Author Topic: Frabill Recon Remodel  (Read 28076 times)

Offline matzilla

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Frabill Recon Remodel
« on: Oct 16, 2014, 10:22 AM »
I got a deal on a close out Frabill Recon last year and used it as is for the season. This year I wanted to make some improvements and upgrades. I'll be adding reflectix, led interior lights, a bench for a stadium seat, 4" PVC to hold my Little Buddy heater, rod holders, skimmer holder,  built in tackle box, front spot light for walking back to the truck in the dark (no more headlamp), 12v outlet with usb charger, etc. I'll keep this thread updated as I make progress. I just started the framework for the bench last night after work.

Here's the recon on the ice last year:



Here is the wiring diagram:


The batteries are a pair of Genesis 7ah's I get from work
LED's are 4" ShoreLine Marine's from Walmart
Finder is my HB 175 that was mounted on my bucket last year
Front spot light is an old fog light I had laying around


This is the seat I'll be mounting to my bench


http://www.farmandfleet.com/products/810361-rio-adventure-my-pod-stadium-seat.html



I got a lot of ideas from this site...what a wealth of valuable info!

Catchin' Fish

Offline UFCreel

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Re: Frabill Recon Remodel
« Reply #1 on: Oct 16, 2014, 06:06 PM »
Looks good keep at it.
Flags up! Bobbers down!

Offline matzilla

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Re: Frabill Recon Remodel
« Reply #2 on: Oct 16, 2014, 10:30 PM »
Here is the framework of the platform. The back section is 1x2's and the front cross member is a 2x3" screwed into the pole brackets on each side





This shows the 7/16" ply for the seat and the tupperware container that'll be velcro'ed to the tub with dual batteries inside





Here is the aluminum plate that will go next to the seat. The 12v plug is behind the Plano 3503 spinnerbait box - it holds my jig box, plastics, and a Plano 3414 tackle box. The light switch and master switch are also installed





This shows everything mocked up





Tomorrow I'll get everything painted and covered in carpet

Catchin' Fish

Offline hoosierdad

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Re: Frabill Recon Remodel
« Reply #3 on: Oct 16, 2014, 10:44 PM »
very nice!
love to fish....hate to work

Offline matzilla

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Re: Frabill Recon Remodel
« Reply #4 on: Oct 19, 2014, 08:02 PM »
Thanks guys, I'll keep updating this with pictures

I made some progress this weekend...

Here is the aluminum plate being covered in carpet, clamps are in place until the adheasive cures




Cured - 12v acc plug, switches and tackle box installed



I sprayed the 1x2" frame with bed liner coating



Upholstered seat board and 2x3 cross member installed



Everything installed...aluminum plate will be screwed down when I finish the wiring this week



Back view - I left this open so I can slide my auger and what not under the shelf easily

Catchin' Fish

Offline grizzlyhackle

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Re: Frabill Recon Remodel
« Reply #5 on: Oct 20, 2014, 12:43 PM »
Looks real nice man, very clean end product!

Offline matzilla

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Re: Frabill Recon Remodel
« Reply #6 on: Oct 21, 2014, 09:55 AM »


Fishing wires through the support. There is a 7/16" hole for each light's feed to pass through and a 7/16" hole at the bottom for the wires to come out of.






Lights soldered - pulling wire back through






Wires are double shrink wrapped at the exit point, wire sock installed to keep them from chafing







Power box - Tupperware container with vent hole for charging batteries without removing from the box. Stainless steel machine screws with lock nuts and wing nuts. 5a waterproof fuse holder inside. Box will have new batteries tossed in and is to be insulated with Reflectix






Lights on and finder powered up. The lights are simply zip tied to the tubing to they can be wiggled around to adjust.






Everything running - added a mechanical thermometer I had laying around the garage.






If time allows (have to work late on a wireless install) tonight I will get the front light mounted and wired up. I still have to bundle all the wiring under the switch plate to make things nice and neat.

More pictures to follow


Catchin' Fish

Offline motorfixer1

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Re: Frabill Recon Remodel
« Reply #7 on: Oct 21, 2014, 06:47 PM »
Nice, clean, simple, well thought out install. Keep up the good work.

