Glacier vs sno- boat II

[jighead]

Hi Guys;
I was thinking of buying the Clam Sno-Boat II. I have a few questions about it first before I buy. Does the canvas come off the plastic frame or is it permanently attached? How quickly can it be set up? I looked at one the other day At Fleet Farm and the fishing area looked pretty small. Would there be any problems with hitting the end of your longer rods on the canvas? The model that was set up at Fleet might not have been set up correctly because it looked like you really did not have all that much room to sweep your rod up for the hook set! Please let me know!

[Drake]

I have to tell you. If you are thinking about a Sno-boat, get the Glacier instead.

They are very similar once set-up.

The Glacier is lighter and it sets up much quicker. The canvas is also attached better (not stapled).

You won't regret your decision on this.

http://fishingminnesota.com/glacier.html

[Rick]

I agree,
the Glacier and sno-boat are very similar once set-up.

The Glacier is better quality, lighter, and much faster to set-up. Not as expensive either.

Get yourself a great product and get a Glacier.

Anyone else with a Glacier care to comment?

[huskminn]

I don't have a Glacier, but I sure do have some questions about them!

The "diagram" photo on the site shows a square box for a base. I hope that's just for illustrative purposes because I would want a sled-type base. Can someone clarify?

Also, does the Glacier have the "flip-over" option like a Fish Trap does? Or is it just simply set-up and stays that way until taken down?

Apparently there really isn't a place to get a look at a Glacier before buying. But, I was on a company's web site who also happens to have a retail store next to the interstate near Owatonna and I saw a Glacier line advertised there. Is this a place where a guy could get a look at one?

[herb]

I'm not sure about the store in Owatonna, but the cabellas in PDC Wis. had the glacier on display. I've got one and like it. The front does have a flip down feature so it's not dragging in the snow when you move from spot to spot. I just use a bungie cord to hold it up when I want to move. It has a sled type base. And I don't think you can get much lighter.

[huskminn]

I was kind of hoping to hear it all from the horse's mouth.......but I guess I'll go to Cabela's in Owatonna to check one out.

[huskminn]

Thanks for the follow-up. It is the two-man that I would have interest in.

I assume that one is still more mobile in a Glacier than they would be in a style like the Clam 5600.

I'll just have to go look at one to get most of my questions answered. Thanks!

[herb]

Pw 123, I've got the 3-man model and as I'm sitting in it, the front part that I'm facing will flip up and down. That's why I said it has a flip down feature. No, it's not like a fish trap or some others of that style, but it does flip or raise or whatever you want to call it.

[Guest]

Huskyminn,

Regarding the Glacier what all do you want to know? It does have a sled type base, and no it does not have the flip-over feature. It stays set up until taken down. FYI Cabelas in Owattonna only has the Glacier 2 man left FYI.

Paul

[Rick]

Huskminn
You are definitely more mobile in a Glacier than a Clam. You just flip the front piece up and your off. It's light. I owned a Clam and got rid of it. Not mobile enough for me. Too long to set-up and take down, especially when it's cold or windy. The Clam is also much heavier.
The picture drawn of the box is just an indicator. It is a sled similar to the sno-boat.

It's a nice unit. Everyone who has purchased one really likes them and several dozen have already been purchased here.

[Guest]

My dad recently purchased a Glacier 3 man,
it sets up extremely quick. I wasn't up to the 24 second set-up time that someone else on the forums had, but I could have it set up within a minute. If it's just one guy fishing you could be set up, and have your lines in the water within 3 minutes of stopping. The only bad thing about the Glacier is the Low ceiling, I forgot exactly how low, I think it's 5'4" but I'm not sure.

[Guest]

I got a 3 man glacier and love it. The only bad thing I have to say about it is that they call it a 3 man but its really a 2 man. I mean if your gonna have a shelter out on the ice you might as well have a heater in there too and with 2 guys and a heater there isn't really room for another. This is the only problem with it though. It is extremely light weight, fast to put up and has good material. I would suggest the glacier to anyone who wants something that is a true lightweight sturdy portable house.

[Guest]

The Glacier III is the only unit I've ever seen that you could actually fish 3 adults in (shallow water). I've been out several times now with my wife, 7 & 9 year old girls and myself in the Glacier. Plenty of room for seats, heater, lantern, munchies & misc. gear. I haven't tried just 2 guys for an entire day of fishing, but it should work beautifully. Very light, holds plenty of gear, and sets up for me in about 30-35 seconds. For moving around, I use a "Pony" clamp to hold the front up. Best of all, it's the least expensive option out there! Rick posted a picture of my wife & kids in it, but I'm not certain where it could be found, now. I'm definitely going to buy another next year to give to my Dad for Christmas.

FLB

[huskminn]

Thanks to all of you for your comments.

Rick, I know all about your Clam.....I'm the one who bought it from you! You didn't mention any of those negatives in your sales pitch, though.

Just kidding....the Clam has been a good house for me, but this year's non-drivable ice has made it clear that it may not be the best house for me and how I try to fish.

Thanks for all the info!

[Rick]

Hey Huskminn,
it's great to put a face to you now.

I hope you got some good use out of the Clam.

As for the negatives, I shared what I knew and there was no Glacier to compare it to at that time. At least the price was right.

[huskminn]

Rick,

Even though you couldn't have placed my face to the name, I hope that over the last two years you know my posting well enough to know that I was kidding about "no negatives in the sales pitch". Just a little ribbing, which I can't seem to go through a day and not do.

I knew exactly what I was getting when I bought it and, yes, the price was right.

I've had some great use out of the Clam and am still getting great use out of it. Still in the same condition as when I bought it.

I thought you already knew who I was.....well, if you can remember my face after 1 1/2 years, you're doing better than I'd be able to do......and I'm in sales!

Thanks for all the comments. I'll be in the market for a Glacier at some point before next season.

[Rick]

Hey Huskminn,
I knew you were ribbing me

If you'd like to see how roomy the Glacier 3 man is
Click Here

It's very lightweight for easy portability.

[Guest]

AAARRRGGGHHH!!! I'm shopping for houses and it's got me ready to drill a big hole in the ice and throw myself down it. The Glacier and the otter-type houses are the ones I'm considering, but in my opinion they all seem too small to really fish 2 guys (with 2 holes per guy) without getting in each other's way. Not to mention room for a heater, vex', minnows, cooler, etc... When are they gonna make these things open out both sides of the sleds? I have a 12 yr old son that I like to icefish with, and I have thought of buying 2 glaciers, one for each of us, but I can't help but think "where's the quality time if we're both in our own house?" On the other hand, I don't want to fish just 1 hole each for the sake of cramming ourselves into 1 house. I like the ligh weight and easy mobilitiy that these houses offer, but would like a little more room. If a house like the glacier would somehow attach back-to-back with each other via velcro or other method, it would seem to offer the best of both worlds. Anybody else think the same way or am I just nuts?

[Guest]

Dan,

I have a 3 man glacier and it does have a door on each end. Don't see why you couldn't butt them up to each other with the doors pulled back somehow. Would seem to me that this would solve your problem of quality time.

p.s. I love mine

------------------
Paul

[Rick]

There are a lot of Glacier's out there and we're wondering what you think about them now that you've had some time to use them.

I've heard a lot of great reports.

Let us know how it worked for your situation, please. Details would be great.

[Guest]

I'll say one thing, that Glacier makes one tough little portable. Fished MilleLacs all day yesterday in those brutal winds and she's still as good as new. Wasn't until the winds picked up to 35+ with stronger gusts that I figured it was time to pack it in.

Paul