DanD

Having something wrapped around my wrist, that'll help me get to the bottom faster; doesn't really appeal too me? LOL Too bad you're not closer, I'd weld one up for you; if you brought the material. GBW you up for a road trip to London? Dan.

Man I'm almost there now; with the number of weekends working on it. Dan.

The trailer itself is 250 Lbs; I have tried my best to track the weight that I have added and i believe the total weight is approx 1000 -1100 Lbs Last year with the three guys on and our gear was Approx 800 Lbs plus the trailer weight and like I said I thought I lost the trailer, coming off the pavement onto the ice; it pulled so easy. Dan.

Thanks. That's why there's wheels; may have to go looking for safe ice? That's my son's 1987 RX7; with a bit more power then originally supplied with from the factory. It now has a LS1 5.7Lt (Corvette/Camaro V8) that has had a lot of performance work done to it. Behind the motor, there's a 6 speed manual from a Corvette. The last we had the car on a dyno, it was pushing better then 450 Hp at the wheels. Scary but fun little car; at only 1800 Lbs. LOL Dan.

The plan is to drive to the lake towing the trailer with the snowmobile on it. Get to the lake, unload the snowmobile and then hook the trailer/fish hut to the snowmobile. Been working on this for a while; bought the 1500lb cap. tilt trailer last year Put a 7'X10' deck on it, to haul the sled around. Made up a set of skies, out of a 16' extension ladder (love Kijiji for cheap stuff) that attach to the wheels of the trailer, with a ratchet straps. I was able to haul out all our gear and three guys; all on the trailer at once. It actually pulled so easy that I kept looking back; thinking the trailer came off the hitch. A friend had the tubing from one of those portable garages; that I thought would make a great frame for the enclosure of the trailer. After welding all the tubing togeather and some cross bracing, made from 1" X 1/8" flat stock; it really firmed up the tube frame. Also roughed in the window(s) and furnace frame. Yes a 25,000 BTU RV furnace. I fish a lot outside; but when I want to get warm, it has to happen fast. LOL I then started skinning the hut with 24 gage sheet metal. Overlapped the seams by 2" and pop riveted every 3". Shot a coat of primer on the inside and out and then painted it with Tremclad dark blue gloss. Installed the furnace. Pre-wired the hut for the furnace, lighting, power ports (Cig Lighters), circulating fan (PC cooling fans) and an on-board battery charger/maintainer. I also installed a circuit that I can flip a toggle switch and have all the exterior lights flash like a car's 4 way lights. Should make it easier for people, who are meeting me out on the ice to find me? Then it was insulation time, installing the ducting for the furnace and build the benches. That's it so far. I still need to install the propane regulator and line to the furnace. Make the hinged lids for the benches and OH yea cut the holes. LOL Here's what I'm hoping to do for the floor/hole plan. Probably never fish with 6 people in so I may not cut all of them in? Depending on how well this whole thing works out; I plan on changing the axle to a drop down and get the frame down on the ice. For now I'm going to try using those roll up kid's sleds (magic carpet?) that Crappy tire sells. There should be enough spring in the plastic; that when put through the hole rolled up from inside the hut, down to the ice; it should try and unroll and make a nice fit and stop the wind from blowing into the hut? I'm open for suggestions for things I may not of thought of? Dan.

Somewhere on the office's walls, there's a picture of my eldest brother (RIP), holding his catch. Don't remember anything else about the pic; but it's there, from back in the late 70's - early 80's. He loved ice fishing Simcoe; only surpassed by the Nipissing, out of Bear Creak; in it's hay days. Man I miss those times with him; he was tough on his little brother; but man did I learn a lot from him. Dan.

I saw that post as well; waiting for Peter to elaborate, on where they might have gone? Dan.

Cooks Bay still doesn't have safe ice; from what I've been told? Dan.

