Heating the Portable

[Carl Bjorgen]

Warning: This post is lengthy.

Last year I fished an entire season without a heater. I only go out on the weekends to local lakes 10 minutes from home between 9am-3pm for about 4 hours at a time. I have a Shappell Rover 1.0.

I like to stay light. This is my equipment list in addition to the portable:

Hand Auger

Flasher

2 Rod/Reel

Pocket Tackle Box

Bait Puck

Ice Scoop

Pocket-sized Transistor Radio

Small Lunch Box

Sometimes a small Shovel

I never really get cold because I bought an Arctic Armor Plus suit last year and with the Under Armor base, fleece second layer, and neck gaiter, nothing really gets through. Plus I don't stay out forever and usually don't fish when it's -20 or the WC is really severe.

The only problem I've ever had has been the line and guide freeze. So this year I bought some heater stuff.

Portable Buddy (the 4000/9000 unit)

Coleman Dual Mantel Lantern

Mr. Heater Single burner Sunflower

11 Lbs Propane Cylinder and 5 Foot Hose

A couple 1bs Propane Cylinders

I've been trying this stuff out in my garage to see how everything performs. Here is what I've discovered so far.

The Sunflower mounted on the 11 lbs takes up a little more room than I prefer and is as hot as hell. I'm not sure I would go this route because it would be overkill. I'm also concerned about burning my fabric and the noise and the CO output among other things. It does heat that thing up though.

The Buddy with either the small mounted cylinders or the hose to tank hook up is nice. It gets plenty warm in the Rover, it's whisper quiet, has some safety features that I like, and can be shoved up against the fabric because I had it running for a good 1/2 hour and the back and sides never got hot or really even warm to the touch.

The lantern is really only practical when mounted on the 1bs, although you could run a hose to the bigger tank. (but why do that unless you are camping and have one of those propane trees?)

Anyway the lantern is kind of a noisy thing, but frankly it heats pretty well, at least enough to keep the line and guides from freezing I would guess. I suppose I'll see for certain when I get out in 10 degree weather.

The lantern and Buddy with the 1 lbs, are also more portable (the lantern is also a little more fragile) and are easy to ignite and shut down for when you really need it. I imagine you could stretch a 1 lbs a little further when you only fire up to keep the temp above freezing.

Should also add that I ran the Reflectix along the center of the roof and it really bounces the heat back nicely.

I've never had to deal with CO or condensation before so I'm a little curious about this. A decent CO meter has been suggested on other threads and this seems like one of those really inexpensive but necessary items.

I'm also not wild about accumulating a collection of 1 lbs cylinders, but the portability aspect of them along with the fact that I probably will be able to stretch one over a couple trips the way I fish almost makes them the preferred choice.

I've also considered buying a Honda Generator portable enough, yet powerful enough to run electric heat. But that might have to wait until next year.

[DaSwede]

Buddy heater, no lantern...go with the LED lights or marine rope lights that everyone else is talking about. The lanterns are nice, but the noise drives me nuts...and the less you have "burning" in the house, the better...just my .02.

DaSwede

[dfv87]

+1 with DaSwede said.

Buddy- 1# tanks and it is easy.

Lights run on extra Vex battery you should have along anyway...

[NCLaker]

Dang ... that is an expensive (buying all the options) but thorough way to figure out a heating solution. Sounds like your leaning towards the buddy+1lb's.

That Rover 1.0 is a smaller one man, and looks about the same as a Clam Scout. With the Reflextics it does not take much to heat these. I have a Clam Pro which is slightly bigger, and the Buddy+1lb's is a great solution. There is not much room to move around and the safety features are very helpful.

You may also want to consider the lantern solution. Just get one of those with the protective platic case & base so you can stand it on the ice. I like it because It is bright enough to use for recharging my glow jigs, and if fishing at night you can use it to do some hole hopping outside. It is not good if you are doing sight fishing. You get use to the noise.

As for 1lb's, I personally don't have a problem with refilling them from my 20# tank using the refilling fittings from Mr. Heater. Lots of debate on this one since the 1lb'er manufactures prohibit this. I try to minimize the risk by only using reputable tanks, keeping the plastic caps on when not in use, not storing them in my house, and only refilling a few times. I figure if this practice were that hazardous, then Mr Heater on others would not be or allowed to sell these devices.

Full sized sunflower and/or using a 11lb tank is not practical if you are trying to stay portable in that small shack.

[Jeremy airjer W]

Electric heat in a portable?

[Carl Bjorgen]

Dang ... that is an expensive (buying all the options) but thorough way to figure out a heating solution. Sounds like your leaning towards the buddy+1lb's.

I had quite a bit in Gander rewards so it wasn't much out of pocket.

11 lbs was 49.99

Hose 19.99

Sunflower 49.99

Lantern 39.99

(2) 1 lbs 5.00

I think it cost me an extra 20 bucks out of pocket.

I had bought the Buddy at Menards about this same time last year for 59.99 but never used it.

I am sort of leaning to the Buddy and the singles, but I may have occasion to stay put one cold day instead of running and gunning and use the big tank hook-up.

Electric heat in a portable?

Sounds kind of stupid doesn't it? I've seen some guys do this and they didn't seem concerned about a shock. They looked like they were taking precautions to keep things dry but who knows? CO poisoning or an electric shock. You make the call...

[KG243]

If you are willing to pull a generator out there, even a small one just stick with a buddy prodect they are great.

[stifler51]

take the buddy heater out run a cord outside the house and hook it to the tank, will run forever and takes up very little space. As far as the lights go i would leave the lantern home (i have one for camping, dont like it in the house). if u get the rope lights, GET LEDs. i have both the LED and reg. If i hook up the reg one to my vexilar ultra pack posts it kills my battery, the LED one the vex doesnt even know its hooked up