DanD

Yeah that's me. I really like the hut; but its way to heavy and will be going on a diet before next season. When I added the drop axles, I didn't realize how much weight it added to the overall hut. It was heavy before; but that extra frame broke my 500 ski doo's back. Even with removing the trailer's original axle; it was still way to heavy, to move it around. Last season I hired a local that had a large side by side with tracks to pull the hut out for me. He even baby sat the hut for me out on Simcoe and brought the hut to shore for me at the end of the season. Dave if you're reading this THANK YOU AGAIN!!!! Was going to rebuild it last summer; but things got busy and then some health issues popped up. So I'll deal with this fat guy one more season and then start a weight management program. LOL Already found a source for exterior insulated fiber wall panels. Also going to loose the trailer's original frame and just go with what's pictured above; adding some cross members to support the new floor. So if anyone here sees this blue hut and its Canadian flag; please stop in and say hello and have a warm up. You may have to wait for a fresh pot off coffee; my brother drinks it like its his life blood. LOL It'll be out from Beverton, on the perch grounds between Georgina and Thorah islands; likely closer to Georgina island? Hope to have the hut out with-in the next two weeks. Call me if you'd like, PM for the number Dan.

Thanks Terry. Coming from you means a lot!!! Thanks again Mr, Terry MacGyver. Dan.

Just finished building a tag along trailer for the quad. After the build, I thought a set of skies would finish this off and make it a year round buggy? Now I have a turf, snow and ice fishing trailer. I also found a 65 gallon poly tub, that was meant for watering livestock. I plan on ratchet strapping it on the expanded metal floor of the tag along. Haul all the fishing gear or an extra person; out to the fishing grounds/ice. It's nothing fancy; but it should do the job for what I need it for. Dan. Just a little bigger pic showing the limiting chains. They're there to stop the ski from flipping upside down. don't know if they're needed but with my luck I'd find out at the worst time. LOL

I sold mine for the same reasons; not enough time to get it in the water. I actually sold it to a member here on the board. When I see a picture of it, I have regrets; but am happy its being used. If I had to do it again, I wouldn't have sold. At the time it made sense too; but I have missed out on so many opportunities to spend a day on the water. As soon as I can financially; I'll be springing for another of my own. As for the rentals at the lodges or lakes; there's usually a selection. 14 footers with 9.9s or a full blown multi species boat with all the toys. The pricing also reflex's what you rent. This coming year on our trip to Elk Lake, we're going to try a pontoon? Never fished from one, with 4 guys before; but the experience will help me, when I do decide to buy another fishing machine. Dan.

That's good advice right there. Next would be to confirm that if the boat does flip or become swamped; it doesn't dive like a shovel to the bottom. If unsure add more flotation to the boat. Pods Like these examples or you could easily make something along these lines yourself. Dan.

LOL A couple of years ago, I would have disagreed with you Terry; my wife was ever so calm and nice. Then came menopause and I felt like I was living with a possessed person. I swear the one night she pulled a Linda Blair and her head did 360° spin and didn't stop for a second, telling me what I did wrong that day. LOL So guys, yeah respect anything called, Lady. Dan.

Just don't be dive bombing any float-planes. LOL Would be nice to see some overhead views of your place. Been following the build thread since you started it. Sorry bud if you thought you bought this for yourself; wrong, its for us to follow along. Enjoy and show us your flying skills. Dan.

I agree with 99.9 % 0f your posts Fish Farmer; but lock nuts are a glorified pacifier, for adults. I have three different sockets that will remove most any lock nut out there. If I can walk into a tool truck and buy them, anyone can. Like any lock they're there for the honest people. Nice set of wheels to bling out the trailer tizfun; enjoy. Dan.

Merry Christmas!!! Special one for us this year; got our first grandchild 3 months ago. She does't know whats going on; other then she loves all the attention. LOL Dan.

Last year was the first time I had ever ice fished alone; it wasn't planed, it just worked out that way. There were four of us up on Simcoe for the weekend; but Sunday came way to fast for my liking and I decided to stay a couple extra days. What a difference it was, no one banging and clanging stuff around; looking do doing something. The furnace only came on half the time; without someone constantly opening the door. I could actually concentrate on fishing and day dreaming. Once there's stable ice, to get the hut out; there will be at least a few solo days for me. After saying all that, I would still miss not having a few friends and family out there with me; most times. LOL Dan.

The minute I touch that tire, to perform a repair, I am libel (sp?); if that repair fails. So every bit of that crap gets washed out, so that a proper inspection can be performed. If I'm taking on whatever job for a customer; its done to the best of my ability or we don't do it. The customer is informed of the extra cost involved and then it's their choice to allow me to continue. Dan.

That could be our cat's identical twin????

