Otter Wild 3 House

[marine_man]

As I've mentioned in a couple of threads, I picked up a new Wild 3 this year and have made it out a couple of times with it recently.

A couple of things I like:

-The price - you get a lot for the money - Sled, House & Poles, Bench Seat & Travel Cover

-The quality of the house despite the decrease in price - the sled appears to be just about as thick as the pro version sled (and if you're concerned put hyfax on it), the house canvas seems durable, and the bench seat is pretty close to the same style as the pro series bench seat

-The Trim Lock system (my old house didn't have it)

-Ultra Glide poles that make metal burs and binding a thing of the past

What I don't like:

-The bench mounting is across the length of the sled as compared to the width of the sled on the pro series version. The problem is that the tubing provided with the seat is longer than the sled; which is I suspect due to manufacturing variance on the sled. I spread the sled the 1.5" I needed to get the tubing to fit, but it doesn't allow easy removal of the bench seat when needed due to needing a spreader to get it put back in. I'm hoping to find someone to shorten both tubes (one's straight and one's u-shaped), which will take care of my problem, but I was a little disappointed to see that out of the package.

Other than that I've been extremely happy with it, and the value it provides.

Here are a couple of pictures of the inside (since the Wild site doesn't have much for the inside):

4.5 Stars out of 5

marine_man

[Brad B]

marine man,

you are right about the price. the canvas of the wild series is 600 diener which is the same as what clam uses on there houses(not running clams down but why spend the extra money when you don't have to) and the otter wild are cheaper. I actually have a otter wilderness northern model which was the model before the wild series came out. The one thing I don't like about the wilds over the wilderness is that they have the bench seat (it adds to much weight in my opinion). I recommend you look at getting two seats and replace the bench seat, unless you like the bench and don't mind the extra weight. over all I am impressed with the otter houses and would buy another.

[marine_man]

I agree with your comments 100% Brad... while I like having a bench seat (the first time I've had one) the weight of the bench seat is pretty surprising to me. I am going to make a change there this winter... and am strongly considering the two swivel seats.

marine_man

[Shack]

Good review MM.

IMO the added weight of the bench is worth it and comes with the territory with a 3 man porty. You have plenty of room for three individual buckets, but even using it with two guys, the bench had become a staple for fishing comfort for me. It so nice & big, you can have a 100 things going around you when ice fishing. . This coming from a guy who has made his own and used very nice buckets in a two man Canvis Crafts portable. I honestly thought my bench would be gone by now and some modded buckets in its place. Just can not do it.

IMO the only small draw back in the Team Wild Series 3 Man is the lacking is the ability to flip the bench seat up while the canvas is folded down. This can be overcome by using to vast space provied and organizing where your gear is stowed for easy access via the gaps forward and behind the folded up bench seat. Kind of cancels out the lack of ability to flip the bench when the shack is folded up. You have plenty of space when the provided cover that comes with is peeled back to grab scoops, flashers, ice rods and cases, beverage and what ever you need.

All in all, out of all the portables I have used and owned, this one is staying in the fold. Add in the price, like Brad mentioned, and the features it packs, I rate the Team Wild Series 3 man a 5 out of 5 stars.

Here is a video I put together when putting together mine:

[marine_man]

My biggest issue with the bench Shack is the weight of steel tubing version vs the aluminum version used on the regular Otter houses...

marine_man

[Shack]

I hear ya MM. I will try to see if I can get some weight totals to see how much we are talking about. With the chance of three grown men sitting on the bench the TW3 has setup, if it was alum. it would bend. With the alum. you need the arch:

Draw to that is added height needed, but the plus is the ability to be able to flip the bench when the canvas is folded up. The TW3's bench seat when folded down does not go above the canvas tubes when the canvas is folded up. I would have to guess the tube steel adds about 10, maybe 15 lb's compared to the alum. Otter bench. I think the shocker of the added weight is mainly going from a two man to a three man porty for some. You put a two man sled next to a three man sled and the size difference is huge. I came from a two man modded porty, IMO the weight is about the same.