Help!! What kind of shanty to build?

[manosteel00]

Hi All!

I've been reading up on the site for a long time, and I've been stuck between what to do.  My first season ice fishing was last year on Big Green Lake in central Wisconsin.  It was a lot of fun and it's definitely something that I want to invest my spare time in.

I have a house on the lake and it made it easy to take the snowmobile right out on the ice and go fishing.  I started with a portable Clam popup which was nice, but proved to be kind of a pain if there were significant winds (which is frequent) and being right on the ice kind of sucked.

My father and I started looking into building a shanty earlier this year.  We ran into a few problems on what to do.

1.) I don't have a trailer, so building a shanty on runners would be difficult to get to the boat launch unless I could just drag it 1mile on the road.  What do most people do?

2.) The wheelhouse idea is nice, but I'm not sure it's for me.  I won't be taking the shanty long distances and it's going to sit on the ice when I'm not there.  I have a house nearby and will have a snowmobile there, so having a bathroom/kitchen setup isn't all that necessary. 

Ideally, I'd like something lightweight that fishes 2 very well, 4 comfortably with room to take a nap.  I'd like to do some type of furnace and be able to leave my gear out there so I don't have to haul and auger and all my gear every trip.  I'd also like it to be able to move around to where the fish are instead of staying in the same spot all season.

Given my situation, do any of you ice fishing vets have some recommendations?  I'd really appreciate some feedback.

Thanks!

[SoDakdick]

http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=275625.0
This my best idea.

[thewyler]

6x8 with the skids running the long way fully framed, peaked roof, on the long wall a bed that will flip up aginst the wall, two windows on the adjacent walls, and the door goes on the other wall, place the heater under the window, itlll fis 2 comfortably 6 with a bit of a squeeze, perfect for a nap, or an allnighter for one guy, ours we trailer up and bring home for a deer blind in the off months

[manosteel00]

Thanks! If I do build one on skids, how do people get it on and off a trailer?  If this thing is relatively heavy in 1000+ pounds, how do they move it on and off the lake?

[thewyler]

An atv with chains ora truck will pull in, an electric winch or an comalong will have no issue pulling ot onto a trailer

[TIBS]

Watch your weight.  Big Green often has much thinner ice than any other Wisconsin lake.  If you build a monstrosity you might never get it on that lake, and then you'll be stuck parking it on the dead sea of Puckaway.

[fish-kabob]

what about a 4x8? shanty i thought about doing this on my lake i am sure you can modify it  to you liking. any how i was looking at bring it on the ice in sections on a sled or similar so it could break down and be carried off same way carried on. if you look in this video  there is screws holding the wall of this portable cabin together.. there just hidden they pull the wall together i think they use hurricane nuts and a cap head screw or similar Allen head screws to assemble it.. i was thinking some thing like the shadow hunter shanties sold at sportsmens guide in size would be perfect. they are a 4x8 x5 or 6 foot tall  but i don't think the price tag of 1000 plus shipping is worth the shadow hunter shanty do you?  my lake we cant use snow mobile on it and other lakes your limited around here to their use. that is why i thought to make a small one portable in parts and drag it out there? any how see video for ideas.

     

[thewyler]

4x8 has no leg room or its one person only

[manosteel00]

Watch your weight.  Big Green often has much thinner ice than any other Wisconsin lake.  If you build a monstrosity you might never get it on that lake, and then you'll be stuck parking it on the dead sea of Puckaway.

Thanks for all the good advice guys.  I know Big Green is typically last to freeze so I am in the same mindset that I don't want a huge monstrosity to haul around the lake.  Plus I just don't want the worry of it falling through, either.

I was planning on building a 6.5x8 as light weight as possible while still having it be sturdy.  I drew this up in sketchup the other day based off a couple recent designs I saw.  I don't think I'll have room for a wood burning stove, so my Mr. Buddy should do just fine.

[da man cave shack]

Looks good. Are you planning on fishing 6 guys in it.

[manosteel00]

I'd like the capability of having 6 in there, but more than likely it will be 4 max.

