FM Ultimate Fish House

[MuleShack]

True with the 3 batteries and forced air.

I kept my heater at 65 in the house running on 3 batteries for over 6 days (sitting in the driveway for the last 4 --I did this to test how long it would run) and there was still pleny of charge left. There were no lights on for the last 4 days but 3 good batteries will last a good 3 day weekend maybe more.

I wont leave my rig out on the lake, so a forced air is fine with me. I can bring it home and recharge for the next weekend or whatever. It might depend on how you plan to use it, leaving it out on lake, or if your going to do a week at LOW, then you can always charge the batteries with truck jumper and last another 3 days?

[Big Buck Buster]

I would not suggest charging your deep cycle batteries with your truck, because an alternator is not a charger, but rather a battery "maintainer". You could put too much load on the alt, and burn the diodes out, costing you more headaches. Just my professional opinion.

[tisosy11]

If you are going for a week - i would be set up for generator and batteries. Gives you a nice backup option!

[luv2fish]

Just read this thread for the first time today. I bought an Ice-Castle this year, and so did my buddy. He has the direct vent, and I have forced air. Forced air by far is nice. I admit that I was very nervous about the battery situation. But it is not that big of a deal. I have 2 deep cycle batteries, and I did end up buying a generator. The house is very comfortable, and the furnace really does not run that long. As far as the risk of not having heat, don't worry. If for some reason you run out of batteries, turn on the stove. Keeps it nice and toasty. My buddy who has a direct vent, wishes to heck that he had what I have.

So don't be afraid of the forced air, they are slick.

[Dubleaa]

Forced air is the only way to go. Good air circulation tucked away in a concealed or dead space. You are going to need fans to move the air regardless so why not just combine it in the furnace and eliminate more stuff hanging on the wall/ceiling.

It will run for 10 - 15 minutes when you first get out there but the entire house will be warm not just the area around the thermostat (much quicker to temp than radiant also). As it maintains the temp it will run for a couple of minutes ever 1/2 hour or so and they are not all that loud.

[MuleShack]

Yea, i forgot about the stove...that is a big help too.

When we went to URL, I forgot to turn the heat on before, so we hit the lake and drilled holes in 5 below and first started the heater then. We fired up the 3 burner stove and that really kicked in the heat. Gets it warm in no time.

[germanshorthairs]

I have an empire direct vent (slim model) in mine and I would not go with a forced air furnace. In my eyes it is way less of a hassle. I only bring 1 battery with. The only thing you need is LP gas and you have heat. As far as fans to circulate I have a computer fan that burns barely any battery juice and does the job. No matter what you have for a heater you will still have some layering with heat levels due to the fish holes in the floor. I like the fact that if I have LP I have heat-plain and simple. I don't see an advantage to a forced air. Mine does not take up but about 8-10 inches along the wall.

[Big Buck Buster]

Does anyone like the option of a vent-free heater? Do they create too much moisture build-up inside the shack, or will they do the same as the direct-vent? I know of a few shacks that are using the vent-free style. Some think that they aren't as safe as the direct-vent type. Is this a myth or is it true?

[germanshorthairs]

It is true. Running a vent free would be like running a sunflower or a couple stove top burners. It uses the inside oxygen to burn. A direct vent uses the outside vented oxygen to burn and vents the gases out. If you don't mind purple lips and a headache in the morning I think a ventless would be fine. A heater is the only place I would not cut corners. Go with a vented!!!

[Big Buck Buster]

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind when I go to purchase my heater for my new house.

[MuleShack]

 Originally Posted By: germanshorthairs

No matter what you have for a heater you will still have some layering with heat levels due to the fish holes in the floor. I don't see an advantage to a forced air.

I have a 20 footer with forced air and there isn't much if any layering. The heat comes out at the floor height and mixes as it goes up. I could sit on the floor(if it wasn't wet) and would still be ok.

I didn't think it would be a big deal until i actually owned one. after spending time in plenty of rental shacks with the wall heaters, the forced air is by far my first choice. If you got a stove in it you have your back up right there for emergencies...however minimal they might arrise. just my experience.

[mediocrates67]

agreed, forced air keeps the heat distributed well...whereas a direct vent usually goes straight up and doesn't make it to the other end of the house. and vent free...don't do it. as a paramedic, i've seen too many CO issues and don't want to pick you up.

[mike morris]

 Originally Posted By: germanshorthairs

It is true. Running a vent free would be like running a sunflower or a couple stove top burners. It uses the inside oxygen to burn. A direct vent uses the outside vented oxygen to burn and vents the gases out. If you don't mind purple lips and a headache in the morning I think a ventless would be fine. A heater is the only place I would not cut corners. Go with a vented!!!

There's nothing wrong with a ventless if you keep a couple of windows cracked open at all times. There does seem to be a little more moisture, though, and the heat distribution is poor. That's why we switched.

[jerkbait]

I like the Direct vent with out the forced air. I am going to add a 12 volt ceiling fan that they sell at fishhousesupply.com to circulate the air. I use a small 12v fan now and I like that if my battery goes dead I still have heat.

[Nutty Fisherman]

The amish have a fan that they set on the wood stove and some how it blows the air around without any electricity. I don't remember the name of it.

[tisosy11]

Non electric powered fan?

[ice man]

If you are going to leave your house out on the lake for a long time and want to leave the heat on to keep it from freezing up direct vent is the way to go!

[vegas]

The fan is called a "heat powered fan", I can't post the link, but you can do a search in a self sufficent living web site and they would have them. The fan just sits on the stove and the heat make the fan go around.

good luck-the house looks great so far.

[Bob/Mn]

What is the cost difference between a direct heat and forced air and is one more efficient than the other??

[deadminnowcatcher]

I got the wheel wells done now. They are just slid into place and will get attached after i put the diamond plate on the inside.

[hawkeye43]

Is the spaceing between the wheels about the same as your pickup truck????

[Bothun]

Lookin good dmc. I'm going to be builing another house over summer and will be using alot of the ideas that you have had.

Its going to be an aluminum frame with aluminum studs 8x19 plus 3 foot v-front.

Keep this thread going it gives us all great ideas.

[Big Buck Buster]

The house looks awesome. We are in the process of building our new house, and I think that ours is going to look alot like your design, except for the way we retract the wheels. Do you still plan on spray foam insulation in the walls? If you are, can you tell me where you are going to get it done? What is the estimate they gave you for your house. If I remember correctly, your house is 16' long x 8' wide? With or without the v in the total? A relative of mine said that there are kits available at a building center that you can purchase to spray the house yourself. they said that it came in a two-part system with the spray gun and mixing hoses. Does anyone know what store might carry this product, and if they have it, is it less expensive to do it yourself, or have someone spray it for you?

[deadminnowcatcher]

the house is 16 ft plus the v front by 8 ft wide. I am going to have it spray foamed. the floor has been spray foamed already. The total cost to foam will be right around $1000. I looked into the kits and it would have cost around the same so I am going to have it done by a place in mankato. Just do a google search and you will find someone in your area

[deadminnowcatcher]

The wheels are a little wider than my pickup