Yeah I get those emails all the time. I also have a next door neighbour that is, well just say sketchy; with his conduct. The last email i got for duct cleaning, I replied but gave his address and sat back to watch the fun. A day or two later a truck shows up and pulls into his driveway. After a few minutes there's a bunch of yelling and he's (neighbour) is chasing the guy back to the truck. I have no idea what he was yelling; it was all in Lebanese. But I know for sure it wasn't inshallah (God willing) Unless he was asking god to help kill the poor sales man. LOL Dan.

Yeah I know: but I'm hoping she'll be my fishing partener in a few years? Say hello to my two month old granddaughter Lila.

Yea I've seen this as well and I have had to listen to people complain, when I tell them that this tire repair has just tripled in price. Cleaning that stuff out of the tire, would easily be compared to trying to wipe baby crap off a blanket. If the tire isn't 100% clean, the proper repair of a patch will not adhere to the tire. Dan.

Running down the road the tire has a chance of drying off; sitting wet for six mouths strait, will allow mold to grow and those acids will/could eat at the rubber. Then there's the wheels; keep them dry or be willing to do some cleaning or painting if they're steelies. Dan.

I really don't think it matter all that much, vert/horiz; as long as they're stored in a cool, dry and out of the sunlight they'll be fine. Dan.

Late spring last year I bought a 2005, 700 King Quad; that's showing 12.5K on the odometer. Serviced the bike, as in spark plug, oil change, all other fluids and install a new drive belt. Haven't used it a lot but it seems to run fine and hasn't used any oil; so for the amount I paid I'm very happy with it. Found an auger rack on Amazon, putting a set of chains on and I should be ready for the ice. Dan.

How old are the tires? If they're any older then 7 years old; you should think about getting them off the road. In many European countries, it is law that a tire 5 years old must come off and there's talk of that coming here. Here's a pic and a description of how to read the date code. If by chance the date code on your tires are 6 digits; you know its 10 plus years old. If the tires are young enough; take them into a garage and have them repaired. For rim leaks we take the tire off the rim, wire wheel the rust away from the bead and valve stem areas. Apply a bead sealer (liquid rubber) to the cleaned rim and install a new valve stem. $15.00. For a puncture, we do all the same as above; along with patching the tire from the inside. $20.00 With both repairs, we can check the tire's condition inside. A tire driven half flat (even only 1 klick) will chew out the sidewall; right down to the cords and you cannot tell from the outside. So you're willing to chance turning your trailer into a drag-er for 15 or 20 bucks? Sorry but that's back assward thinking. Dan.

Very nicely gone Lew. Dan.

I've had ferrets as small as 10 inches long (body) and as long as 18 inches long. They have been white (year round), black or calico. There's only one that I remember that was a biter; but he was the best hunter. Ended up putting a mussel on him before sending down the hole; if you didn't he catch the rabbit. Most of our pet ferrets would love to crawl into my snow suit and curl up near the small of my back and fall asleep. I can still remember pulling them out of my coat sound asleep;; put their nose close to the rabbit hole and they'd be awake in an instant; struggling to get out of your hand. Dan

I've had a few all white ferrets; not albino (black eyes) and yes the one in the pic would have passed for a ferret if its not one? Dan.

Back when I was a kid, my dad and I would go out with our "Pet ferret" right after a fresh snow fall. We could track the rabbits to their holes and then send the ferret down. I would then kneel down in front of the hole and wait and listen. As the rabbit came running out (with the ferret on his ass) it was easy to grab the rabbit with your bare hands. A lot of the times. the rabbits had a second or third escape route; that's where dad stepped in with the 16 gauge shot gun. Sometimes the ferret would catch the rabbit and there was no way of getting the ferret out; not until he had a belly full and a good long nap. When that happened, we'd plug up all the rabbit holds we could find around the one we put the ferret down and leave him there for a day or two. When we went back to the hole we'd have a mixture of bread, warmed milk and brown sugar; if he was still in the hole, he couldn't resist the smell and temptation of having a taste. Yes I now know it is illegal to hunt with a ferret; but at the age of 8 or 10 we were bringing supper home. Now before anyone condemns my dad, it was the early 60s; you know the same time era where there is hundreds of picture of string lines of Muskies hanging. Dan.

I'll also chime in for Tim Hales. As for the safety covers; yea we used them the one time we were there. My daughter's X boyfriend, thought it was an ice drinking, not ice fishing excursion. Yup he walked right in and down to about his neck. If we weren't there to grab him; he would have been under the ice. What a dumb ass!!! Dan.

Not to steal the thread; but do the Donovan's still own and run the place? The first time I went there (early 70s) Dick was running the whole show on his own. Then I think in the mid 80s Dan (Dick's son) and his wife Ronda took over the show. If they're not running the place now, who is? Dan.