What kind of heater?

[dmichaelm]

I have read through some old forums about what problems people have about different heaters. What I can't seem to find is how big a heater you need for your shelter.

I just purchased a Clam 5600. What kind of heater have you used for a shelter like this? Do people have recommendations about how many btu you need? How about tank size. I dont want to lug a 20# around. I'd like to have the 1# or 5# so whats my best option?

[flipper]

This is my heater here

[ice man]

I like my big buddy heater, some people may disagree. I have never had a problem with it and keeps my portable very warm.

[freezincold]

I am also a big buddy fan. I did have the reg's freeze up more than once, but the lack of noise and smell is nice. It is also nice to be able to set it right up against fabric on walls without worry.

[Pleasant]

I have used a big buddy for years also with no issues other then when you hook it to a bigger tank it does take quite some time to purge the air out of the lines, but as long as you know that and have the patience to wait for the gas to get to the pilot (patience not being one of my virtues)

I also like a sunflower heater but d a m n they are hard on clothes

[Colt_45]

I have a big buddy heater also. I heat a DX4000 Shappell, no problems.

I have the 20# tank with the quick connect, no problems but the fact about getting the air out after it gets disconnected. Never blown out but I seem to go through too many 1lb bottle, They can eat them pretty quick. I got mine on sale and see someplaces that have them for a lot more than I paid. I also never use the fan but that is just me.

[Rippinlip]

I have both a Little buddy for when the temps are about 15-20 or above and the sunflower for colder temps.

The little buddy is nice, but just does not have the ability to warm up my shack (eskimo quck flip II) when the temp is numbing.

[Jim Uran]

Get a Buddy, or a Big buddy. The 5x6 shelter of yours will be warmed just fine by one of them. They both run off either 1 pounders or bigger tanks with a hose.

Although you can get by with a sunflower, I don't like them due to the fact that they either run at one million degrees or 30 degrees. Not much adjustability(if that's a word ) Plus you run the danger of scorching your shack if you accidently tip that bad boy over.

[JSK76]

I'm a heater junky, I have a focus 5, Little Buddy (Base Camp), Buddy, Big Buddy, and Mr. heater cooker. I would go with a big buddy if you think you will fish in very cold weather. If your more of a fair weather fisher the Buddy will do fine.

Last year on the coldest day of the year -40, I fished in my Clam 6800 with both the buddy and Big buddy on high and was able to take my coat off but just barely.

[Agronomist_at_IA]

I had a Big Buddy Heater. All I can say is I thought it was a joke. Worst $150 I ever spent. It never seemed to heat my fish trap voyager worth a hoot. It always was blowing out after being lit, was a pain to change the tanks on it, even had an issue where I had a one lb tank strip the threads on the heater. Got a hose to set a 20lb tank outside but it took up way to much room. The fan sucked batteries supper fast. Overall I'll never use or own one again. Maybe I had a bad one, but when I took the first one back after the threads had stripped the second one I had wasn't any better. I ended up giving my Buddy Heater away to my wife's cousin cause the thing [PoorWordUsage] me off so bad.

I had a sunflower that did an awsome job heating, but sucked having even a small tank in the shack for room.

After checking out heaters, and talking with a lot of people here is what I settled on. Cooker/Heater I found that it heats as well as my sunflower. It's small and handy for transportation. It uses 1 lb tanks so it saves room in the portable. I like using 1 lb tanks never have to worry about running out. Just keep a couple full ones on hand, and they also store very well in the sled. It cost me $50 or 1/3 the cost of a big buddy. I can use it to make coffee or cook on. Overall for ice fishing I don't think you can get much better then a Heater/cooker. Like I've learned with a lot of things ice fishing keeping things simple on the ice seems to always work the best.

[dmichaelm]

Great feedback. Thanks all. Keep it coming if you are not on the buddy bandwagon.

[Esox_Magnum]

Been running the same heater/cooker for 25 years now, heats my QFIII great no matter the temps. Mine is slightly modified though I can turn it down super low to roast you out and everything inbetween. Replaced the screens once and a thermocouple.

[Northlander]

I had 3 small buddie and 2 large buddie heaters and not 1 of them worked worth a [PoorWordUsage]! I do have the small base camp model that works great when its warm but otherwise I use the Mr. Heater Cooker with a hose to a 10# tank outside or I use my tank mount Mr heater on the 10#er in a milk crate. Keep door and vent open a crack. I like it warm but if it gets too warm I open the door more.

