New Wheelhouse Building Project 2009.

[mediocrates67]

OK everyone, I'm starting a topic while building my new wheelhouse. The FM Ultimate fish house was a great inspiration.

I've never built a fish house before and I will have questions about everything and anything for those of you who have been there and done that. This should help serve as a reference point for other dummies like me when they want to do the same thing. I will include costs of materials and labor to give a good understanding of expectations.

I will post pics as often as I can of everything I do.

Here is my project so far:

I have a welder making my frame for me. It is an 8' wide by 14' long plus a 4' v-nose. Frame is 2x4 tube steel perimeter and 2x3 cross supports. It will have strap winches and 15" wheels with leaf springs of 3500#. Frame will be primed and painted and also has the winch on the front drop hitch and an lp tank holder.

I'm hoping to have the floor done right away and then will have it spray foamed underneath.

That is all for now, keep an eye on my progress as I will be asking for advice.

[smeese]

Build threads are no good without pics ;)Once you get to that point of course

[aa8shot]

Just remember, trailer can only be 102" wide with the wheels. So with a 8' frame and wheels outside, you'll be over width. Mn. dot would love to talk to you then.

[ib_jigged]

Just take me with you fishing when you are done sometime and I will answer any questions you have.

[SkinnyVinny05]

if you dont mind me asking how much was the frame?

[mnhunter2]

I wish you luck on your project, I built a 7x16 fishouse 3yrs ago and was surprised at the costs and amount of time it took. I wouldn't plan on saving any money compared to buying a completed house, my next house I will be ready to hit the ice when I get it.

[kevfish1]

dependig what kind of house you were to buy will dictate if you save any cash. The house i built was built similar to a Lodge fish house and is about half the price. Now an Ice castle is cheaper but so is the quality- mostly with the steel in the trailer. A well built trailer by someone that knows what they are doing is a good start. Not all makers of frames produce a quality one. I spent app. 8,000 on my 8x16. the same thing in a lodge would run app. 16,000. Well worth my time to build it. Now i could buy a cheaper new house but would get what I paid for--- A cheap house and the problems that go with it. Make sure the trailer is a quality one or you will have problems for years to come.... Good luck with your project

[mediocrates67]

yes, my frame will be 8' wide with the wheels recessed...but thanks for the heads up.

[mediocrates67]

the frame is $1700 total. it's a pretty good deal from what i've seen. hopefully it turns out ok.

[mediocrates67]

my total calculations on the house will be about $4500.

here's what else i've gotten so far:

18000 btu forced air furnace = $340

3 burner cooktop with oven = $250

45 amp convertor = $140

4 rattle reels = $20

8 catch covers = $120

2 lp mantle lights = $110

110 male plug = $30

2 12V OUTLETs = $12

12V lights (6 + 1 porch light) = $39

6 GAUGE 100ft 12v wire = $30

4 LED hole lights plus switches=$59.00

I have free vinyl siding from a friend

[mediocrates67]

has anyone put in a roof vent/emergency exit hatch? wondering where to find something like that and what the best way is to install or if there are any leakage issues.

[smeese]

They have them on fishhousesupply dot com

[Charlie kempf]

I built my wheel house only I did a few things different, I bought a enclosed trailer 7x14 withan 3foot v nose, I took the axles out, built an stainless steel pin coming out the sides and mounted my rolling wheel assembly with a winch with locking brakes that is the important part, as you dont want those winches to get awayfrom you as Ive seen what can happen alot of injuries, I cut a 4inch space btween the c channel crossmembers with my plasma cutter, I installed a 4x3 square tubing front to back entire length of the house with 6ft extending out the front sos I can make my front pivot with a 4ft 4x3 square tubing on top with two pins one in rear and one up front, of course it is all decked out, but Ive got 8 holes with catch covers and an 18,ooo btu heater sattelite t.v. sirrous radio and the whole nine yards, being in the roofing business I would suggest not cutting any holes in your roof for an escape, instead check out a window kit like a bay window from fish house supply, that is far more easier to install and to flash, where as a roof escape unless it is rubber you will never get it to seal and not leak as there is no real way to flash it, flat roofs are a little difficult, and will always leak one time or another, without putting alot more weight up on that roof, like all the black jack or whatevere you use, especially if your going to be pulling it down the road like I do. let me know if I can be of assistance in any way Ive only built 8 of em so far and am working on an 30 ft right now.

[mediocrates67]

Charlie, thanks for the input. yeah i kinda figured leakage would be an issue. I'll probably just try and find an oversized window for the side.

if you're handy, your type of setup sounds great. i'm not a metalworker and don't have that know how.

[ib_jigged]

Hey Kevin,

Did you decide to go with the inverter?

Del

[mediocrates67]

Del,

Yes i did, the 45 amp one. hope it works well. i don't plan on running a whole ton of stuff at one time. i just need to figure out how to wire the batteries to my 7-pole trailer harness for the battery charge. any input?

And yes, you're welcome to go join when this thing is done. just try and stay out of the holes! See you at URL!

[epkirkman]

Are you going to run a generator at all during the day?

[mediocrates67]

probably quite a bit, yes. and sorry, its a convertor not an invertor. invertor changes 12v to 110.

anybody out there use an invertor? wonder how much you could actually use with a marine battery.

also, what are recommendations on batteries? can i just use my boat batteries for the 12v stuff in my house (furnace and lights)?

[ib_jigged]

Kevin,

A couple of deep cycle marine batterie would be fine. I will find the info you want an let you know on the 7 pin.

Del

[epkirkman]

Yeah, that's why I was asking. I just finished my fish house and put in both a converter and an inverter. We have an 800 amp inverter, it charges all of our cameras, chargers ect. just fine. I even ran a skilsaw off of it.

I have a small electric heater I run off my Honda generator during the day and then I run my LP at night.

[adam schletz]

II am also building a fish house right now and am still a little confused on the inverter/converter thing. I want to run all my stuff on my generater during the day and charge my batteries at the same time with a 3 bank charger, and run what lights and extras i need in my battery at night. I would only need a converter right??

[epkirkman]

You would need an inverter if you plan on using your 120 volt outlets at night for charging your gear, watching TV, ect.

The converter takes the 120 volts coming from your generator and charges your 12 volt batteries.

The inverter takes the 12 volts from your batteries and converts it to 120 volts when your generator is not running.

I was plenty confused about this myself, but finding some older threads on here I was able to get everything wired up in here and working.

The link below is to one of the topics I used when wiring mine, it was very helpful.

http://www.fishingminnesota.com/forum/ub...er_#Post1594469

[adam schletz]

Any suggestions on brandsand or sizes needed to do this,

[epkirkman]

I got my converter from fishhousesupply.com a sponsor here and I just picked up my inverter from an auto parts store.

[mediocrates67]

i bought the same convertor for less on [YouNeedAuthorization]. I'm gonna try and get an invertor from work that just collects dust.