Aluminum?

[woodyjdh]

Has anyone ever made a permanent fish house out of an aluminum base frame?  I know some have build them with Aluminum stud walls.  Did you have any problem with moisture bleeding through the walls? I am considering a 7 x 16 with dual retractable wheels.  I think it would be best to bolt the retractable wheel ass'y to the aluminum frame.   I am taking great pains in the planning stages of building it to insure a quality product that is both functional and pleasing to the eyes.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.  If you prefer, you can e-mail me at [email protected]  Thank you.

[Bob_D]

Woodyjdh,
If you build one I'd be interested in seeing it. I am planning to do one myself, once I sell my house and move to a new one.

[LoveIce]

yes go to www.roadkingoutdoors.c om they cell it to  doit your selfers

[woodyjdh]

Loveice, thanks but no.  I want to build my own, with as little help from the "pros" as possible.  I have looked at most of the manufacturers  websites I could find, for ideas and such.  But who knows more about this that the people using them?  They know what works and what doesn't. Whereas the pro's are more likely out to sell me something.  When I want to buy something, I will go to them.  So no offense, but thanks.  What does suprise me is the lack of replies to my posts?  Could it be I am the "new guy"?   Or maybe not many get down to the bottom of the pages much? Fish on!!!

[Flash_King]

It's not that your a newbie or the posts are at the bottom of the page; but I think that most Shacks are built in the fall and now are sitting on the ice.Saw a house a few years back on Laurel Lake NH just like the one your thinking about,except for the wheels- Alum.studs and siding.Boy it was light!-maybe a bit Too light and COLD,owner was planing to put 1" insulation on the inside.When I built my previous house, I thought about going the Alum stud way but finally decided to rip 2x3 and 2x4's in half for my framing.Any way you go,be sure it is framed tight and you will most likely change a few things every year to your personal tastes.

Good Luck - Good Fishing

[woodyjdh]

Good point about the lack of responses.  As far as being light, that was also a worry, I don't want something too light, where I have to hunt my house down every time I go out.  Or it bounces side to side pulling it down the road.  I've made many 4 place snowmobile trailers, and other products out of aluminum.  The difference is the material.  The trailers were made with strength in mind, weight wasn't a factor.  I already plan on using 1-1/2" pink styro ins.  It is spendy, but better than the 1" white ins.  I have made a few fish houses where I worked out of aluminum, but they were the type to go on skids.  I just welded up the main frame-studwalls, ceiling, floor out of 1"x1"x.065 sq. tube.  On mine I am considering 1-1/2"x1-1/2"x1/8" sq. tube for the studs.  My concern is condensation buildup.  I imagine I will have to use Tyvek, and plastic rivets to mount the inside paneling (or whatever I decide for the walls).  And I thought it would be easier to get others ideas, or exp. on this before I go ahead and attempt it.  Thanks for the reply. Fish On!!!

[Bob_D]

woodyjdh,
I'm not sure if you are planning to (from your comment about looking for your shanty, I'm assuming not), but you need to secure your shanty to the ice. I've seem some pretty big shanties flipped, smashed, etc when they were not secured. I attach mine through the floor on the inside to make it haeder for folks to cut it loose.

Bob

[woodyjdh]

Esox, that is something I have pondered on breifly, securing it from the inside.  Last year I know the winds came up pretty strong, people were scrambling to get their houses off the lakes before mother nature did it for them.  Like I told a guy who e-mailed me, I think when all the planning is done, and I have decided on an overall design I might draw it up on my AutoCad, and take pictures during assembly.  I'm not so sure I'd sell them, but for reference sake. I appreciate the replies, and hope to see some more.  Fish on!!!

[Bob_D]

I hold mine down with some ground wire. I cut a 14" piece of 1" board and drill a hole in it for the wire. Cut a 4" section of wire and tie it to the board. I can put the board down the hole and it will hold that end in place. Then I put the other end of the wire through a hole in the floor of the shanty. I then secure it with a clamp. I add a block to make it harder for the cable to pull out.



With this set-up it's easy to release the clamps and lift the shanty if more blocks are needed.