Why not refill your green tanks? They sell adapters in the States to connect a green tank to a 25lb tanks. They're not sold here in Canada anymore but its easy to make an adapter. All you need is a plumber's torch head, BBQ propane hose and a Kitchen scale. Fix the hose to the torch head (covering or cutting off the torch's air venturi holes). Now connect the hose/adapter to both tanks. Turn the 25Lb tank upside down, so that liquid propane will transfer into the 1lb green tank. Put the empty 1lb on the scale and then zero the scale. Turn the 25lb tank fully on and then slowly open the torch valve. When the scale reads 1lb turn everything off and disconnect the adapter; you're ready to go with a full green tank. Check the green tank for a leak; after a number of times of being filled, it may start to; that's when you throw it away. Dan.

If you're planing on heating this new garage; have you checked into radiant in floor? My son has it, in his 1500 sq. ft. work shop and it has to be the most comfortable and economical form of heating (after the install); that I've seen/felt for a work shop. Now's the time, if you're even interested in checking it out; well before having the slab poured. I know that my next man cave (when I can afford it) will have in floor heating; even if it means waiting and saving up for it. I have also installed it the kitchen, when we renovated the house and the wife wanted new ceramic tiles. Best thing I ever did, the old ceramic was always cold; now it's bare foot in the kitchen. To cut costs I installed the grid (water pipe or electrical; which ever you decide) and then let the contractor finish the remaining install of the flooring and connections. Figured I saved about 35 - 40% of the cost, by doing what I could myself. Dan.

Tim Hales has always served us well. Last time out with him, he ran us out to deep water for a shot at lakers and then at noon or there about, he picked us up and took us back to his perch huts. It was a mid week trip and he wasn't busy and agreed to do this for us. Clean, warm huts and lots of bait. Dan.

I get cure 1 from my local butcher shop; he has it in bulk (does a lot of cured meats for his store) and will sell you whatever amount you want. What I've found when not using curing salt, is that the meats do not look "normal" as too what people's perception of what cured ham should look like, compared to what grocery store cured meats look like. I have cured whole hams and pork belly (beacon) both ways and the both tasted exactly the same; but the one without the curing salt was much grayer in colour; looked more like an oven roasted meat, than cured and smoked. The fridge life of the cure 1 ham was also much longer; even vacuumed sealed the non cure 1 ham, after 4 or 5 days in the fridge, started to go off. Dan.

Another type of voltage drop test that will test the cables and connections. The diagram shows the meter connection points, to test the battery positive cable between the battery and the battery terminal of the starter solenoid. With meter connected and the circuit idle (Everything off) the meter should show zero voltage or very near zero. If there is voltage present; then there is an open in the circuit. (Something not making a connection) With the meter still connected the same way; attempt to crank the engine and take a meter reading. You will seem voltage; but it should not exceed 1/4 (.25) of a volt, with the ignition in the crank position. Any more then .25V and there is high resistance in the circuit; ether a bad cable of a corroded connection. The same test applies to the negative side of a circuit; battery negative to starter case or engine main ground. Usually resistance tests are performed with an ohmmeter; but in the case of large cables an ohmmeter can give you a false reading. For example a #6 gauge cable (typical starter cable size) is 3/4 rotted trough. An ohmmeter will still show every low resistance on an idle circuit; because the few strands that are not rotted are still making a connection. You cannot test a live circuit with an ohmmeter; not without letting the smoke out of the electronics or blowing the meter's fuse. The cable that tested good with the ohmmeter, is now asked to carry the approx 300 amps required to crank the engine; but this amperage cannot get passed the rotted section of cable; ending in a no crank or a strong click from the started solenoid. A voltage drop test is a dynamic resistance test on a live circuit and will take all doubt out of cable and connection condition. Sorry for the long post; didn't know a short way of explaining? Dan.

Before my brother became ill, he was a hobby furniture maker and he made a few downsized tables for me to fit our weekend trailer; that I'm still using today, 18 years later. He loved working with oak and there'd be a if he would see your table. Very nice work, especially coming from rough wood. Dan.

Sorry I didn't mean to say that's what Freshtrax should do; just telling my story. For sure try treats anything too get the dog to eat; show him all the love and attention you can. Dan.