Offline matzilla

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Re: Frabill Recon Remodel
« Reply #8 on: Oct 23, 2014, 09:49 AM »
Light installed - I do most of my ice fishing in the evenings after I get off work, this should make getting on and off the ice easier. If I didn't have this old fog light laying around I would have sprung for a pair of cheap LED fog lights. Futher down the road I'll probably replace the 55w bulb with an LED equal. I no longer have to carry a headlamp or flashlight





Fog light wiring is in loom, zip tied to the rim of the sled





HB 175 finder mounted to the swing arm setup I made last year for my bucket. It folds up nicely when not in use.







45* 1.5" PVC mounted as a rod holder




1.5" PVC union as a skimmer holder, will also hold my Eskimo ice anchor




1.5" PVC union as a rod holder in the sled




Laying out 24" wide Reflectix to trim to length





Reflectix installed - covered from front to back, pulling the sheet over the hoops, cutting slots for the Velcro straps to pass through and attached to each hoop, the back section is Velcro'ed to the sled, the front wraps around the hoop and is zip tied.




I still have a few things to finish up - will post pictures

Catchin' Fish

Offline Cotacatchers

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Re: Frabill Recon Remodel
« Reply #9 on: Oct 23, 2014, 11:51 AM »
cool mods!!!!  nice job. its always fun to trick our huts out

Offline masoneddie

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Re: Frabill Recon Remodel
« Reply #10 on: Oct 23, 2014, 12:13 PM »
Excellent job!!  :clap: :thumbsup: :icefish:

Offline DoctorPerch

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Re: Frabill Recon Remodel
« Reply #11 on: Oct 23, 2014, 06:20 PM »
Matzilla, it looks like your folding seat stays upright without being seated in it.  Did you do something in particular during mounting it to keep it open?  I am a little unclear on how it is mounted to the base if you could elaborate.  Thanks for keeping us up to date on your progress - very impressive, well thought out work!

Offline matzilla

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Re: Frabill Recon Remodel
« Reply #12 on: Oct 24, 2014, 08:59 AM »
DoctorPerch - the seat works like an old reclining beach chair, it has a ratchet action with 4 seat back angles. In all of the pictures so far the seat is simply sitting on top of the platform. I loosely mounted it down last night with a couple of screws and fender washers through the bleacher strapping built into the chair.

Thanks for all the compliments guys! Here are the rest of the pictures...




Finished, lights and finder on








Made a little Iowa Ice Shanty logo




Insulated the battery box and loomed up the wiring




Made a bottle wrap for the Little Buddy




I decided to keep it simple and attach the seat to the platform with a couple screws and fender washers. The velcro built into the seat is more than enough to keep it from blowing away. I wanted the seat to be able to move around a bit for comfort.




Here it is all finished up



Surprisingly all of this didn't add too much weight - it'll still pull around and load/unload easy. Now its time to organize jigs, get my new auger ready, and pray for ice!

Catchin' Fish

Offline OldSailor

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Re: Frabill Recon Remodel
« Reply #13 on: Oct 24, 2014, 09:08 AM »
Congratulations!! That turned out sweet!!  :thumbsup: :clap: :icefish:
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Don't reel against the drag!!!

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Offline Tmuskie

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Re: Frabill Recon Remodel
« Reply #14 on: Oct 24, 2014, 06:24 PM »
You did an awesome job. Congrats.
There's a hole in the Ice,  Dear Liza, Dear Liza.
There's a hole in the ice, Dear Liza, a hole.

Well fish it, Dear Henry, Dear Henry, Dear Henry
Well fish it Dear Henry. Dear Henry, Fish it.

Offline Quack_Attack

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Re: Frabill Recon Remodel
« Reply #15 on: Oct 24, 2014, 07:51 PM »
Ya forgot the beverage holder and Big Screen TV.  ;D  Nice job.




