- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Coaching Changes
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
buying a camp - questions
Posted on 7/31/25 at 9:20 am
Posted on 7/31/25 at 9:20 am
We just closed on a camp in the SELA marsh. It's about 1800sqft on wood pilings, on the water. It also has a dock and covered boat lift. Our boat will stay in the lift, which will always be unplugged when we're not there. Decking is also composite thankfully. We'll probably be down there 2-3 times a month in the summer, and once a month during the winter. For those that own camps, what are some things that you find helpful in minimizing maintenance? What's your process for leaving the camp for any extended period of time?
Some thoughts I've had: do y'all keep your ice machines on when not there? Do you keep your water heater lit?
Appreciate any helpful insight.
Some thoughts I've had: do y'all keep your ice machines on when not there? Do you keep your water heater lit?
Appreciate any helpful insight.
6
Posted on 7/31/25 at 9:24 am to atom1505
1) Always keep ice machine one
2) get infinite cameras around the place -- the cheap ones from amazon that run on AA and hook to wifi work fine.
3) spray everything with BIFEN under the camp, including the poles, under the came, and the grass around your lot. If you follow one of my suggestions, follow this one. (keeps spiders mosquitos etc away).
4) If on a main hwy (90, 23, etc) i would get some type of gate going to your camp. If youre in a more secluded area like Lafrance Marina, Pearlington, Happy Jacks, etc--no gate.
5) keep a generator at your camp. A small tailgate one will do. There is nothing worse than getting to the camp to go fishing and the power is out precluding you from letting your boat down from the lift.
Tl;Dr: Get Bifen and spray everything
2) get infinite cameras around the place -- the cheap ones from amazon that run on AA and hook to wifi work fine.
3) spray everything with BIFEN under the camp, including the poles, under the came, and the grass around your lot. If you follow one of my suggestions, follow this one. (keeps spiders mosquitos etc away).
4) If on a main hwy (90, 23, etc) i would get some type of gate going to your camp. If youre in a more secluded area like Lafrance Marina, Pearlington, Happy Jacks, etc--no gate.
5) keep a generator at your camp. A small tailgate one will do. There is nothing worse than getting to the camp to go fishing and the power is out precluding you from letting your boat down from the lift.
Tl;Dr: Get Bifen and spray everything
Posted on 7/31/25 at 9:34 am to atom1505
Damp Rid is your friend. Buy the smaller containers, then get the large refills from Amazon.
Posted on 7/31/25 at 9:35 am to atom1505
I don’t own a camp but my buddy who does spent a lot of time and money messing with his septic system. Maybe someone here can chime in with specific advice.
Posted on 7/31/25 at 9:45 am to SilverPoon985
quote:
1) Always keep ice machine one
2) get infinite cameras around the place -- the cheap ones from amazon that run on AA and hook to wifi work fine.
3) spray everything with BIFEN under the camp, including the poles, under the came, and the grass around your lot. If you follow one of my suggestions, follow this one. (keeps spiders mosquitos etc away).
4) If on a main hwy (90, 23, etc) i would get some type of gate going to your camp. If youre in a more secluded area like Lafrance Marina, Pearlington, Happy Jacks, etc--no gate.
5) keep a generator at your camp. A small tailgate one will do. There is nothing worse than getting to the camp to go fishing and the power is out precluding you from letting your boat down from the lift.
Tl;Dr: Get Bifen and spray everything
Thanks! Great info. The place came with some cameras installed which is great. I do my own pest control at my house, so will definitely keep everything sprayed with Bifen or something similar.
Great thought about the generator - never would've occurred to me. I've got a small one that can stay at the camp.
