How high to block a permamnent ice house

[duck2]

I am preparing for a new season with a 7' X 10' ice house on runners. Does anyone have any suggestions on the optimal size of wood blocks to use when blocking the house up off the ice? I have some heavy 4"x4"timber blocks that I can use, as well as the standard landscape timbers and the old stand by - 2" x 4"'s.

I dont want to unnecessarily block the house up to high,but want to make sure I properly protect it from freezing into the ice. The house will be on Leech Lake and subject to high winds and excessive drifting.

[mskyfshntchr]

Are you going to block it up while you are fishing or only while you are gone? Are your runners metal or wood?

I have always had a metal framed shack. Drop the frame onto the ice while fishing. When you go to leave a 3/4" piece of board at each corner will work just fine. Use a pry bar or whatever to lift it up just a little to get the board under it. If that is froze in next time you come, no problems. You can fish with it that way and add another when you go to leave that time. Just chip the boards out when you move your shack so their is no litter on the ice.

The closer to the ice is better, less chance for a draft and closer to the ice so it is easier to grab all those fish you pull through the hole!!

[duck2]

Muskyfshntchr.... Thanks for the quick reply. My runners are 2"x*8"'s but I have now attached to them a custom made set of metal skis that are essentially snowmobile skis that run the whole length of the fish house. I want to avoid getting these add-on runners frozen in a pool of hardened slush. I am more interested in learning the best block size for leaving it on when I am away from the house.

.Maybe I should block it up high on the 4"x4" timbers when I leave the cabin and use a 3/4" board during my periods of active use.

[Cheeser]

Duck2, that's what I do. If I'm not going to be back to the house for 4-5 days, I raise it up 4" just to be safe. Of course, a lot depends upon ice thickness, how much snow is on top of the ice, and the forecast!!! Then, I just lower it when I fish. Better than trying to chip it out when it's frozen down.

--Mark

[hanson]

I block my 7'x12' on skids up on 4x4s and that has worked just fine for the couple winters I've had the shack. My skids are 4"x6" 14' long and I just put a 4x4 at each corner. I use a Hi-Lift jack to get the house up high enough to slide the blocking underneath.

I left my shack in one place all last winter on Upper Red and the blocking was nearly frozen in when we took it off. Lots & lots of chipping with the spud bar to pop them out of the ice! A lot easier than chipping out the house however!