New Otter Thermal

[harleyharry]

I just got off the lake from an afternoon of fishing. I had debated about going, as the wind was up to 35 miles an hour gusts. But due to the fact that I had purchased a new Otter Lodge Thermal portable, I figured this would be a good time to test this and see if the info I had been getting was correct.

Got on the lake at about 2:00 pm. Got set up and got all the drilling done. Fishing was very slow, but had a few hits on the tip ups, so the door was opened a few times. Temp was about 28 degrees with the wind at 35mph. With the Otter banked around the bottom, I was amazed how warm the portable was. I know the temp was not that cold, but with the wind, being on the ice and not in the shanty was quite brutal. The noise level was about half of what it would be with a standard Otter.

At 5:30 pm, I lit my big buddy and set it on low. In about 10 minutes, I had my coat off and was fishing in a car-hart tee shirt, and was quite comfortable. If the door was opened to go out, the shanty warmed up very fast. At no time did I have the big buddy higher than low. Oh, and by the way, I do not fish in any of the gear we have available today. I have a pair of snowmobile bibs that I purchased about 10 years ago, and a 20.00 camo coat with a hood from Wally World.

Anyone thinking about purchasing a thermal portable, and is still undecided, need to experience a thermal only once to know they would never go back to a non thermal portable. I know. I have four other Otters, and have had issues with all of them. Otter has stepped up with this thermal. I was to the point of not using portables any more. This shanty has changed my mind. I have a 6x12 permanent that I have not put out yet due to late ice, and I will not put it out now that I have the new thermal. I am quite happy with this portable. I am not happy with the customer service out of Otter over the last three years, but they have stepped up and started looking at quality control. If my Lodge is any indication of the new Otters that are being manufactured, Otter will be around for a long time.

Harry

[hamms-scooter]

I fished in one saturday and we never took the heater out of the truck. Best portable I have ever fished in. Like you said very quiet inside. Nice shack!

[IcerRon2010]

They got something good. I have a cottage thermal and I was on Mille lacs on Thursday and Friday. Nasty conditions. 0 for most of the day, -16 below wind chill. My jacket was off and my heater was on low. Quiet and warm, a beutifull thing. I do not mind paying more for a product that works. Other company's should take notice on what a quality product should look like.

[otterman91105]

I have an older model resort and have been thinking of buying a thermal. Just have not done it yet due to the price shock. I think i need to just buckle down and do it they sound like they are worth it.

[cavalierowner]

The thermals are just miles above the standard models and worth every penny extra that you pay for them. I bought a CanvasCraft Norpac2(insulated with Thinsulate) and paid an extra $180 for it. Having used it a few times now, I would pay twice that amount extra. Mine is the 4'x8' suitcase style and I heat it with a Buddy heater; I've never been above low and many times I've had to turn the heater on and off because low is not low enough. I can't wait to try it in well below zero temps! Maybe next year! Oh, and no condensation on the interior either.

[dan z]

same here was out on saturday in the wind and cold and never turned the heater off of low. LOVE the otter t-600 cabin... brother was in a frabill refuge and he came over a time or two just to warm up. they had their heater on high and they were still seeing there breath and had all there heavy clotheing on. I was fishing in a hooded sweatshirt!

[Random guy]

The Otter XT-900 is pretty amazing. Not only quiet and warm but now condensation. Those below zero days used to mean a rain storm inside most houses. Not the Otter thermals, nice and dry.

[FBMH]

The Otter XT-900 is pretty amazing. Not only quiet and warm but now condensation. Those below zero days used to mean a rain storm inside most houses. Not the Otter thermals, nice and dry.

x2.