Otter Village

[RoadRunner]

For my birthday the wife gave me the go-ahead to order a new flip-over type fish house. I'm thinking of the Otter Village which flips out both sides of the sled for the room. Looking for positive and negative feedback on them from anyone who either owns one or has fished out of them. I'm guessing they may be a little tougher to heat, with so much ice exposure, but am curious to know what others think the downfalls or upsides to this type of house are.

Thanks

[Gissert]

Otter make a great house, to be sure.

Check out the Voyager Extreme made by Shoremaster Fabric in Fergus Falls. Bill Kasper is the guy to talk to about those.

It is a doublewide like the Otter, but I prefer the shape of the tub better.

I have the single wide version of this unit, and I put over 200 miles on the tub bottom last winter and it held up great.

For a double wide, you will probably need a heater on both sides. If you have a sunny day, the heat needed will be much less.

Good luck!

[Guest]

I'd buy the Otter Magnum if room is what you want.

How do you haul all your stuff with the model you're considering? I pack my Otter full with all the junk required to ice fish.

What about seats? Do you have to sit on your sled? What if you're on two or more feet of snow and the sled is sitting 4 feet off the ice by the time you get down to ice level?

Mobility inside the "cabin"? Room to drill two holes? Per side?

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Chells

[hanson]

Roadrunner,

I'm looking at the exact same house. I already have the large Otter sled and I need a house to put on it. My options are the Lodge (I think) & the Village. Flip over 1 side or flip over 2 sides. Mainly to fish 2 guys, possibly 3. My dad & I like our space. I've fished side by side with someone in a lodge and our lines always got tangled. Not enough room IMO.
If I want to fish solo, I have my little Otter den which is fully rigged. Its almost like a bass boat.

Anyway, the large Otter sled will fit inside the bed of most 6.5' bed pickups. The magnum sled is longer and you'd have to drop your tailgate. I was figuring 2 heaters also on those subzero days.

I haven't seen how the village folds down yet. That may or may not be a deciding factor for me.

As far as where to carry your gear, that is what the Otter sled is for- just like every other model Otter sled.

Seats- Otter makes seats that fit it also, you don't have to sit on the sled.

[RoadRunner]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I already own the Otter Magnum sled and the Village is made to fit on that sled, which is why I'm considering it. I'm thinking of the double-flip for the same reason Hanson is - true 2-man fishing. I guess my only concern really is heating the thing with that much ice exposed. I suppose I could carry some rubber mats or something to lay on the ice to lessen that effect. Anyone run 2 heaters off 1 propane tank? I'd sure hate to have to drag two tanks around.

[metrojoe]

I've seen a dual set up on one tank. It is designed to run a lantern and a heater. I'm sure it would run two heaters.

[Dr. Fish]

I have owned a 6'12' double wide otter shelter for 4 seasons now, and absolutely love it. Fishing 4 people, with 8 holes is not a problem at all. I only use one "sunflower" heater, except on bitterly cold days. I didn't like the chairs the factory offered, so i have my guests bring their fav. chairs, and sit 2 to a side, facing the sled. I cut 4 pieces of plywood 1 foot X the width of the sled, laying these together side by side over the sled, and drilling a hole at each end. When traveling to the fishing hole, they lay in the bottom of the sled, but make a great table once you're set up... I usually fish atleast 3 times a week in the winter, and this shelter has held up extremely well. Granted, this setup is a little heavier than a lot of other shelters, but having that much room is priceless. It is definitely the way to go!

[iffwalleyes]

I own a magnum otter and I wouldn't change a thing for a 2 man fishing situation. I would like to get a den for me when I am just by myself. Just to add Hanson has it mixed around a magnum is 74" just right for a short bed truck a large is to big 84 inches and a X large is 94" too big for a short bed. Otter is my opinion are the by far the best ice house on the market.

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Grip it and Rip it

IFFWalleyes
I Fish For Walleyes
iffwalleyes at yahoo.com

[hanson]

iffwalleyes,
Thanks for pointing out my goof. That's what I meant, magnum fits a shortbox & the large is too big.

[iffwalleyes]

No problem. I just know that because that is the reason I didn't buy a large myself. You have to be able to close the end gate can't have anything falling out.

------------------
Grip it and Rip it

IFFWalleyes
I Fish For Walleyes
iffwalleyes at yahoo.com