Big Buddy or Portable Buddy for Clam Voyager?

[guyonacouch]

Wondering if anyone could give me their thoughts on if I should go with a Big Buddy or Portable Buddy heater for my Clam Voyager TCX. If you're unfamiliar with this flip over - it's a 2 person shack with an insulated roof, but I've fished 3 in it before. Unless there's a better option than my current sunflower heater that I'm unaware of? Thanks.

[BartmanMN]

I love my Big buddy. Has enough btu's to keep you warm on cold days. On sale at FF right now for 99. The only time I've seen it cheaper than that was on Black Friday when I bought mine from Northen Tool for 89.

[JRB fishing]

I have a thermal x and It works great at keeping it warm in there. Never had a problem staying warm in any temp outside.

[WTN4ICE]

The BB is the way to go.You can put it aginst the fabric without melting it and the fan helps to move some air.The first ones has some bugs that have been worked out. I had one of those that drove me to EXTREME measures.

[dustin85]

I bought a new big budddy last year, and am happy with it in my guide. I have an old portable buddy that never worked right...and I think wtn4ice just showed me how to fix it!

[firedew]

No doubt for me on The BIG BUDDY. I run it off a 10lb tank w/hose attachment. Sits on the floor backed up to wall, all the heat you want.

[Jim Hudson]

Yup, I run Big Buddys in my two man shelters - Voyager TCX and Thermal X..

If you do go the route of Big Buddy, and you will be running it off anything but a 1lb cylinder, be sure to get the filter to make sure it works properly.

[Brad B]

go with the big buddy. it offers 3 setting : low(4000 BTU), med(9000 BTU),& high(18000 BTU). a buddy only gives you low(4000 BTU) & med(9000 BTU). it is better to have too many BTU's then not enough.

[grizrunner]

So I'm getting an 8x8 insulated Eskimo hub unit this year. I'm guessing the BB will heat it, but how bad does it melt the snow/ice in front of it? I really don't want me and the kids to be swimming. Maybe use a piece of carpet in front?

[Jim Hudson]

Griz,

It will melt the ice in front of it.. For the hubs, sometimes its best to put the heaters up on something.. Maybe a milk crate or something similar to get them up off the ice..

[grizrunner]

Hey thanks for the knock on the head...a crate would work good. Use one to haul stuff in anyways.

I've always had my reg buddy in my Clam Guide, but I'm usually hole hopping enough so things don't get too wet.

[Hardyboy]

BB is definitely the way to go. I never looked back when i got mine. The sunflower is now used to cook shore lunch

[WTN4ICE]

I set mine on a scrap of paneling about 18 in long to deflect heat up. Anything to elevate it will help,if you sit in one place long enough it will get sloppy.

[Crappyfisherman]

Set mine on a 18x18 piece of Reflextix I had left over.It's very lite and folds up.

[Grainbelt]

Cabelas has the Buddy heaters on sale. Reconditioned units for less cash and good reviews.Reconditioned units are an online purchase.

[FishinFools]

We put our BB on a piece of carpet and it works well, and is "non-slip". The reflectix idea is great and I imagine you'd only need about 12" of it in front of the heater. I will try it. Fishing with kids, we tend to keep the temp up pretty good, and get rained on inside our Clam Denali on a regular basis. Last week, I lined the roof with reflectix and I am looking forward to seeing how much that helps.

BTW, I had to buy "the big roll" of reflectix from Menard's and have plenty left over. If you live in the south metro and want some, it's all yours.

[Agronomist_at_IA]

The BB is the way to go.You can put it aginst the fabric without melting it and the fan helps to move some air.The first ones has some bugs that have been worked out. I had one of those that drove me to EXTREME measures.

I did the same thing with a spud bar. There is a lot to be said about the reliablity of a Mr Heater cooker. Simple and very effective. I will never use another Big Buddy ever.

[Chris Barlage]

Would also have to throw in a vote for a big buddy. I use mine in my oter lodge and in my perm shak and it keeps everything very warm. I would not go with the little one. If you need more heat you cant turn that one up. With the big buddy you get a high, med and low. The fan is week but it does help.

[nocturnalmotors]

I did the same thing with a spud bar. There is a lot to be said about the reliablity of a Mr Heater cooker. Simple and very effective. I will never use another Big Buddy ever.

I also use the Mr. Heater cooker with a line out to a 20lb. cylinder set outside in my Clam Voyager TCX. It's perfect.

[McGurk]

Soooo... Did it work after you "fixed" it?

I have a 4 yr old Big Buddy (MH18B) and haven't had the issues some have seemed to have. It works great in my Otter Cabin, and is overkill now that I have reflectix installed. I also have a Frabill Recon (tiny) that I needed a smaller option. I picked up the new Buddy Heater (MH9BX- 5k/9k, folding handle, vertical ceramic plate) and really like the heat/size ratio compared to the old Buddy (fixed handle, horizontal ceramic plate). The Little Buddy (MB4B) doesn't make sense due to it's price, limited output, marginally smaller size, and not being as travel friendly IMHO.

[toughguy]

I've had a big buddy for at least 3 seasons now and I love it. Run a 20lb tank w/o a filter.

[WTN4ICE]

I can honestly say it never gave me another problem after the "fix".