Buddy Heaters.. Not impressed.

[ozzie]

Something aint adding up if with any weather we have had so far a bid buddy can't keep you warm in a 2-man portable or less. All winter long I will use the big buddie to heat my clam whatever it's called and I always am in bibs and sweatshirt and I hate getting even a chill. I am not affraid to go out on the coldest days of the year (which I have the last 3 years) as long as I have my big buddy and a full tank of propane!! Hopefully you can find something that you like but something just doesn't add up here.

[MJBaldwin]

I can't believe that they even made those real tiny buddy heaters the first time I saw them they looked worthless last year I used my buddy all year long no matter what the temp was I was in my bibs and T SHIRT just so the fiancé could be comfy in a hoodie. And that's a two man portable my co workers have the three man clam and they even get heated out something is wrong on your unit I think!!!

[Love2Cabin]

I just went out a bought the buddy heater because I was tired of hauling the big buddy out and just running it on low. Granted the big buddy will come out on the real cold days but otherwise it is bibs and sweatshirts with the buddy. Treker or Guardian they both stay warm.

[goose89]

... I always am in bibs and sweatshirt and I hate getting even a chill. I am not affraid to go out on the coldest days of the year (which I have the last 3 years) as long as I have my big buddy and a full tank of propane!!

[Blaker55]

I've been using the Buddy heater for several years and usually have to take my coat off in my Otter one man portable. This year we bought the Big Buddy for our 6.5 X 16 perky and so far we can't go past medium (after its warmed up). Gets too hot if we do.

Question, we bought the hose adapter that the Buddy Heater Tech Service guy advised us to use. It doesn't have a filter. Just a regulator and quick attach fitting to hook to the heater. The guy said filters are not necessary with low pressure, which is what I'm assuming the regulator is doing for us. Anybody having the same experience?

Also, when I run the fan, you can kind of see the flames extending above the ceramics, but then go back to a nice glow after the fan is off. You guys see the same thing?

[Norm1980]

This day was in the low 30's both in the flip over and still were cold.

Low 30's sounds like a nice day to bring the bucket with and leave the portable at home.

[CAMAN]

Question, we bought the hose adapter that the Buddy Heater Tech Service guy advised us to use. It doesn't have a filter. Just a regulator and quick attach fitting to hook to the heater. The guy said filters are not necessary with low pressure, which is what I'm assuming the regulator is doing for us. Anybody having the same experience?

Correct - It's been a while since I read the instruction manual, but I remember it saying something similar to what the the Tech service guy said.

[topcat3820]

Quote:

Im exactly the opposite. I rarely get "cold" and have been told many times I have ice in my veins.

Quote:

This day was in the low 30's both in the flip over and still were cold.

Yep, I know a few Eskimos who'd marvel at your obvious resistance to the elements, "Iceman" .

Never had a problem, personally, in my 6 years of owning a BB, but it IS fairly tropical in my neighborhood, after all .

[Bullwinkled]

I have a one man Pro that I use the small round Little buddy in 3800 BTU. Very happy and since I installed reflectix it is almost too warm unless below zero. I used a sunflower and burned my ice armor, burned my Pro, got headaches from long term use, and hated the noise, Buddy all that [PoorWordUsage] goes away.

[Jeremy airjer W]

The guy said filters are not necessary with low pressure, which is what I'm assuming the regulator is doing for us. Anybody having the same experience?

That is correct. As long as the hose is regulated at the tank a filter is not needed. The reason you need a filter on an unregulated hose is because the high pressure in the hose will squeeze out impurities in the hose and allow them to enter the heater. The regulated hose is low pressure so there is no squeezing effect.

I may be crazy but the regulated hose seems to be easier to bleed out after filling the tank. Hook it back up to the tank. Fire up the heater. It will go out after a few seconds. Can it back up and your good to go. I don't remember this happening when I used the high pressure hose!

[lispeej]

I have used my Big Tough Buddy (same as a Big Buddy, just yellow) in all my ice houses. I have used it in my clam 6800, Frabil Trekker Delux, Quickfish4, and Quickfish6 with no complaints. I don't expect the inside temp to be 100 degrees. All I'm shooting for is to be comfortable. I have used the 1 lb. tanks all the way to 20 lbs. I must say, it's nice to have the option.

I also have the mr. heater/cooker, but don't really use that one because it's not as efficient. Though it is nice to be able to make soup or cook with it when needed.

[FISHINGURU]

Mr. Heater Cooker, for the smashing victory.

[herefish101]

I use my buddy heater in my two man porty when the temp is 15 or above, below that, I bust out the heater cooker, but I would rather use the buddy for the quiet, I'v had the darn thing forever and I use it with a hose.....

[curtistodd]

Owning a big buddy makes me wish that 2lb propane cylinders existed! I get tired of switching out the little 1lbers. And I dont wanna lug around a big heavy 10lber and then have to get hoses, fittings, etc.

[not_nuf_time]

How long do the one pounders last with normal use?

[harvey lee]

I have owned and used a regular Buddy for approx 6-7 years. Still works great today.

Now that I have a insulated Canvas craft portable, I can take the buddy along and it gets the job done fine. Am I sitting in my t-shirt, no but it is warm enough to fish and the holes do not freeze.

Now, If I am going to go out in sub zero temps, then the sunflower comes along.

I believe in my insulated portable, I can get about 3-5 hours or maybe a little more if the heater is not set on high and the house is banked. I use to use them all the time as I hated to drag along a 20#er. I purchased 2-5# tanks and pretty much use them all the time now.

I usualy do have a few one pounders in the Sportsman caddy in the portable as one never knows when a tank can run out.

[WTN4ICE]

This was a COLD morning on LOW and one BB was just not enough so we fired up the back up unit and the thermometer tells it all.

[BartmanMN]

You must fish in shorts.

[Northlander]

Or Nude.

[CAMAN]

Or Nude.

Free bait!

[Jeremy airjer W]

Throw some water on the heater and Sauna!

[WTN4ICE]

My feet got cold that morning and did not want to warm up,had to change socks and boots.You can see the effect of too much pinochle,alochol and heat had on my fishin buddy Curt.I don't think his wife wants to see him nude and I know I for darn sure don't !!

[LuckyShiner]

I have the Big Buddy and it puts out plenty of heat. Only problem I've had is that it won't work with 1 lb. tanks - they freeze up after a short amount of time and eventually stop working. Only option I have is to constantly change 1 lb. tanks or use a hose to a bigger tank outside my shack, which is what I did and now it works fine.

Anyone else have this problem?

[Stick in Mud]

Yeah, I've also never had a problem....and my old, old, old, old flip-over is just about see-through these days, and the Little Buddy has kept it warmer than I can stand. I've now got some reflectrix in it, so I'm hoping I can heat it with a cigarette lighter this year.

[Jeremy airjer W]

I've now got some reflectrix in it, so I'm hoping I can heat it with a cigarette lighter this year.

Hmmm, a "micro" buddy heater!