.

Bay window... not a fan

BAthroom... again not a fan of wasting space, we set up a small portable just outside for a bathroom on long weekends.

Micro/stove/oven... oven for me, throw in a pizza or some wings... plus heats the place.

Spray foam... don't consider anything else

Windows I like at least 2.

if you don't need bunks don't waste time with them. if you buy a cot or 2 you can make do if you need them.

[iffwalleyes]

Ok here is what I say. I have a 6.5"X14 with 3' V. I like that it tracks decently down the road. That said my next house will be a 8X16 of some version. My reason for this is my beds in my house are 70' long once you factor wall thickness of a 6.5' wide house I am 75" tall I get shoehorned in there pretty tight. That is why I like the idea of a 8' house. Spray foam walls are a must. You'll be amazed how little propane you burn. The other thing rubber flooring with spray foam floor is the way to go. I removed my carpet this summer and did this to my house. The problem I had was all last winter my floor was wet. I had a heck of a time getting it dried out. I decided that a rubber floor and a mop would be a easier time of keeping things clean. But if you want to use it as a camper then the carpet is nice. If you aren't going to use it as an enclosed trailer don't get the rear door as they have a tendancey to be drafty making the house cooler. Also a house this size isn't going to be pulled by a ATV well anyhow. I would get a bathroom in it even if it is just the seat over the bucket. The RV editions are nice as you can have water then. Personally I would probably get an Ice Castle 17' RV edition if it were me without a rear door. An oven is nice make sure to have a microwave.

[JoeMX1825]

appreciate the responses

[FshBloodRiverMud]

an alumalite and ATV/tracks would be the cat's meow.

[BigDogRob]

Joe, as others have said...it is in your preferences on what you should get. I have the 17' RV Edition Ice Castle and absolutely love it!!! Nice size to move around in. Room for extra people when they want to come along, Multi-function use. (All year). Mine was one of the first ones built so mine will be getting an awning put on! You don't use the water in the winter, so that's a choice. A house my size you want a 20k or larger furnace. If you live on the lake and just plan on going out during the day a skid house may be best, if you plan on traveling a quite a bit a wheel house may be better. If you have friends with both join in on a trip... Windows are great for light during the day, but will lose some ht no matter what. I think I would do a different bay window design on my ice castle. It's chilly when next to the Window with a good breeze at night. Make sure if you have bunks above seating areas that they flip up for head room! Bathroom is great in the summer, but a waste of non-used space in the winter! A bucket with a toilet seat style lid and doubled plastic grocery bags works fine if you put down some kitty litter first. Wire it for 12 volt and 110 you'd be surprised how much longer kids will sit still with a cartoon on instead of the 15 minutes in "Can we go in yet?"

[magicstix]

I'm a rookie at this, only have 1yr under me with a 6x12 skid.

What did I feel I learned:

Wheels are a must

Next time I 'm thinking a trough in front of 2 fold up bunks on 1 long wall and a pair of holes on each end of bunks.

Vented heater

different heater location

Another wire rack shelf in other corner near ceiling

Really liked LED light strip down center of shack, lots of light.

Liked 1 small window on each side of house, nice light in daytime. 2 of them opened for heat control and fresh air.

For me wheels became a important item to me after messing around moving that thing last year.

I choose no bunks and smaller house because I'm just fishing and not sleeping and wanted to keep shack open.

Was able to heat it on most days with a buddy heater.

Comfort was nice but being able to pack up portable in minutes and go home is nice too.

Good luck

[dougger222]

My three fish houses are 6.5/8/11ft(ski) wide. For two guys early ice the 6.5x12 is nice. It's got an oven and sleeping for two fishing for three. The 8x20 is nice but you need more ice to get it on so the season is shorter. It's got hydraulic axles, bathroom, oven, ramp door, most of the bells and whistles. Sleeps and fishes 4 really comfortable, also can haul two snow machines. The 11x17 is well it's a pretty big fish house! In terms of ease moving on/off and around on the ice the hydraulic by far is the way to go. One man job very easy to do. Next would be winch and crank down axles. Ski houses are nice but you have to block them up when on the ice for any duration which of course means jacking them up and down. The LOW house will seem to freeze to the ice instantly when towing on bare ice which means lots of jerking to get it going.

IF I had to have one fish house it would be more than likely an 8x16. A 6.5 is only comfortable sleeping if you can arrange the bunks/beds lengthwise. I'm 5'11 and don't like sleeping sideways in a 6.5ft house.