Creating A Floor For Hub

[rundrave]

anyone ever create a fold up floor for your hub shack. does your setup allow you to anchor your hub shelter to the floor? Would love to see of pics if you have them. The goal being that I wouldn't need to take down the house every time we wanted to move to a new spot.

 

I am pondering making something for my big otter hub with hinged wood floor that would fold out to the same size of hub that I could anchor the hub to. The fold up floor would have a cheap set of skis attached to the edges. Would likely need 2 sets of skis and line them up back to back on the edges of the wood and maybe even another pair on the middle to help support it and help  to move the floor when its folded up in half.

 

I thought of framing it out with 2 layers of wood with some insulation in between and then going one step further installing some holes with catch covers. It would be heavy but I would think would be pretty manageable to get on and off my trailer if pulled by my ATV and it was on skis.

 

The Otter XTH Pro is 96"x96" but I would make the floor a bit larger to allow the anchors on the corners some room to connect to. 

 

The only down falls I see would be the weight, and then some how trying to get it level when its on the ice. Typically we don't have much snow on the lakes or its pretty easy and not much work to clear a spot. But this year is the exception and I am trying to find some project to tackle since fishing is pretty limited and difficult right now. The other problem I am having is finding some cheap sets of skis.

[1968]

Goodwill for cheap skis. I've contemplated this same thing, but I tend to overbuild and would likely end up with a permanent grade hub house.

[nofishfisherman]

I'll second the thrift store for cheap skis.  Always seems to be some in there. 

 

I like the idea but I think it could be easy to overbuild to the point that it becomes very cumbersome to set up and move.  To keep it light I'd probably go with 2x2 frame with the pink foam insulation sandwiched between thin sheets of plywood.  I do wonder though how well thin plywood will hold up over time.  

 

One issue I could also see right away is once set up how would you move it from place to place?  I assume add some sort of tow option to hook up to atv or truck. I could see the potential for it to not ride on top of the snow entirely and start acting a bit as a plow in the snow if you try towing it to a new spot. If that happens you could have snow piling up and pressing against your hub house and putting extra strain on your anchor points as well as your hub frame and fabric. 

[Wanderer]

I have a folding floor for mine.  Built fairly lightly and it’s still heavy.  What you’re talking about seems like a grand idea and I’d love to see if one could make something that improves the process but I’m having a tough time imagining NOT losing so much portability that you’d be going backward.

 

Maybe I don’t have the same concept in my head??

[rundrave]

34 minutes ago, Wanderer said:

What you’re talking about seems like a grand idea and I’d love to see if one could make something that improves the process but I’m having a tough time imagining NOT losing so much portability that you’d be going backward.

 

Maybe I don’t have the same concept in my head??

I hear you completely and see your points. I guess I am coming at this from the smitty sled perspective. Regardless of how heavy it is, if its on skis, and if I incorporate some sort of hitch or rope, and if I can pull it with an atv I think I am still ok. 

 

The areas where I fish rarely get and see the snow we have seen this season. This year is the exception not the rule for sure. I dont see the snow plowing issue or struggles pulling it with a atv. I have a 2 man flip over that I run and gun out of, but wanted to see if I could come up with some way to run and gun with the hub and get some more room for my entire family to fish. And for the most part the hub is easy to set up and dis-assemble but on windy days it can be adventure. I just want to be able to move quickly from one spot to the other with out having to pack everything back up and repeat to set back up. 

 

The flip overs are great for moving and I probably am guilty in some aspect of bringing too much stuff on the ice. But the hub with out a sled makes it difficult. Or you guys can just keep shooting holes in my theory and I can use those to convince the wife for a permy lol. Just trying to come up with something to pass the time as mother nature has me going stir crazy not being able to get out on the ice right now.

[papadarv]

I.have the Eskimo 949i, 8x8 hub. Used 2 sheets of Luan 1/8" cut in half & formed my 8x8' floor that folds to 4x4'. Serves as base for my smutty sled. Only drill 6 holes max. Floor only way to go.

[rundrave]

7 minutes ago, papadarv said:

Used 2 sheets of Luan 1/8" cut in half & formed my 8x8' floor that folds to 4x4'.

 

where did you find the hinges for this? I like the concept of this also, how does the luan material hold up to moisture?

[papadarv]

2 hours ago, rundrave said:

 

where did you find the hinges for this? I like the concept of this also, how does the luan material hold up to moisture?

Hinges found at both Menards & Home Depot. I used #8 x 3/8 flat screws from Ace & Hardware Hank 3 box of 50 (48 Per hinge). Still going strong after 4 years. Use on early ice. Have DIY wheel house for later ice. Store vertical in garage after each use to drain dry any water. Lay it on ice, mark holes, remove to drill & Slush replace over holes to fish.

[MJ1657]

Here's mine for my 949I. I made it in two pieces so that it would fit in the back of a 6.5 foot box. I have a ski set up that attaches to the floor if I have to walk out. I pile my gear on top of the floor.