buddy problem

[Mainehazmt]

I have it mounted on an 11 pound tank.

that might be top heavy are you sure it is a buddy heater or a sunflower?

[jigeye]

I meant I have the old sunflower heater on top of the tank.

[Sonicrunch]

I am in the market for a Buddy heater for ice fishing. I have a Clam 5600. Which heater should I buy? I have used the same sunflower heater since 1987 and have only needed the medium setting once or twice. It looks like the Buddy will direct the heat lower to the floor instead of directly at chair height. I have it mounted on an 11 pound tank.

you'll be fine with any temp over zero. You'd be ok with -10 as long as its not windy.

[jigeye]

So it looks like the smaller Buddy should work out for me good enough right? I think I'll really like not having the mushroom tank and sunflower heater in the shack as long as the Buddy will heat as good as the sunflower on the low setting which is I think 9000 btu.

[Sonicrunch]

yeah, I definitely like how it is much safer to use.

[backlash 1]

I have 3 little buddys. Never had a stitch of problems with them. Cource you have to use a little common sense, I don't throw them around, and I don't bounce them around going 40 mph across the lake either. Yeah, you expose them to a any amount of wind and the pilot will blow out, DUH.

[Jeremy airjer W]

So it looks like the smaller Buddy should work out for me good enough right?

With a 5600 if you never fish when its below 20 degrees you'll probably be alright with the buddy heater. If you go out in colder temps and like to fish in jeans and t-shirts than the big buddy is the way to go. I have had it in an otter lodge on the croix in -20 and still fished without a jacket. Of course lining the top of the otter with emergency blankets helped a lot!

[wolfman-k]

I like my Big Buddy, I can always dial it down. If it's real cold you can't get any more heat out of a smaller unit. It also helps that my Canvis Craft double-wide Lodge is insulated!!!

I also always take my Mr. Heater Cooker with as a back-up and to cook with.

[KG243]

So it looks like the smaller Buddy should work out for me good enough right? I think I'll really like not having the mushroom tank and sunflower heater in the shack as long as the Buddy will heat as good as the sunflower on the low setting which is I think 9000 btu.

Get the big buddy you will not regret it. I fished in -38 with t-shirt and jeans in my two man flip over.

[jigeye]

Well, I picked up the smaller Buddy heater last night before I read the last few posts here. I might exchange it now. Although I could still use my sunflower if the temp gets too cold so I'll think on it. NT has the small buddy on sale for 74 bucks.

[jigeye]

Two of us usually like to fish in a warm shack but not in a T-shirt and jeans. My sunflower heater kept us warm enough when the temps dipped down to 0 and below even at the lowest setting and when the temps were above 15 degrees than it was almost too warm. If this new Buddy will heat as well on it's high setting as the sunflower does on it's low setting than I should be OK. I like the smaller one just because it's smaller and takes up less room in my small portable. The wind does definately make a difference though. This new Clam doesn't seal around the bottom near as good as my old one did that hooked around the base.

[zamboni]

I had a 5600, and had a little Buddy, took it back and got the Big Buddy, the little one wasn't enough.

I have since bought another little Buddy for my Clam Scout, the big one was too much for that, so now I have both. I got my little Buddy at Lowes at the end of last winter for half price, and I couldn't pass it up ($37.50)

[jigeye]

Thanks for all the great advice. I will exchange the little buddy for the big buddy.

Jigeye

[stifler51]

i had the little buddy as well and it wasnt hot enough for me in my yukon. Big buddy is nice when u need instant heat. crank it up on high to heat the house up quick then drop that baby to low and fish all day, not to mention the fan on top moves some air when it gets stale in the house

[andyz]

if your using a coleman hose and adaptor drill out the male end that goes into the heater a size or two bigger it lets the gas flow easir and you can get these at wall mart remeber to make sure no brass filings are not trapped in the hose or it will plug the heater orrifice.