[ilovehardwater]

I have both the Buddy and Big Buddy heaters I use hooked up to a 10 lb tank with 5 ft. hose and fuel filter. I have had no big porblems with either of them. I have used my Buddy heater for 4 years and it still works great, the Big Buddy I bought last winter. I'm not very easy on my equipment and have used a Buddy/Big Buddy on average of 2-4 times a week throughout the ice fishing season, my buddy heater has dropped out of the portable a few times and still works fine. I bet I have burned at least 200 lbs of propane with the buddy without any huge issues. I would recommend a Buddy/Big Buddy to anyone. BT

[Feathers Rainin]

Whatever you get buy a 5 lb tank. It will save you a ton of weight and space and will last at least three days of fishing with a heater on high. Only costs about $5 to refill. If you get a buddy to save time firing the heater open the tank and bleed the gas line with your needle nose pliers or something pointy then the pilot fires right away.

[Dothedew]

Brought a big buddy heater last year. After a few weeks i exchange it for a Mr. Heater 28,000 BTU Portable. Return it because it was too sensitive and not as warm as the mr heaters. One little knock on the big buddy and the flames would die out. Also the mr heaters are alot cheaper and less weight. Took awhile for the big buddy to warm up my eskimo quickfish 6.

[tsande00]

I've never used a buddy but have been very happy with my Sunflower. It's nothing fancy but it ALWAYS works and ALWAYS keeps me comfortable.

[MJ1657]

I've used a buddy heater for years and have never had any trouble with it.

[caseymcq]

I have a 5600 and have the Buddy, Big Buddy, and Mr. Heater sunflower style heaters.

The Big Buddy seems to work the best IMO. The Buddy just doesn't pump out enough heat. The sunflower heater (be it a tank mount of the heater cooker) seems to cook the joint even on low. The Big Buddy keeps it nice and warm. The sunflower heaters may keep it a little warmer when the temps are -15 or lower. I don't bother with the fan on the Big Buddy because it doesn't seem to make much of a difference. I have used it with 1 lb tanks in the unit, 11 lb and 20 lb tanks via hose and it works well with all of them. I think I like the 11 lb'er the best. Has plenty of propane and not too terribly bulky to haul around.

[deadeye]

I have had a couple of heater/cookers and they seem to be the best bet. I have lost a couple due to misfortunes of my own fault but they are pretty darn durable and are cheap and easy to use. If you ever have a problem with it, replace the thermocouple and its like new. The buddy heater I had lasted a while but they are so finicky and after leaving me with frozen feet I had to get rid of it.

[headcheese]

i like my portable buddy. but the heater cooker is cheaper, hotter, probably more reliable, and you can cook on it!!

Things i like about the buddy, its safer, quieter, and easy to light... Not as hot but not a big deal unless its below zero.

[JeffB]

Lots of people have had good luck with the big buddy, but mine was junk after a half an ice season. I then went back to the heater cooker. They aren't fancy but work for me. I run a hose out to a 20 lb tank, but often wish I had a 5 lb tank.

[osok]

I use a Mr. Heater portable buddy heater. I have it hooked up to about a 5-6' hose w/ a 5#-ish propane tank. I use it in an older fishtrap guide and it kept me toasty warm all season in all conditions w/ no issues. I still have the original Mr. Heater sunflower heater/cooker and loved it as well, use it as an additional burner for the grill now and it's good to have a "spare" in the garage. But I got real tired of carrying 1# cylinders on and off the ice and adding to the landfills w/ the empties. The heater, hose and cylinder packs well in the sled (not as well as the heater/cooker) and I can load and unload my fully loaded sled by myself it need be. But if going lightweight is the most important stick w/ a heater/cooker and small cylinders.

Another issue was the saftey factor. I felt the heater/cooker was more of a fire/meltdown hazard, especially when I'd take my daughter fishing.

Whatever heater you decide to go with get an stand alone fan that you can redirect the heat downward. Being able to circulate the air helps keep the condensation down, keep your holes open and widen the comfort zone.

I also use my handy dandy Coleman white fuel lantern to heat the portable. I'll run the heater until the house gets toasty then use the lantern to maintain it. I find this works great in all but the coldest of conditions.

Not exactly a rant but a little long winded.

[dmichaelm]

Nice piece on the fan. Hadn't considered that.

[Random guy]

After snapping the head off another sunflower heater I bought some of the catalytic style...they don't work worth beans but I have been very happy with my Big Buddy Tough Heater. I think the only difference is it is yellow with a heavier guard. It works well even after the fan batteries die out. I will also say a small battery operated fan works way better at the peak of the house blowing down then the heater mounted fan for keeping thing warm, plus those little ones go forever on a couple batteries.