Building Wheelhouse

[gamberc]

Im looking to build a wheelhouse and im just getting my stats straight and designing it right now. I have a couple of questions. Do most of you guys use a generator to power you wheelhouse and if you do, do you think the noise from the generator would cause you to not catch fish??? Second does anyone have designs that they have built from, im not looking to copy just trying to get an idea on how i want to go about doing this. I know i can do this for i am very good with my hands im just wanting to get everything order. Also what would you guys perfer and why for the frame of the wheelhouse wood or steel? Thanks in advance and sorry for the bad grammar kinda tired and too lazy to fix it.

[W.W.]

Guess I don't fish from anything but a portable sled and snowmobile but have friends with permanant houses and thought I'd offer a couple thoughts to get things started:

1) Personally I find steel easier to work with.

2) Think a steel frame is more durable but..... also heavier, heavier = harder to tow and get on and off the ice.

3) Wood is "lighter"; seen a few local houses go through the ice and the wood ones seem to "float" enough to be able to get them back out.

4) I'm not sure I'd want a generator running while fishing; guess it might depend upon the lake and how spooky the fish are.

On one of my favorite lakes we sight fish down to about 16 - 18 ft, very clear water and spooky fish.

One of my best spots on said lake is relatively close to a plowed access and also a snowmobile trail that runs across the lake.

I can tell you that anytime a pickup or snowmobile goes by anywhere close the fish below my hole ALWAYS scatter.

Depending upon the day it takes anywhere from 5 to sometimes 30 minutes before we see fish again. I don't think a vibrating generator would be good...............

5) Instead of a generator I would try solar charger and batts. Not sure why you would need a generator; a solar charger, batts, and invertor will get you 110v if you must have that. But then again I prefer a portable and MOBILITY......

Good Luck,

Post some pics and details when you get it done.

W.W. in Iowa

[Dacotah Eye]

I have an on board charger in my wheelhouse to keep my batteries charged. If I want to use something that is 110v I start my generator and the batteries get a charge while I'm using the 110v system. I usually start it in the evening and watch a dvd while the batteries are charging. In the morning I start it again because I like drip coffee and the batteries get another charge at the same time. Everything in my wheel house is set up to run on 12v and I only run the generator long enough to charge the batteries.

I don't think running a small generator bothers the fish at all as it is usually sitting in the bed of my pickup and I see generators sitting on the ice all the time. I know a guy that fishes mostly for Perch and when the action slows down he will start his diesel pickup and let it idle. He claims that the Perch move back in when he does this.

[gamberc]

Ok so heres what i got so far correct me if im wrong or feel free to throw in any ideas.

1. The trailer is going to be made of steel for durability purposes obviously.

2. the house it self is going to be made of wood

3. power to the house (im not sure one this yet) im thinking maybe 2 to 3 12 volt battries hooked in parrallel and maybe hooked to solar panel or some other means of charging the battires in the day time.

is there anything you guys would like to add that you wish your units had???

[bigtimeelectric]

1.wire for 120 and 12volts both.I mean 2 different light fixture next to each other. install a couple 120 volt outside flood lights. I have 3 on my house and find them very handy at night.
2.I also ran 12volt wiring up the walls to where I mount my vexilars
3.12volt wiring below the house to where u will have your mopod for your camera
4.build to max 8'6" width
5 build high enough to install ceiling fan imo priceless in a fish shack!
6.insted of putting lights underneith at holes I insted installed track lighting above the holes
7.no brainer catch covers are a must

good luck, I'm excited for you its fun building these.. ice is a coming....

[gamberc]

ok thanks for the advice im just trying to get as much knowledge building these things as i can i have no question in my ability to do so i can weld do carpentrey work and wiring with no problems as you have to be very verstile when working on aircraft lol. What do you guys think about 8 house in a 7 X 14 is that too much or not enough and where should i place them i kinda wanna stay away from the corners and what not due to it looks like it would suck to drill holes. Anymore advice is greatly appreciated