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Offline walleyerick

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Re: Frabill Recon Remodel
« Reply #16 on: Oct 24, 2014, 08:27 PM »
Awesome Mods-- I think I came up with a few ideas ;) ;D ;D ;D
"Sappers lead the way "

Offline adktony

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Re: Frabill Recon Remodel
« Reply #17 on: Oct 25, 2014, 08:16 AM »
very nice what was to total weight of the sled with all the mods? I like the idea of being able to charg your phone

Offline Eye Fish

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Re: Frabill Recon Remodel
« Reply #18 on: Oct 25, 2014, 09:01 AM »
That is one nice setup! Now just add a flexible solar panel to the roof with velcro to charge the battery and you would be set!

Offline jthod

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Re: Frabill Recon Remodel
« Reply #19 on: Oct 25, 2014, 09:38 AM »
Looks great!

Offline Oldbear

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Re: Frabill Recon Remodel
« Reply #20 on: Oct 25, 2014, 10:02 AM »
Purdy nice work their young man.

Offline Blue Strike

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Re: Frabill Recon Remodel
« Reply #21 on: Oct 25, 2014, 10:53 AM »
Excelent work!
Gone fishin', be back at dark-thirty!

Offline fishinchiro307

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Re: Frabill Recon Remodel
« Reply #22 on: Oct 25, 2014, 05:00 PM »
This is outstanding. Im definitely stealing some ideas for my flip over.

Offline Tmuskie

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Re: Frabill Recon Remodel
« Reply #23 on: Oct 25, 2014, 05:18 PM »
I'm debating on pm'ing him to fly in here to MA to hook me up.
There's a hole in the Ice,  Dear Liza, Dear Liza.
There's a hole in the ice, Dear Liza, a hole.

Well fish it, Dear Henry, Dear Henry, Dear Henry
Well fish it Dear Henry. Dear Henry, Fish it.

Offline matzilla

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Re: Frabill Recon Remodel
« Reply #24 on: Oct 25, 2014, 07:54 PM »
Thanks guys! hope the pictures help

Catchin' Fish

Offline matzilla

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Re: Frabill Recon Remodel
« Reply #25 on: Oct 26, 2014, 12:46 PM »
That is one nice setup! Now just add a flexible solar panel to the roof with velcro to charge the battery and you would be set!

The battery box is right around 10-11lbs, the seat and platform are less than 5lbs

Catchin' Fish

Offline scavengerj

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Re: Frabill Recon Remodel
« Reply #26 on: Nov 17, 2014, 11:35 PM »
Nice mods   :thumbsup:
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OBPA
RFA #1053456E

Offline BaitBucket

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Re: Frabill Recon Remodel
« Reply #27 on: Nov 18, 2014, 07:31 AM »
Very nice setup indeed, great job.

There are a couple things i think you will find need tweaking. I think you will find having the seat off set to be uncomfortable. It also puts more of your body weight on one side rather than centered. I also used the reflectex idea but found that a one man flip over heats up nicely with just your body heat. Add that little buddy heater and the reflectex wont be needed
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Offline squ1rr31_

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Re: Frabill Recon Remodel
« Reply #28 on: Nov 18, 2014, 07:49 AM »
Great mods Matzilla! I'm in the process of building a power supply box and wiring up my shack as well, hoping to get it done this week so I can take it fishing this weekend, I'll post pics or video once its finished!
  

Offline matzilla

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Re: Frabill Recon Remodel
« Reply #29 on: Nov 18, 2014, 08:20 AM »
Great mods Matzilla! I'm in the process of building a power supply box and wiring up my shack as well, hoping to get it done this week so I can take it fishing this weekend, I'll post pics or video once its finished!

Looking forward to the details!

BaitBucket - before I modded the Recon I used to keep my hole hoping bucket in it as a seat and I always sat offset like that because my auger and heater were at my right side when sitting down...I kinda got used to the arrangement. I'm upgrading to a HB Helix next year so the finder between my legs will be done. That might impact where the seat is. I use my Lil Buddy quite a bit when its under 25*'s like it was most of last season. With the reflectix I shouldn't need the heater nearly as much. I dress light and move around a lot - some of my spots require a 2 mile hike.

Catchin' Fish

 



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