Hub with no regrets?

[fishwacker1]

Look,

I had a Glens Army hub for one season that had no issues with what so ever. Believe they use the clam hub system. I sold it since not used for a year working - no fishing, and recently purchased a Eskimo quick fish 3 since I cannot find a way to bring the quad and Otter along with no trailer. It's been a month now and 2 poles have went out of socket. I am tired of the repairs by "ME". After all the research on this site I thought the Quick-fish was good to go. Will FFarm take this back after buying it DEC. 22nd? I still like and need a hub shack. Anyone with suggestions?

Plus... I take the best care of all my equipment. There was no way possible that operator caused this. That"s why I am so disgusted. You can clearly see where the aluminum in the hubs is wearing and letting the pins plow through.

JK

[bobbymalone]

my eskimo qf6 has been going on probably 4 years and i've busted a couple poles but no unexpected problems. absolutely no regrets.

sorry to hear about your experience...

[bigrog]

I picked up an insulated Arctic Shield from Fleet Farm when they were on clearance a few weeks ago. I am very happy with the quality and it sets up and tears down very easy. It's a 6x8 and I have fished with 3 guys very comfortably. The storage bag is very durable and has plenty of room to stuff the shack in after use. One compalint I've heard about the Fatfish is that it's difficult to put the shack in the bag because it's so small.

[Gekhang]

ive recently had the same issue with my fatfish. joes sportinggooods has already replaced two poles, and while out fishing yesterday, two more popped out. as of now, i dont know what to do, as ive already lost the receipt and feel like as many times as i get the poles replaced, the poles would always be popping out.

[Zoobert]

I have a Clam Expedition, bought three years ago - and I have *ALL KINDS* of regrets. For one - it was, apparently, the year they started doing junky quality on these -- the rubberizing on the inside wears off just looking at it. When it's daytime and I seal it all up, it's quite apparent just how leaky the thing is, how worn the rubberizing is - it's a starry field everywhere - not dark at all.

The stitching is coming apart like nobody's business. Lastly, the screw down eyelets all popped out. It also captures moisture - constantly wet inside.

Finally - guh - it requires a degree in rocket science, or pure luck, in setting it up - the poles and hubs binding with eachother make me fight this thing for a half hour, just trying to open it. I swear, the thing hates me. I look like a total derp on the ice, fighting with this thing.

I told myself I wouldn't get another Clam or hub again, they're just so much work for little return - and was VERY DISPLEASED in the quality of this particular Clam Expedition - it start coming apart, wearing off -the very first year I started using it.

I did build a hinged floor for it though, out of plywood, and stapling a tarp to the bottom - and gluing rugged carpet to the top - that's been a dream - keeping me off the ice and warmer while in it.

Maybe the quilted ones would be better, but this just feels like a cheap tent that's tearing apart at the seams, and leaky as a sieve.

[Zoobert]

I picked up an insulated Arctic Shield from Fleet Farm when they were on clearance a few weeks ago. I am very happy with the quality and it sets up and tears down very easy. It's a 6x8 and I have fished with 3 guys very comfortably. The storage bag is very durable and has plenty of room to stuff the shack in after use. One compalint I've heard about the Fatfish is that it's difficult to put the shack in the bag because it's so small.

Y'know, I saw this on their HSOforum, and besides being gray, it looked exactly like the Clam Summit - window shape, doors, the works. Are they really the same thing?

[whitebassman]

I think for the most part, most of these hubs are made in the same factory in China, and just labeled differently or different color fabric. So you will see similarities like zoobert mentioned. I've got one of glen's extreme ice hubs and its almost exactly the same as an black ice model.

[rivercat]

I have a quick fish 3 that I bought from joes. I've had one broken pole. I believe the pole broke because of all the condensation on the inside of the shack. These really ice up with a sunflower inside of them. I brought it back to joes and they rreplaced it. Send a email to Eskimo with your issue. They might send you out a replacement pole or hub.

Rc

[ilovehardwater]

I purchaced a Fat fish 749( I believe its a 749), I have used it at least a dozen times and have had 0 issues. If the wind is really strong I secure the hub on the windy side with a ice anchor and some rope attached to the hub.

[wdgold]

I have the 949i and although I have only used it 4-5 times I have had no issues as of yet. I know some people have various issues with these but I'm convinced these days no matter what product you buy there is good and bad and you just have to hope you get one of the quality made ones. My cousin was so impressed with it he may be getting one.

[TruthWalleyes]

Its too bad to hear about your problems with the QF3. I've had mine for several years now, I don't let anyone besides myself set it up, and i've set it up in 50mph wind before. Never had an issue. Not one. Love that thing because it is spacy and i can actually stand up in it... I'm 6'6".

[wdgold]

Any issues with the 949 poles poking through the bottom of the sleeve holder, had one poke through last night.