Posted on 7/31/25 at 10:04 am to atom1505
Like another posted- wifi cameras that give you the ability to set alarms. Our cameras were like $60 each with a little solar panel. A 5 second alarm and flashing light go off any time there is motion. I turn it off from my phone when we arrive
boat lift off when you are gone like you said
Portable AC unit at the camp for when you have AC problems
Talk with your neighbors and see how often the area gets water on the slab with a high tide/strong south wind combo. If it's frequent, don't leave anything valuable on the slab when you are not there.
boat lift off when you are gone like you said
Portable AC unit at the camp for when you have AC problems
Talk with your neighbors and see how often the area gets water on the slab with a high tide/strong south wind combo. If it's frequent, don't leave anything valuable on the slab when you are not there.
Posted on 7/31/25 at 10:36 am to redneck
We turn off the water and the breaker to the water heater. A water leak can be a disaster if you don't know about it for week or more.
Posted on 7/31/25 at 10:50 am to atom1505
quote:
Some thoughts I've had: do y'all keep your ice machines on when not there? Do you keep your water heater lit?
Will you have wifi? SOOO many things can be done now with technology here to really help you out if you have wifi.
Water heater
Ice maker
Lights
Thermostat
ETC
All managed with wifi apps. Turn them off when you leave and turn them on the morning on your way down.
I'd also strongly recommend motion activated lights for security. One at your driveway and all sides of your home.
Posted on 7/31/25 at 10:59 am to baldona
We will have WiFi. None of the light switches are smart switches though. Smart Thermostat is easy enough.
On the ice maker, do you mean just plugging the ice machine into a smart plug and turning it on via phone whenever we're heading down there?
On the ice maker, do you mean just plugging the ice machine into a smart plug and turning it on via phone whenever we're heading down there?
Posted on 7/31/25 at 11:28 am to atom1505
There has been some great suggestions already posted.
We have a Simplisafe system which includes cameras, motion, smoke + carbon monoxide detectors and temp sensors. Super helpful to know what's going on remotely.
We turn the hot water heater (electric) and water off when we leave. We also put our AC to 80 degrees when we leave. It takes hours to cool the camp during the summer if you turn the AC off.
You didn't mention the age of the camp, but do a thorough inspection of all electrical. Replace all exterior GFCI receptacles, and add heavy duty weather proof electrical covers at those locations.
Install outdoor LED lighting fixtures at your door(s) that turn on dusk to dawn.
If you're going to have an ice machine, install a 3M commercial water filtration system. It's about $179 and will improve the water quality and longevity of you ice machine.
We have a Simplisafe system which includes cameras, motion, smoke + carbon monoxide detectors and temp sensors. Super helpful to know what's going on remotely.
We turn the hot water heater (electric) and water off when we leave. We also put our AC to 80 degrees when we leave. It takes hours to cool the camp during the summer if you turn the AC off.
You didn't mention the age of the camp, but do a thorough inspection of all electrical. Replace all exterior GFCI receptacles, and add heavy duty weather proof electrical covers at those locations.
Install outdoor LED lighting fixtures at your door(s) that turn on dusk to dawn.
If you're going to have an ice machine, install a 3M commercial water filtration system. It's about $179 and will improve the water quality and longevity of you ice machine.
Posted on 7/31/25 at 9:39 pm to atom1505
quote:
On the ice maker, do you mean just plugging the ice machine into a smart plug and turning it on via phone whenever we're heading down there?
Yeah I was just rattling off a list, ice machine probably isn’t that easy as just a WiFi plug to turn it off and on because most of them still have a button on them to make ice I think?
The nice thing about the WiFi stuff is obviously remotely monitoring, but while it’s nice to turn it on on your way down it’s also nice to be able to check if you turned stuff off on your drive home.
Posted on 8/1/25 at 6:23 pm to baldona
How do yall keep decks healthy. Between the bird shite, saltwater, and sun my decks take a beating. I put solid coat stain over the water and am about to stain my over land decks transparent.
Posted on 8/1/25 at 7:11 pm to JL
I'm curious what kind of transparent stain do you plan on using?
Posted on 8/4/25 at 7:08 am to Wilson
I’ve had great success at my house with TWP, FWIW. We are also looking at a camp and staining the wooden decks with TWP will be one of my first projects.
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News