IMPROVED Eskimo Fatfish Line-up

[NCLaker]

I was one that decided to hold off on buying the new Eskimo FatFish pop-up/hub portable ice shacks last year ... boy am I glad I did.

Eskimo was at the Thorne Bros Portable Mod Event with the UPGRADED Fatfish shacks on display. The rep explained/showed me all the improvements they made over last years models:

- Thicker poles

- Redesigned hubs

- Storage bags are now double stitched, larger, duffle style zipper, exterior cinch straps.

He said they watch the fishing forums, and heard all the complaints. These upgrades seem to address all the issues I heard. Way to go Eskimo!!

I asked about a hook for hanging a light - he said it is in the works. An area they conceded is a gap is providing shack accessories ... they plan to address this (possibly next year).

By the way the new 1 person Eskimo Wide1 is a sweet on man shack ... worth checking out. But a little on the spendy side.

[wdgold]

I plan on getting the new and improved 949i this year. Although I had last years model and really liked all the room it had and the warmth it provided it had to many issues to not send it back.

[jmg]

It's nice to see that Eskimo has taken steps to rectify a seemingly flaw ridden series of portable houses that was, perhaps, released too soon before the bugs were worked out. Of course, I was one of those who couldn't resist getting one of those unique houses and now feel ripped off, since the thing will probably be nothing but trouble. Problem is,with the weather we had last Winter, I never used it, except to set it up in the living room to stretch everything out in a warm setting, as recommended by Eskimo. So I don't have the original box to return it in and don't even know if I have a lemon. I bought it at Capra's, got a great price on it and was treated very well so I really don't think it would be fair to complain to them, since I was the one who wanted it and wasn't talked into it. Just feeling ripped off by the manufacturer, who,I thought until this happened, made great products. Any thoughts or suggestions?

[fisherman-andy]

Until you start using it you wont know for sure. Several guys I know had 747 and 949 models and used them all winter long last season without any issues so far, or have yet to complain.

[ice_medic]

I got a fatfish 797 last year and i have had no complaints with it. It worked wonderful and held up amazing in the wind. I am looking forward to the new line up and changes they have made. I am looking at upgrading to the 949i this year and keeping the other one as a back up or when we go out with a larger group.

[JohnMickish]

Take a good look at the 949i and you will see how the walls taper in at the top, which could lead to your rod hitting the wall on the hookset. That may or may not be an issue but it is something to think about.

I was out at Clam yesterday and I took a look at their XL4000 thermal they had set up. They had the 949i set up INSIDE the XL4000T! Somehow the 949i offers 80% more fishable floor space than it's competition, yet fits inside it's competition! I know I went to public school but somehow that math dosen't work for me. There is only $10 difference between the two so take a good look at both before you plunk down your cash.

[fisherman-andy]

I was out at Clam yesterday and I took a look at their XL4000 thermal they had set up. They had the 949i set up INSIDE the XL4000T! Somehow the 949i offers 80% more fishable floor space than it's competition, yet fits inside it's competition! I know I went to public school but somehow that math dosen't work for me. There is only $10 difference between the two so take a good look at both before you plunk down your cash.

Fatfish 949 = 61sq ft space, Bigfoot XL4000 = 64sq ft space. A smaller box will fit inside a larger box. That's pretty simple math to me. I say if you want all the space you can get definitely go with the XL4000 for price/size advantage.

I like clam products, but I like Eskimo also. Im willing to take a guess that the Fatfish will again outsell its competitor of similiar product.

[JohnMickish]

I think you missed the part where Eskimo says they have more floor space than their competition. I said that math dosen't work, since their competition is bigger. Now if they said they had LESS floor space, that would make sense.

[Scott M]

There's more material on the skirts and thicker material where the poles bend out on the Clams. Clam responded to complaints about poles by strengthening them.

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Check this video out at 0:48

I also took this pic yesterday:

[fisherman-andy]

I think you missed the part where Eskimo says they have more floor space than their competition. I said that math dosen't work, since their competition is bigger. Now if they said they had LESS floor space, that would make sense.

I recall thats the advertising Eskimo has had last year even before Clam had their new line up hubs this year. The Fatish 949i is considered and listed as a 3-4 person hub with a setup size of: 94 in x 94.

The new big foot XL4000 is considered a 4-6 person hub with a setup size of: 96” x 96” The XL2000 model is a claimed 4-6 person hub also which I think is a more comparable model to the 949 has setup size of: 90” x 90”. I hardly think the XL2000 will fit 6 anglers with comfy room due to setup spec. Clam claims both models offer a 30% more space then the competitors model?

So this year Clam appears to have cleaned up and made their hub units more durable. However the look of more durable isnt always what it seems to be due to quality control. Especially in the first year of release as in the fate of Eskimo's own mistakes.

I think the new clam hubs and flip overs are an improvement over the last few years of what we seen from them. Let time test and tell...

[cichlid_baby]

Take a good look at the 949i and you will see how the walls taper in at the top, which could lead to your rod hitting the wall on the hookset. That may or may not be an issue but it is something to think about.

I was out at Clam yesterday and I took a look at their XL4000 thermal they had set up. They had the 949i set up INSIDE the XL4000T! Somehow the 949i offers 80% more fishable floor space than it's competition, yet fits inside it's competition! I know I went to public school but somehow that math dosen't work for me. There is only $10 difference between the two so take a good look at both before you plunk down your cash.

Both of these manufacturers.. when advertising how much more fishable area their "wide bottom" units have.. are referring to and comparing them to the dimensions of the "standard size" pop ups such as the Clam Base Camp model and the original Eskimo Quickfish models.

They are not comparing them to each others "wide bottom" units as pointed out.. the math simply does not work.