[fish-kabob]

6 people is not impossible just plan what is used in construction for weight reduction... like luan versus 3/4 inch ply wood... stuff like that..  also here is a good post of a wood burning stove  area maybe read the post and see what you think?   the other link is of a wood burning stove i seen a few made from old steel ammo cans too.     but any ways this gives a smaller options on wood burners... also  are those benches for storage or sleeping? or just seating? from observation  those pillars at the end of the bench are taking up room if you made the bench end to end of the room you may fit the 6 easier? more comfortably? look like your off to a great start though..   also for tables you could use a pontoon boat pedestal table ? if those pillar at the end of the bench is a table?  just some stuff to help you out...

  http://www.koendersmfg.com/fishing.htm

http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=224732.msg2252016#msg2252016

[thewyler]

My 8x12 can fit 7 and sleep 4 reasonably comfortably, but is a HUGE PAIN TO MOVE VERY FAR. So keep that in mind

[manosteel00]

6 people is not impossible just plan what is used in construction for weight reduction... like luan versus 3/4 inch ply wood... stuff like that..  also here is a good post of a wood burning stove  area maybe read the post and see what you think?   the other link is of a wood burning stove i seen a few made from old steel ammo cans too.     but any ways this gives a smaller options on wood burners... also  are those benches for storage or sleeping? or just seating? from observation  those pillars at the end of the bench are taking up room if you made the bench end to end of the room you may fit the 6 easier? more comfortably? look like your off to a great start though..   also for tables you could use a pontoon boat pedestal table ? if those pillar at the end of the bench is a table?  just some stuff to help you out...

  http://www.koendersmfg.com/fishing.htm

http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=224732.msg2252016#msg2252016

Is wood burning better to have than propane?  All I've read about wood burning stoves is that they are tough to regulate and can cook you out of the shanty.  Plus you have downtime for it to heat up. If I do go down this route I may make a recess for the stove to stick out without taking up floorspace.

The benches are for seating, sleeping, and storage.  This isn't going to be a sleeper shed since I'd rather be in my bed, but for naps I planned on making them 2' wide and 6.5' long.  The benches fold up and there will be storage underneath the seating.

When I was designing this in sketchup I saw that there would be limited places to put belongings, drinks, etc.  I figured having those pillars/tables would be a good option, but maybe a simple fold down shelf would do the trick.  I was also thinking about making a fold down table that would lock against the back wall of the shanty and could be lowered to provide a 3' table between the seats.  However, this would cover up any window/stove options.

[thewyler]

28" minimum on width for that, im not a big guy and i did that to try and save space...it did not work my shoulder hung over and i kept fallingoff

[fish-kabob]

Is wood burning better to have than propane?  All I've read about wood burning stoves is that they are tough to regulate and can cook you out of the shanty.  Plus you have downtime for it to heat up. If I do go down this route I may make a recess for the stove to stick out without taking up floorspace.

The benches are for seating, sleeping, and storage.  This isn't going to be a sleeper shed since I'd rather be in my bed, but for naps I planned on making them 2' wide and 6.5' long.  The benches fold up and there will be storage underneath the seating.

When I was designing this in sketchup I saw that there would be limited places to put belongings, drinks, etc.  I figured having those pillars/tables would be a good option, but maybe a simple fold down shelf would do the trick.  I was also thinking about making a fold down table that would lock against the back wall of the shanty and could be lowered to provide a 3' table between the seats.  However, this would cover up any window/stove options.

wood burning can be better but like said there are issues  but i like propane better go figure only problem is leaving it on the lake with theft if it happens around you.      here is a idea off a recreational  vehicles  you know those tables that turn in to beds?  what about in between the seat in the back by the window this way you got use all the way to the door of the door and floor area? if it is wide enough across you could sleep in that area 50% of the time but like said make the bunks 2.5 -3 foot wide then if that table is not being used as a bed strap it  up high in the ceiling for storage. bungee cord, hook, etc...   by the way that same board can be use as a table with those pontoon bases on it and the floor with a pedestal in between it and the floor.  it may save space and give extra sleeping room? for like kids? 

       

[thewyler]

Woodburning is great, and ot gove you something to do, but everyhting smells like woodsmoke..... That sketchup is good.....but your gonna be dropping gear down the holes like theres no tommorrow..... Go bigger, kepp all the guys along one wall to minimize donations to the lakebed or the guys back to back