Island Cabin Docks Ready for a Northwestern Winter
Your last boat ride of the season is the last chance to set things up. Make it count with Arbrux.
Island cabins, long winters
Lake of the Woods is a maze of islands stretching from Kenora and Sioux Narrows toward the Manitoba border. Many cabins here are reached only by boat, with a dock and often a boathouse as the front door.
Winter comes early this far northwest and settles in hard. Ice thickens for months around every crib, piling and slip it can reach.
Setting up a cabin you reach by boat
Once the lake starts to freeze, getting back out may not be possible until spring. Plan the setup before that last trip:
- Know the depth. Water levels on Lake of the Woods are regulated and can shift between seasons. Look for a spot with 4 to 6 feet of water, where the pump keeps a 40-foot circle open.
- Pick the mount on shore. A boathouse or crib dock suits the Dock Bundle. For a rocky island with no good attachment point, the free-standing Lake Bottom Bundle can sit right where it is needed.
- Sort out power. A licensed electrician should confirm a ground fault protected outdoor circuit, especially on a cabin running off its own service.
- Line up a neighbour. A year-round resident or local marina who can check after a storm is worth a lot. Our guide to running a de-icer at an empty cottage covers the rest.
On the Whiteshell side
Across the border in Manitoba, Whiteshell Provincial Park cabins on Falcon, West Hawk and Big Whiteshell lakes face the same deep cold, often with easier road access. The same depth and mounting advice applies, and setup can wait until closer to freeze-up.
Lake of the Woods & Whiteshell FAQ
Do you ship to Kenora and to Manitoba?
Yes, anywhere in Canada. Please note we cannot ship to the Minnesota side of the lake or elsewhere in the United States.
How does a de-icer hold up in this kind of cold?
Arbrux de-icers are designed to keep water open in severe cold. Depth and placement make the biggest difference, so call us if your spot is shallow or exposed.
Can it keep ice away from boathouse doors?
Yes. Aim the flow along the front of the boathouse to keep the slip and doors clear.
Ready before the last boat out
Arbrux pumps are UL and CSA certified, made in Canada and backed by a 2-year warranty.