[Twins Guy]

what has been the collective experience with frabill hubs? i realize a lot of these shelters are probably made in the same place so they may be prone to the same issues.

tg

[fishwater]

I haven't heard any negative reports, but I also haven't really seen too many Frabill Hub houses in use. I have seen lots and lots of Eskimo and Clam houses.

My guess is next year Frabill will have numerous negative threads regarding their HUB house quality. Last year was Clam's turn, this year Eskimo..

[Pooh]

I love my Extreme Ice XI3. I put some reflectix on the ceiling. havent had one problem

[RiverFish]

I would return the whole product. Eskimo has a one year warranty on this product. It is obvious that you have a product that is not working.

[grizrunner]

After a dozen trips and 20 set-ups, my Eskimo Fatfish 949i works just fine. Either they had some bad runs of it, or there has been a lot of user error.

No regrets.

[cichlid_baby]

After a dozen trips and 20 set-ups, my Eskimo Fatfish 949i works just fine. Either they had some bad runs of it, or there has been a lot of user error.

No regrets.

Not exactly sure how user error has anything to do with hub poles that are either too long or too short and vary from one another and need trimming... or stitching that is so poor that leaves velcro patches that are not even located remotely to where they need to be in order for the window flaps to be used.. or bag straps that break apart the first time one tries to use it to carry the hub.. or zippers that skip or double teeth during use.... etc... etc.... etc....

It's a bad year for ESKIMO.... just ask your local retailer on how many of these houses have came back to them... everytime I go into buy minnows.. there are always a few people in line to return their ESKIMO hubs.... or there are a stack of already returned ones collected in the corner of the return desk.

I am amazed....

[hookncook]

I discovered with my first hub shack (an HT- I know) the rods kept popping out of the seats. The resolution I found was to epoxy the rods into their seats.

I ditched the HT and got a fraiblil 4, and love it. However, I am vigilantly waiting for the rods to pop out.

[Zoobert]

It kind of makes sense. Last year, we were all beating up on the Clam hubs. Maybe all those folks tried Eskimo hubs this year, so now Eskimo is getting the beating.

Maybe the reality is - these hubs, in general, are all flaky. I know ArcticShield and Clam look identical except for the color, if they're all made out of the same place - it'd make sense.

[Mike Stark]

It kind of makes sense. Last year, we were all beating up on the Clam hubs. Maybe all those folks tried Eskimo hubs this year, so now Eskimo is getting the beating.

Maybe the reality is - these hubs, in general, are all flaky. I know ArcticShield and Clam look identical except for the color, if they're all made out of the same place - it'd make sense.

I have two older Eskimo hubs non-insulated. One red and one green. I have had zero issues with the older hubs. My new Eskimo 949i has had multiple issues so far this season. I think there were major quality control issues with the new Fatfish shelters. I would be curious to hear if anyone has had issues with Eskimos standard hub shelters bought this year. I sure haven't heard of any. Sounds like all the issues with Eskimo this year is with the new Fatfish model.

[TruthWalleyes]

Could very well be an increase in sales forced manufacturing to RUSH everything they make, and allow poor quality to leave the doors. See it all the time. They could also be using temporary labor, or even subcontracting to meet demand. At any rate, i've seen lots of bad eskimo threads...I guess i'm just glad i got one of the first ones, and a high quality at that.

[IceIceBaby]

Last year, I had a Glen's Surplus 3 man hub and loved it, but sold it in the fall thinking I'd get an Eskimo Fatfish. But, those are heavier and longer than I wanted. So, I bought an Extreme Ice 3 man hub, which is basically identical to my Glen's hub. Zero problems and all the space I need, as I mostly fish by myself. And, it's big enough for two to fish comfortably, as well. The things I like about it vs the Eskimo Quickfish are the overhead netting for storage, the duffel bag for storage and the higher ceiling. I also believe they are a little bigger than the Quickfish inside, as well. That said, I don't think you can go wrong with the Quickfish if you prefer those, either.

[Freedom81]

Man, I've had bad luck with these hubs this year. My 4 year old Clam 5600 didn't quite make it through last year; zipper problems finally did it in. So, I bought a Fatfish 949i at the ice show. I returned it after multiple issues: shoulder strap ripped on bag, poles popping out of hubs, ripped stitching where pole goes into upper corner, and finally a pole poked right out through the side.

I got a Clam Summit thermal a couple weeks ago. Already, one of the 4 ice anchors ripped off in moderate winds. Now a pole poked out through the side. I'm returning it tomorrow to get another one.

I agree, I think the quality of both of these hubs is unsatisfactory, and is a direct result of poor craftsmanship and the company's desire to rush out their product. I hope I have better luck with my second new Summit.

[Mike Stark]

Has anyone bought a new Eskimo Quickfish model THIS year? I am curious to see if the quality is down on those too or if it is just the Fatfish models.