Bigfoot 4000T in -30 equals epic fail!

[MNCPRGUY]

Fishing URL in the bitter cold yesterday (-30). House had sat in the truck overnight. When we set it up, all four windows broke! The plastic was brittle like a potato chip! I assume that I am not the first person this has happened to. What options do I have to fix it? I am thinking I can find the plastic at an upholstery shop and velcro might be a design improvement, but I am not a seamstress and that's a lot of velcro to sew on!

[fishwater]

If it is under warranty, give Clam a call. If not, I'd try to fix it with clear packing tape?

I give thanks to Clam for all my sewing skills. I think they should man up and start offering longer warranties on these things.

[wishing for walleyes]

My frabil fortress has all 4 windows velcroed in. I like that I can replace them if need be..

[JohnMickish]

What year is your house? Yours is the first BF4000T I've heard of with window issues.

[MNCPRGUY]

I bought it the first year they came out. Had some Pole issues with the first one so I exchanged it. I don't believe it is an issue of product quality but surprisingly, I don't recall seeing this issue before either. I know I am not the only fool that fishes in -30 from a hub house as I saw another Bigfoot and an Eskimo out there. Best I could tell they had all of their windows.

[Corey Bechtold]

Send an email to Clam and they'll get you taken care of.

Merry Christmas,

Corey Bechtold

[JohnMickish]

I am really surprised by this window failure. Even though it was cold this should not have happened. Did you have stuff packed on top of the house?

[MNCPRGUY]

Nope, nothing packed on top of the house. It was folded up in its bag. Always thoroughly dry and stored in a heated garage. Only thing unique about this event is that the house was stored in my truck for ~48 hours (in below zero temps) before we opened it up.

I am headed for Devils Lake in the AM but will give Clam a shout when I return.

[muskie hunter]

This is why clam should make all the shealthers have velcro on windows like frabill, otter, and shappell it would improve clam as a company and would bring in more customers. For example I have friends that didn't go clam because of the windows being sewed in

[JohnMickish]

I'm on the opposite end of that thought. I really don't like the velcro in windows because you can never get them to seal good and they leak cold air like no tomorrow. The windows that are being used in 2014 and beyond will never ever crack, and last year's Bigfoot windows where not supposed to break either.

[ammoman16]

This is why clam should make all the shealthers have velcro on windows like frabill, otter, and shappell it would improve clam as a company and would bring in more customers. For example I have friends that didn't go clam because of the windows being sewed in

+1

[Savage Brewer]

I'm on the opposite end of that thought. I really don't like the velcro in windows because you can never get them to seal good and they leak cold air like no tomorrow. The windows that are being used in 2014 and beyond will never ever crack, and last year's Bigfoot windows where not supposed to break either.

Are the windows being used in current production different than years past?

[muskie hunter]

Or how about next year you sell shealthers with velcro, and without to fit the various needs of fisherman. Also another good option would be on the thermal houses offer them with black interior coating, and without and make the black interior done by black cloth on the inside not spray. Then ice fisherman could have custom options for their shacks

[DTro]

Are the windows being used in current production different than years past?

[JohnMickish]

The windows in the 2014 models are a real soft plastic that do not get stiff in the cold. They kind of remind me of a thick saran wrap that you use in the kitchen. I'll be up on URL and LOW for the next few days with my 2013 4000T and 2014 Clam Warrior in the -30 weather, I'm looking forward to seeing the difference.

[CAMAN]

Every Clam I've owned, at least one window has cracked. One was a suitcase style that was about 10 years old and had light use. Both windows completely crumbled on a below zero day. Then I bought a Guide flip over and within 3 years the back window broke on a sub zero day. It's not like I've been hard on them, it happens when you are unfolding them after being stored. And I'm not alone I have seen quite a few other Clam with broken windows as well.

I finally gave up on them and bought an Otter flip over and will never look back. While they aren't removable windows they feel a lot more pliable and have never felt like they could break, and I have been out in some bitterly cold stuff with this house.

[MNCPRGUY]

It's definitely a good discussion if nothing else. I went with Clam because I did not like the other manufacturers that had the velcro windows. I liked the clean look of the Clam and never thought I would need to open windows. Never even considered the pliability in the cold. In hindsight, there was clearly some merit to the velcro!

I duct taped the windows front and back for the time being. Still let's a little light through but I feel a bit like a redneck! :-)

[ammoman16]

While they're adding the velcro to the windows, maybe they can move the windows on their houses to a height that the average guy can look out and see tip ups. It would be nice if they would put the windows on the hub houses to the side of the hub instead of above it.

[DLD24]

Completely agree Ammoman, I fished out of my buddys Bigfoot 4000T this weekend and I was like what is with this window height talk...Everytime we had to get up to check the tipups....Dumbest thing I ever saw, I guess if you like looking at clouds then its perfect...I also was not a fan of the sewed in windows...The ONLY thing I like better about it than my Fatfish 949i is the interior color, I wish mine was a lighter color so it wouldn't get so dark...

[JohnMickish]

I can pass that info on about the hight, but I need to ask. How tall are you guys and what are you sitting on? I sit on a Clam chair and don't have a problem looking out the windows but maybe I'm taller?

I think the reason for the location above the hub and not to the side is because of hole placement. Your more than likely not going to put your hole under the hub and can sit next to the window if needed.

[going4it]

I am 6-3 and can't look out the window and see a tip up. I think you'd have to be 8 feet tall to see one.

[ammoman16]

I'm about 5'10" and have used many different types of chairs. I usually use some sort of camp chair and I'd guess I would need to be 6" higher or more for the windows to be useful.

[JohnMickish]

I will pass that info on to the right people. Think you for expressing your concerns.

[MNCPRGUY]

I will be contacting Clam on Monday but I would still appreciate any repair ideas that anyone has.

[CAMAN]

You can bring it to any boat canvas shop and have them sew in some new plastic. Make sure you ask them for the better quality windows, it should be thicker. The thin stuff is what breaks.