We had to have my Dad's dog put down, because he wouldn't eat, drink or go outside to do his business; after Dad passed away. The dog was heart broken and just laid by the front door sulking. The only time he would look the slightest excited, was hearing someone at the front door and then back to sulking when it wasn't Dad coming in. Took Markie to the vet's and she said it is quite common for a loyal dog to do this; some pull through others just wither away. The vet gave us some supplements, in liquid form to force feed him; but he just keep getting weaker and his messes were getting worse. After about a month of this; the vet recommended to have him put down. Dan.

You can't always trust tow truck drivers to hook up properly either. Had to have my 50 Chevy towed due to the 6 volt generator going for a crap. You do don't go far with a 6 volt battery, not being charged. Driver backs the flat bed up to the car, grabs the winch cable and J hooks and hooks to the car. I take a look and he has the J hooks, hooked to the steering tie rods. I tell him what he's done and he gets all pissed off, say he's been towing for 20 years and knows what he's doing. I tell him I've been a mechanic for 35 years and he's not winching my car using the tie rods. He sheepishly has a look and changes his hook points and didn't say another word too me on the trip back to London from Turkey Point. LOL Lew Princess Auto http://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/2-in-x-20-ft-10-000-lb-tow-strap/A-p8402232e Dan.

If you take payment for towing whatever out of the ditch or down the road; then it's illegal. When a towing company is called out to retrieve a vehicle from a ditch; they must notify the police. The ditch is still part of the hwy and the hwy traffic act applies and charges can (most times not) be laid for things like careless, care and control, impaired; whatever the cop deems fit for that situation that got you in the ditch. I wouldn't want to be the good Samaritan with a tow chain hooked to someone's car and then when the cops show up they find that the driver is impaired or the car is stolen. Not sure what they could charge you with; but you'd have a hell of a lot of explaining to do. That being said, on a deserted road, I'd be one of the first to try and help someone out of the ditch; but on a well traveled hwy; the most I'll do is offer them a warm seat in my vehicle; while I call a tow truck. Dan.

Guys it was like this last year at this time, here in our area anyway. We had family come from BC, so their kids could have a white Christmas. Christmas day the kids (2 and 4 year old) were playing outside on my deck and they only needed sweaters on to keep warm. By mid (late?) January I was fishing cooks bay on 8 inches of ice. Give it a bit more time and we'll get the freeze that we need for hard water fishing; I hope? Dan.

I bought a pair for my daughter, when she was at law school in Ottawa; she loved them. It was approx a 20 block walk to the university and she said her feet stayed nice and toasty. They did eat batteries though; she'd wait until her feet started to feel cool and then turn them on. Dan.

Do you know how long paper lasts in an open boat. LOL Dan.

When I'm in an area that is new to me, I put a memo in my phone with the slot sizes and limits. Before the phone I'd type out the regs for an area or take the page(s) from the summery that I need; have them laminated and tossed in the boat. Dan.

Have a look at these electric socks. http://www.cabelas.ca/product/72845/world-famous-battery-operated-heated-socks Dan.

Another off topic post; but it does show that legalizing pot; isn't going to put a dent in the amount of home grown stuff. My Dad grew tobacco for most of his life and he had a good group of young guys (from Quebec) that worked for him, for several years; Dad would house and feed them during harvest time. When these guys found out that Dad was cool with them smoking their pot; they were a pretty happy group. LOL "Just don't burn my barn down and be ready for work tomorrow" is all Dad would have to say about it. For the next several years, every spring the guys would send Dad a care package with seeds. Dad planted the seeds in the greenhouse with his tobacco seeds and then transplanted the seedlings to the fields, in between the tobacco plants; throughout the field. Buy the time harvest came, the guys would have their beds, meals and their "stuff" (as Dad would call it) ready for them. They were happy, free "stuff" and Dad was also; because he didn't have to drive them into town every other day to get "supplies". This was back in the early 70's and Dad has now been gone for a number of years; so I don't mind telling the story of his illegal crops. Man if Dad had sold it as well as growing it and not got caught; he would have had a lot better retirement found put away. LOL The only thing I see happening with legalizing pot; is it'll bring the street price down of the illegal stuff; so more kids will be able to afford it. Dan.

Very interesting and informative thread; there's always something new to learn here. Simon. I haven't watched all of your videos; but the one in this thread has to rank close to your best!!!! Thank you for taking the time to post your adventures. Dan.