Heater Options

[tps11]

I currently use a Mr. Heater Cooker in my X2. The problem I have is that the heater melts the snow and makes the ice very slippery when trying to exit the house. I also fear that one day the door will fall into the house and melt/burn on the heater. I have a friend who says they have seen people run their big buddy heater in the sled while fishing. Does anyone else run a buddy heater their sled while fishing? If yes, does it heat as well as a Mr. Heater Cooker does?

[Twins 57 Fan]

I switched to the buddy heater a few years ago. I leave mine right on the ice and do not have a problem with it melting the ice, with that said I have never been cold in the house either. My brother uses the BIG buddy heater and that does melt the ice, but also makes it t-shirt weather.

I would not run it in the sled, as I have melted enough holes in clothes in the past.

[Big-Al]

I have two buddys and usually run one on the ice. I do lay a rug on the ice for a walkway as sometimes after a long day it will get a bit slick. I will use the second in the tub to keep my back side toasty if it is really cold and windy out.

[crappiegetter]

i also have the mr. heater cooker in my x2 and it melts the snow as well something i kind of got used to. And i do like to be able to sit in a t-shirt when i fish its kinda nice!! And i do have a scar from the door hitting the heater one downfall to it.

[Northlander]

Do a search on buddie heaters and see if its something you want to invest your money on. Personally I have tried 5 of them and none have worked worth a beans. I tried everything they said to do with not 1 attempt from the maker to take care of my issues. Lucky for me my store I get my stuff at took them back and let me try new ones. None of wich worked consistantly. I cant afford not having heat on the ice!

[tps11]

I would guess a rug would melt/burn under the cooker. Wet ice is something a guy is going to have to live with.

I have two buddys and usually run one on the ice. I do lay a rug on the ice for a walkway as sometimes after a long day it will get a bit slick. I will use the second in the tub to keep my back side toasty if it is really cold and windy out.

[Walleye Guy]

A buddy of mine sets his heater-cooker on a small square on plywood. It provides a stable base, helps eliminate some of the melting and it hasn't started on fire...yet.

[BehindtheHead]

i use a big buddy heater. i set it on the ice in the corner of my 2 man otter. after about 6 hours it will melt the slush from the hole directly in frount of the heater. after a whole day there is a small slick spot on the ice. the spot is in the corner of the house where i will step.

as for problems i havent had any. i have been running it for 2 full seasons. i clean the "orphus" every year before i use it and there is no problem.

[Brad B]

I run a buddy heater in my one man house and a big buddy in my three man house. the one thing I have found is that it helps to have a raised platform for the heater to sit on to get the heater a little higher off the ice. this helps reduce the ice melting and getting slippery. I took a 1 X 12 and cut it to 18" long and put a piece of 2X4 on each end so it sits 4.25 inches off the ice(3.5" for the 2x4 and .75" for the 1x12). this also helps to keep snow out of the bottom of the heater.

[remington 300]

i use a big buddy in my otter cabin,and keep the heater right in the sled,

so its right between the two of us, and it heats just fine and i dont have any issues with the holes freezing up and ive rarely had to turn the heater above medium, i think keeping it in the sled also protects it from the wind/drafts so i havent had any issues like some of the posters on here as far as keeping the heater running,

hope that helps,

mike.

[DTro]

If you face the heater cooker upwards it melts a lot less in the surrounding area. Not quite as much direct heat, but you can wire in a small 12V fan to push the heat back down.