Otter Ice Shelters

[Brad B]

Clam has stepped up their game and now has the X2 Pro Thermal which is a 1800 Denier fabric where as Otter is still using the 1200 Denier fabric. Also Clam has redesigned their sled to give a little more space in the sled. I'm not looking to start a brand war but they are now getting closer in comparison when you compare say a Otter Lodge and the X2 Pro Thermal. the biggest benefit of the 1800 denier fabric is that it will be better for people that like to sight fish as it will let in less light and retain the heat even better too.

[castmaster]

Dtro,

It is funny isnt it. Ya would think someone told them their baby was ugly!

Gonehunting,

I can make that comparison based on the houses I fished from last season alone. Do you fish from no other shelter but the one you own? I took 3 trips to Devils Lake last winter, fishing from a brand new Otter Lodge full thermal for a 4 day trip, a Canvas Craft "lodge" with their full thermal on a newer Otter Pro sled for a 5 day trip and my Otter Lodge uninsulated with the original style brackets and square tube frame. Those trips are a true test of how a shelter hsndles the wind. It wasnt even close comparing the Canvas Craft and Otters, especially my buddys new one.

Gee Im guessing Esox owns neither a Ferrai nor a Yugo, so how could he possibly make such aa comparison :-)

Northlander

As i said, I have been an Otter customer for 20 years. Bought an original sled the first year they were introduced. A friend built there booth for use at shows back then. Canvas Craft made the original black skins you mentioned, they were the original "Otterskin" frane and canvas. The first Otter built/sold frame skin were the first purple ones. Their major design improvement over the fishtrap of the day was the zippered door on the front wall that allowed you to go in and out without flipping the houe open. And the sleds were liggt years ahead at that time. That had to have been like 1996ish. The Otter II sleds were a big improvement on the originals, and came out aroubd 2000-2001?

Was al lset to buy a new insulated Lodge last year and just couldnt pull the trigger after fishing out of them. Made the decsion to go with a cc insulated skin on the new Otter II sled I have a pretty easy one for me.

And Otter customer service has been topnotch the handful of times Ive had need to deal with them over the years. In fact they even used one of my "mods" on the factory skins. Back in the late 90s I had a window "break" in my lodge and sent it in for repair. I asked them to sew a pocket on the frobt using the same clear vinyl to use as a sleeve for holding my placard with info and shelter license. At that tine everyone either used safety pins or duct tape to attach thhem to their skins.

We all like different things. Why they make annd sell more than one

[rcr]

I emailed Otter and asked if they had addressed and taken action on fixing the canvas issues from last year. I will post the response when and if I get one.

[castmaster]

One other thing to note in how a Canvas Craft frame/skin hold up to wind compared to Otter frame/skin...the CChouse comes with double the support poles. With my Otters I have always had to buy an extra set.

And the insulation is no comparison between them. The Norpac insulation in the CC houses is superior to the quilted onsulation in the Otters. BUT there is also weight difference in them ad well with the CC skin being heavier. The white canvas interior also makes it a breeze to kerp well lit with led's if/when one wants more light.

Simply another option to consider which still uses the Otter sled.

[gonehunting]

Ok, you're right. Don't call my baby ugly. We will have to just agree to disagree on this. Otter uses less support poles because they require less support poles. Square versus round. Larger versus smaller. Enjoy your new CC. I'm sure it will be a very nice shelter.

[Dave]

And the insulation is no comparison between them. The Norpac insulation in the CC houses is superior to the quilted onsulation in the Otters. BUT there is also weight difference in them ad well with the CC skin being heavier. The white canvas interior also makes it a breeze to kerp well lit with led's if/when one wants more light.

I'm with ya, Castmaster I don't believe any Canvas Craft competitors have published a thermal imaging test but, I can understand why they haven't.

[BartmanMN]

Hey Dave, I see Canvas Craft is gone in Rogers. Did they move or close that location?

[Dave]

They're in Otsego.

