Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 21

With a heater
shield, you don't
have to worry
as much about
the shanty or
your clothes
getting burned
as you walk
by the heater.

universally and for less cost than other options. This is where
your individual customization comes into play.
5. Drill holes necessary to attach the accessories and the
points where you need to attach the board to the frame itself.
6. Use a truck bed liner coating all of the board except for
the accessories themselves. This will make the whole package
much more durable and withstand the weather much longer.
7. Most ATVs will have a track system, so you can attach
the board directly to the frame with bolts and a large washer
on top. Those that don't can be attached with U-bolts around
the factory metal tube rack and sandwiched to the board.
This customization is only limited by your imagination
and budget. The larger mounting surface is much better
for attaching a GPS mount or for small brackets that can be
screwed into the board to secure items with bungee cords.

Sometimes the simplest ways of doing things are the best. A
simple bolt and washer hold the sheet metal to the heater's wire
frame. Notice how the corner bends around, and be sure to
check for sharp edges.
PFBC website: www.fishandboat.com

Heater shield

Heaters are used by hunters, cold weather boaters and ice
anglers to mention a few. If you poll 10 outdoor enthusiasts
who use a heater and ask them how many of them have
burned up some type of equipment, chances are that all 10
have experienced this misfortune. Making a simple heat
shield for your portable heater can be done quickly and at
very little cost.
1. Start off with a heater that has some type of grill.
Almost all heaters have some type of wire grill to avoid
direct contact with the shield.
2. Cut a piece of sheet metal, so it covers the majority
or the entire burner area.
3. Perforate the piece of metal, so that the heat can easily
come through when the project is completed. A good metal
drill bit can penetrate sheet metal, but a punch and hammer
work just as well. I prefer ¼- to 3/8-inch holes spaced
approximately every ½ inch. You may want to use a metal
file or grinder to remove the sharp burrs that the holes will
cause on the backside.
4. Bend the sheet metal, so it fits the contour of the
heater. A hammer and piece of scrap wood make this a
simple task.
5. When attaching the heat shield to the original wire
shield, it is usually best and easiest to temporarily remove
the wire guard from the heater for this step.
6. Use large stainless washers, larger than the holes on the
wire guard, on the side towards the heat source. Put a bolt
through from the front side and simply tighten.
It is important to keep in mind that the sheet metal
will get hot and can still burn your equipment. The idea is
that not only is it less likely to do so, but it keeps you from
having direct contact with the flame.
Hopefully, the ATV rack and the heater shield will make
your time on the ice this season a little easier and help you
think of simple and inexpensive solutions to other problems
that only an angler can understand.
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * January/February 2014

21
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014

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