Fish Houses made in Montevideo, MN?

[Mille Lacs Guy]

Is anybody familiar with the permanent fish houses that are made in Montevideo? I have looked at these fish houses in Forest Lake, the place is called D.R. Martineau Construction and I have also looked at them at a place in Loretto, and I called a guy that sells them in Buffalo. I thought each of these places made the fish houses themselves but after doing some research I found that they are all made by one manufacturer in Montevideo.

These houses look fairly nice, but I want to hear from some people that have them or have been in them and have towed them down the road. The price is a lot lower on these than the King Crow and Performance Engineering houses and they seem just as nice, but they don't have all the extra bells and whistles on them. Any info on these houses would be appreciated. Thanks!

[doubleUcubed]

Mil, do you know if he also has someone selling them between Cedar Mills and Hutchinson? If so, I know a person who bought one of those just last month. The fact that you mentioned the "no frills" thing makes me think they are the same. I'll ask around for ya though.

[Bryce]

Have been fishing out of one for about a month now. Nothing fancy but it seems to be solid and the price was definitely right. Went with the drop down hitch which includes suspension axles and it pulls real smooth.

[Ode]

Mille Lacs Guy,
Last night I posted the HSOforum for the place in Montevideo. Maybe I can't do that as it is not there today. If you want to e-mail me I will give it to you. [email protected]

[Guest]

My dad just bought one in Montevideo Saturday. We've looked at alot of shacks new and used. This buy far was the best for the buck. They even had 15% off that ended Saturday. We added some options and save between 700 and 800 dollars with the discount. Seems really well built and can't wait until we use it.

[Reel Inn]

Buddy got one this year, 7x16 2-bunks, 6 holes, drop hitch, suspension, stove, furnace, it is a super set up, my son-in-law and myself are getting one for next season.

[BradB]

Bryce, Reel Inn, and anyone else--

What is your take on the durability of these houses? How much trailering can they take. I'm looking for one, but I will need to trailer it quite a bit, and on quite a few gravel roads. I'm interested in how you think they will do under those conditions.

Brad

[mpls_ham]

I have a 7x14 that I bought bare bones last year and I like it. I decided to heat it with a Mr Buddy and it has worked great this year although I did run into a condensation problem when it was cold. The only drawback is that my wheelspan is 9'6" which is well over the legal limit. The majority of the ice bridges at Mille Lacs are 8'. I also would not mind if they would offer more than one color...might be hard to find on the lake if people keep buying them.

[Mille Lacs Guy]

I actually bought a 7 x 12 with 2 bunks and 6 holes made in Montevideo. It has the drop down hitch and the suspension. It seems to be a pretty durable house. I got a heck of a deal on it at a place in Forest Lake. The guy I bought it from claimed it weighs like 1300-1400 pounds but it seems heavier for some reason. I pulled it up to Mille Lacs last weekend with a F250 Power Stroke and I am really glad I had a diesel. There is a lot of wind resistence when pulling and it was fairly windy last weekend. I was going up to 75 mph and it trailered nice and straight, there's just a lot of wind resistence making it seem to pull pretty tough. I have a 18.5 foot Warrior glass boat and it pulled twice as hard as that does. But I think its more the wind resistence than the actual weight of the fishouse. I would recommend getting the suspension if you are towing a lot.

[BradB]

Good information, guys. Mpls_ham, isn't there any venting to prevent the condensation? The portable houses I've looked at all seem to have some sort of vent up top, but maybe these don't?

Also, how easy/difficult is the up and down when you're on the lake? Do they crank back up pretty easily, or does it take quite a while?

Finally, what's with the electric lights? I'd prefer gas lights, but is there some reason they don't offer them? Anyone know?

Thanks,

Brad

[Grabs]

Mille Lacs Guy, I don't know that the wind resistance plays that big of a role. I have an 8x16 Ultra Shack and I haven't had any problems with it pulling tough, and we should be dealing with similar wind resistance. I only have a half ton Silverado, and I can get up to speed in just a little bit less time then normal. I am not sure what my house weighs but it was estimated at 1600lbs (I was on 8" of ice with no problems this year). I plan to have my weighed somewhere this summer.

Brad B, forget about the gas lights. I have them in mine and I have only used them once, and that was just to make sure they work. I have 3 12V RV lights in my 8x16, with smaller lights above each hole for easy visibilty during the night time rattles. They use an 1148 bulb, same as 1156 but more rugged, and I have not burned a bulb out yet in 2 years use. Last season I just used a large deep cycle battery and charged it after each weekend use. This year I have a Honda 1000 watt generator, which I use to power my TV and etc. So when that is running my battery gets charged through the converter in my house. Defintely the way to go and that generator is sooooo quiet!

Good luck finding a house.

[Reel Inn]

Buddy put holes in the front of his, from rocks on the gravel road , he has the vynal siding, I think I would do something diff there.

[mpls_ham]

BradB- There is no venting but I plan to install a ceiling vent this summer. I also need to install something to run hoses and cords through the bottom bunk from the outside to the inside. Anyone know what this is called?

[Mille Lacs Guy]

Grabs,
I think my house sits higher than the Ultra Shack does. It sits about 16+ inches over the top of the topper on my 3/4 Ton truck.

Another thing; wire the house for 110 volt and get a generator. I am going to wire mine for 110 this summer.

[BradB]

Grabs--thanks for the info on the gas/electric lights. I still think the gas lights are brighter and have that neat old fashioned feel, but your set up sounds nice.

Reel Inn--Good tip on the siding. Do these Montevideo houses have vinyl siding? I would put a sheet of aluminum on the uproad side to protect the plastic.

mpls_ham--What are you going to use for the vent? A pipe through the roof? What is your idea.

Also, if anyone could comment on the ease of reeling the thing up and down I would appreciate it.

Brad

[This message has been edited by Rick (edited 02-22-2002).]

[mpls_ham]

BradB- The crank-up style you see in RV's and campers. I plan to place it close to the top bunk so that the sleeper can control the temp.

[Mille Lacs Guy]

The fish house cranks up and down really easy. And I would suggest putting something to shield the rocks from hitting the vinyl siding.