Double wide flip-over ice house

[bls]

I own a 6X8 suitcase style house,used to have a one man clam and now looking to add a a flip over house again to house 2 guys.

I have spent a fair amount of time in a 3 man Voyager but even with two guys fishing walleyes, I feel you are fishing the same fish and possibilities for tangles are high with anything but panfish.

I saw a double flip on the Canvas Craft site and thought this might be a good answer given you can have two guys fishing 8 ft apart at opposite ends. I know these cost more and would weigh in heavier. Are there other considerations why I would not want a double flip style?

I would appreciate input from those who may have them as well.

Are their others who make this style?

Thanks for the input!!

BLS

[leotard]

clam makes a four person as well.

[harvey lee]

First, welcome to Fishing Minnesota, Hot Spot Outdoors and Ice leader's.

I have used one numerous times and love it. For one man, its too much of as portable to lift in and out of a pick up box.

The positives are it has a ton of room, nice soft seats and the inside is all white which makes it very easy to light up.

The insulated cover is the best for heating. On a very cold day last winter at -30 degrees and that was the temp, I had a small heater at each end and the house was warm.

The windows are well placed and it has doors at each end. The tub is huge and one can carry alot of gear in the tub. I have towed it behind a snowmobile miles at a time with no issues. I do have the hyfax kit on it.

Another wondrful plus is that the pole system is very easy to set up and take down.

I don't know what else I can say about this portable.

If your looking for a very roomy portable for a few fisherman, this Canvas Craft house is it.

[bls]

Thanks, I may look at that one as well. I don't really want something so big to fish four and was looking at the smaller Canvas Craft.

I liked the idea that each fisherman could have two holes separated from the other guy.

Maybe this is not an important issue to others who fish side by side?

[bls]

Thanks for the welcome Harvey lee! Haven't been here for long but found this forum the most informative and helpful and looking for a lot of input to help me decide.

Canvas craft has two models of these and I was looking at the smaller one - 90lbs empty. I would fish mostly two people but occassionally by myself. This could pose a problem to load in a pickup by myself I suppose. Just liked the idea.

I am looking a the insulated model. Pricey but I have gotten 30 years out of my suitcase house so cost per year is not so high.

bls

[bls]

Surely there must be those out there that use the double wide flip over houses??

Any advice?

Thanks!

[DTro]

Using the double flip by yourself will be a challenge due to the weight of the thing.

However, with 2 or more guys, it is a great house. Very roomy, and the insulated canvas is the cat's meow.

I fished in Harvey Lee's house several times last year and for a portable, it really doesn't get much better.

[canoepaddle]

I owned one for the last 7-8 years. I could get it in the back of my truck by myself but it wasn't easy. Mostly carried it on my snowmobile trailer with my snowmobile on the other. Pulled great with sled. With any snow, pretty heavy to pull by hand. I got it for fishing with my two kids when they were young. Set up was easy but not as easy as a single sided flip over, which made moving either a longer process or just didn't move as often as I may have with single sided. I've fished in it by myself many times, usually put a hole on each side just to spreed out. Works great for 3, kind of tight with 4 but doable. Despite how much I liked it, I sold it this fall and bought an Otter Resort, the single sided flip over on a large otter sled. Kids are in college now with jobs and school so they don't get to go as often. This one is easier to handle by myself. Hope this helps.

canoepaddle

[Jim Uran]

Can't beat the thing with 2 guys fishing in it. With one it does have it's setbacks, weight, weight, and weight. Heavy, but it's a cinch with 2 guys and if you are looking for room that is the way to go.

[Dave]

I have the Canvas Craft Magnum double flip-over insulated model. Canvas Craft actually has three double flip models. Mine is the middle model. Do I love it, YUP! Every thing that has been said about it is true. Easy to heat, no moisture buildup, etc etc.. I will disagree a bit with the weight "issue", however.

Aside from the extra poles and canvas for the double-flip, I really don't find that extra weight something that keeps me from loading it into the back of my truck. Maybe I'm used to the weight of an Otter Lodge single flip with hyfax and bench seat (that's the same size sled)

Guys load that size single flip with extras and don't think or mention anything of it. Just some facts to consider.

[bls]

Dave,

Thanks for the response- maybe the smaller one is not so much to man handle by myself after all. I would use it 80% with another person but desrire to use it solo as well.

I found the listed weights on flip overs all over the map. I looked at the two man Clam X2 and it is listed at 145lbs. Much more than this Canvas craft at 90 lbs. Although the Canvas craft does not include the seats.

I find it interesting that there are not more who fish with others not buying the double flip to get more line separation and less tangles. Maybe most are single fisherman?

bls

[Dave]

bls,

I usually have my two teenage sons with, so, that's why I had to go with the double flip, too. I noticed the Otter Lodge single flip is spec'd at 110 pounds. If you're close to Andover, you could come over and try loading and setup mine.

[Mainehazmt]

I have the otter village double wide(starting to sound kinda redneck) It weighs in at about 100 lbs then ya fill it lol I like it very much as I often have my grandson with me gives him 1 whole side to play in heats ok with 2 buddy heaters I also put down an insulated floor and the insulated buble wrap on the roof on really cold days stays nice that way it is abit much for 1 person but it is do able this is my second year on it the tub is a otter magnum sled and I also pull it with the snowmobile so weight isnt an issue