[Sam I am]

Pulled the trigger last night. I went online to order my new Resort and...Otter is OUT OF STOCK already?!?! So...I called up to Scheels to see if they were going to be getting any Resorts in and they said, "We already have them in and we only have three left...they're flying out of here." So, I jumped in the truck and got up there to get mine. It almost fit in the back of my old Tahoe, but I did have to tie the tail gate down.

Last year all the Resorts were gone way early...apparently Otter underestimated the demand for an $1100 fish house. I hope they made more this year. I sat in the display at Scheels for almost a half an hour...and couldn't find a reason not to buy it. So, I did!

[DTro]

IF they are out of stock and/or retailers have limited supply in Sept then they must have had major a issue or somebody dropped the ball.

[Mr.Seaguar]

I was going to buy that $1100 fish house. I told my wife I was going to buy a new shack and she says OK. I said its $1100 and she went nuts. Ended up getting the carry over Wild 2-3 man whatever its called for $550 shipped to my door. I only used it 2 times last winter so I guess she was right about not needing an $1100 shack. I use a 1 man most of the time.

[Crappyfisherman]

Picked up my Otter 1200 cabin yesterday. Got it put together today. Everything fit perfect including the top.

They must have fixed the problem with the fit of the top or I got real lucky.

[Sam I am]

IF they are out of stock and/or retailers have limited supply in Sept then they must have had major a issue or somebody dropped the ball.

Seriously. I was on Otters HSOforum last month...everything was in stock...went back there and checked...3 of the 4 XT1200 shelters are out of stock on Otters HSOforum. Only thing I can think is that they shipped them all to retailers?

[Crappyfisherman]

Thorne Bros. Got a truck load last week. I don't know about any other retailers.

[Sam I am]

Assembled and standing tall and proud in the garage. Even got my wife to sit in it with me, but got "the look" when I suggested we "break it in". <sigh> Anyway, it's a pretty nice piece of gear. I only assembled 2 of the three seats as that will generally be how it's fished. Directions were straight forward. The only thing adverse I can say about the assembly was my fault. I mis-drilled one of the back support rod holes in the back flange of the sled. So...I have an extra hole for some fresh air. I may just slap some gorilla tape on it to cover it back up. Nice work Otter...happy so far!

Has anybody modified the rod holders by combining two Otter rod holders together so each fisherman can have the ability to put two rods in the holder? I think I may give it a shot.

Sam

[Northlander]

I have mounted 1 in usual spot and then 1 on my Sportsmans Caddy and you can also drill a hole in the lip of the tub and put a rod holder anyplace you want on it.

[BartmanMN]

haha, nice attempt on the "break in".

[CaptainMusky]

haha, nice attempt on the "break in".

I liked that too! Lmao

[crothmeier]

I've had a Lodge sitting in the box here at work since last march. Bought it on closeout from L&M in Bemidji last year.... This thread has me pulling it off the rack and taking home tonight to get it set up. BRING ON THE ICE!!!

[Mr.Seaguar]

putting an Otter together is not something you want to do when time is a factor.

just daydreaming at work but...what if someone made a tub that was much shallower so it would fit into car trunks? Put the Otter frame and shell onto that tub so that guys with cars would have access to a good flipover. hmmmmm

[BradHawthorne]

Were there changes to the Otter lineup for the 2014/15 season?

None to the houses but they did add this little gem.

It held up to to my towing needs, The one thing you will notice is the welds. Its not some stamped out tack-welded job, its over-built with continuous welds in the right places, mounts onto existing ball allowing use of your tow tow bar with no changeout. I thought it was handy, I could go from towing a wheelhouse to hooking up the train without beating on a frozen receiver hitch to change out mounts.

[Kyle]

I was as Scheels today looking at fish houses. I wish the Lodge xt1200 was a little taller inside. I'm 6'2 and it would be nice to be able to stand and stretch without hitting the sealing. I noticed the comparable CLAM seemed to be slightly taller, though I still think Otter is far superior...except for the seats. Someone needs to redesign those awful things. Clam seats are way more comfortable...