Portable heaters...

[Corey Bechtold]

Just wondering what everyone is using to heat their Portables. Currently I am using a Coleman single burner that I mounted to a small boat seat. It is a good heater but I am looking at buying a Mr.Heater Buddy or Big Buddy. I want something that is safer to transport while hole hopping.

Anyone elses thoughts?

Corey Bechtold

[Bobb-o]

i have a mr. heater sunflower for the cold days and a buddy heater. I normally bring both with but leave one in the truck depending on if i plan on hole hopping or not.

[2liner]

I have a Yukon portable and use a buddy heater. On the cooler days/nights, I employ a coleman tent fan (magnetic) that I can temporarily attach anywhere to the shelter above the heater to circulate the warm air that rises. Paid about $10 for the fan last year. Works great!

[Corey Bechtold]

Very interesting! Where did you get that fan?

Later,

Corey Bechtold

[2liner]

Picked it up at Sportsman's Warehouse in Anoka. Check it out on the coleman HSOforum. Looks like it runs about $15.

[RobertELee]

I just saw that fan at fleet farm tonight in the camping section before I saw this post. I thought it was a great idea for any portable. Runs on D cell batteries and it also has an LED light on it. I dont remember the price though

[schweady]

Mr Heater Cooker is perfect for my Otter Cabin.

[18 inch Crappie]

2nd the heater cooker. Can not go wrong with it.

[bigswede]

I had the buddy heater and moved to the BIG Buddy 2 years ago. On the really cold days the buddy didnt cut it in the Otter Lodge.

[jigging-matt]

I use the mr. Heater Sunflower for my Voyager and it works great. Usually have to turn it down after a while.

[picksbigwagon]

I run a buddy in my voyager, granted it is not short sleeve fishing like my buddy has to have, but I do carry a sunflower along just in case I can't take his whining anymore. I am going to line my icehouse ceiling with the foil bubble wrap stuff over thanksgiving, we'll see how much that helps.

[Borch]

I run a Buddy heater in my smaller portables abd the Big Buddy in my Lodge. Keeps it plenty warm even on the coldest days.

[Northlander]

Mr. Heater cooker. Great heat and I can cook Brauts or heat up coffee.

[buzbunni]

I believe that fan is also available at Dick's Sporting goods.

I have a Little Buddy and also a sunflower cooker that I have not tried yet. Like others have mentioned, the little buddy works great unless you have a big shelter on one of the colder nights(I have a clam 5600 and a Fishtrap). I am looking at picking up a Big Buddy for the colder nights, esp. when it's a sleep-over. I'm also gonna get me one of them fans, yessir.

[Jim Hudson]

Corey

I run a lil Buddy in my one to smaller two man shacks (Pro/Yukon) and use the Big Buddy for large shacks like a Voyager. On the really cold days, I swapped the Big Buddy out into the Yukon though. Have worked great and have kept me toasty!!!

[Corey Bechtold]

If I go with the Buddy or Big Buddy, how long do they last with the 1lb tanks? If it don't last long I might have to use it with my 5lb tank.

Thanks for the insight everyone,

Corey Bechtold

[Northlander]

If you go Big Buddy I would put it on a 5 or 12#er. I think I get about 4-5 hours out of a 1# tank with the little buddy.

I wasnt impressed with the heat of the big buddy so sent it back. If you have a shack like a Otter Lodge they just dont put out enough heat for me. Maybe with a small fan blowing the air around you can get it to work.

Oh and carry something firm and flat to rest them on or the wont stay lit.

[Corey Bechtold]

Is there a safety switch that shuts off the unit if it tips? If so, couldn't it be disconnected so it could be laid flat?

Later,

Corey Bechtold

[Jim Hudson]

Corey

They do shut off if tipped over to a certain degree. Am sure you can make it so it doesnt, but I do not know how to do this...

I run a 5 or 11 pound tank on my big buddy. Doesnt use much propane if your not on the high setting, like all heaters. And in my voyager last season, I did not have to crank the heat that much... will see how a cold winter effects this though..