Best heater for a portable??

[erikh45]

My sunflower Mr Heater gave out on me today. I am now in the market for something new. I use it to heat my Fish Trap Yukon, and my Frabill Commando. Let me know what you use, and why you like it or hate it. I have seen the mr heaters that look like radiant heaters and have a space for a 1# cylinder. Looks like it would pack nice, but do they give off good heat, and are they durable?

[Fishing Freak]

buddy heater

[Caleb S]

Not to try and steer you away from a new unit but I am curious what went out on the mr heater. I have a mr heater and a buddy heater. I prefer the mr heater to the buddy for most applications. if you decide to get a buddy heater don't even think about the smaller one.

[Sandmannd]

I agree with Caleb. I use a heater cooker and that's my go to. I do have a big buddy but I prefer the heater/cooker at least 95% of the time. Way warmer and never have to worry about it going out. BUt yea, get the big buddy if you go that route.

[Smails]

I use a Mr Heater Little Buddy in my Clam 5600 and it keeps it plenty warm. It takes up less space than a buddy.

[croixflats]

Well the big Buddy cooks me out of my house on high even at

4 below but I have Norpac2 insullation. I get less fumes from it than a sunflower and its easy to toat.

The sunflower has its advantages the wind doesnt effect it as much and it wont shut off when bumped. And it maybe a little warmer.

Comes down to what you want it to do there always gonna be trade offs.

[ZEEK1223]

I like the sunflower type, but went with the big buddy heater. Main reason was weight, and it is less likely to burn a jacket, or the canvas. puts out plenty of heat

[Sandmannd]

Ha, Zeek, that cartoon is classic.

[mtreno]

i have a buddie and a big buddie - i love them! i use them both if its really cold. i like the lake of fumes and no hiss.

i also love the cartoon!

Sandmannd you have mail

[aanderud]

If you fish when it's cold, or if you have a fairly large portable, then I recommend the heater cooker from Mr Heater. I can tell you this, in an eskimo quick flip iii when it is 10 below and it's after sundown, my far corner holes will freeze over even with my mr heater cooker on high. Good luck fishing under these conditions using a buddy heater.

The cooker/heater comes with a nice stand that will allow you to use 1 lb cylinders if you want, and you can get a hose to hook it up to a 20 lb tank. It has MUCH more heat than a buddy heater of any kind, and it's more durable as far as never going out.

People who say that the big buddy has enough heat usually have a small portable or an insulated portable, OR they don't fish when it's below zero, OR they don't mind scooping ice from their holes, OR they don't mind buying and using multiple heaters (like the post right above mine). If you fall into one of these categories, I would recommend using a buddy heater, because they are definitely nice from a fumes perspective. Quieter too.

[JimBuck]

I've got a Buddy heater and it works great in my Clam 460 until about the 10-15 degree area. After that it can get a little chilly. I have intentions of picking up a heater/cooker as I already have the green hose and a 11lb. tank. Having the ability to cook some brats or stew would be excellent!

[Caleb S]

Zeek, I've seen that one before but it was just as good the second time around. If Franken wins the election we might need to try and institute some type of pre-voting test.

[Whoaru99]

This is interesting...

I currently have one of the sunflower heaters, but looking for something different.

The heater/cooker seems highly recommended and lists the same BTUs as the regular single sunflower, which says 14,000 BTU max.

The Big Buddy seems nice, but several are saying it doesn't heat as well as the heater/cooker or sunflower, but yet it lists 18,000 BTU max. output.

So, if it puts out 4,000 BTU more, why does it not heat as well?

[fishnhuntnboy]

I have the buddy heater and i love mine and heats my portable great. I have the clam 5600 and grant it, its not the biggest portable but i keeps me nice and toasty everytime. My canvas has 2 holes in it and is dry rotted and still keeps me warm. Also it would have to be DANG cold for my heater to not keep me cold. With living in Ely I have fished some of the coldest weather i have ever been in. with days in the 30 below range its a cold walk out but when i am all setup i get nice and toasty really quick.

Me personally dont like the sunflower heaters. My buddy has one and it gets to hot in the portable and builds up way to much carbon monoxide. I have experienced some symptoms but nothing major.

Really it all depends on how much you want to spend and what you are looking for. Size, how much heat, etc. Otherwise i think it goes by personal prefrance

[Caleb S]

My little buddy heater is rated at 8,000 BTU's on high and my Mr Heater is rated at 8,000 on low. If you put them side by side it is clear they are not putting out the same amount of heat. Either the buddy is less than 8k or the mr heater is putting out more.

[Whoaru99]

Well...I have the Otter II Lodge and put the Reflectix insulation on the ceiling and down the back wall.

I usually don't fish when it's really cold out and not sure that I recall ever using the high setting on the sunflower. Usually, I'm trying to set the control a little lower than low, but then as you guys know the fumes get worse.

[fishing tech]

If size and weight are an issue, the Buddy heater is the way to go. If you have room and weight is not an issue, get yourself the Mr heater/cooker, 5' hose, and a 20lb tank. The Buddy heaters are nice because they can go up against the canvas and not burn it, they are light weight, and they cool off fast for quick pack up. I don't think the buddy heater puts off as much heat though. Fish trap guide it works good, fish trap voyagor not so good.

[BuckKiller]

Id go with a buddy heater... work really well.

[Caleb S]

On warmer days my house can get a little too warm with the Mr Heater even on low but crack a zipper and the problem is fixed. Its actually nice since you are getting fresh air in and don't have to worry about carbon manoxide.

[Moose]

My question would be- Are there any other choices than the Buddy heaters or the Sunflower heaters?

I've gotten so ever time I fire up the sunflower I get a power headache but I have a Voyager and need something to heat it with the kids and myself in it. If I add the insulation will the Big Buddy heat it enough to keep the holes clear? How long does it run on a one pounder?

[erikh45]

Thanks for all of the replies. I now have some ideas for when I go shopping later today. The problem with my heater is that it is old and been banged arount. Today I found that the thin copper tubing is cracked. The button on the back used for lighting also broke a couple years ago and I had remedied that with duct tape. Anyway, it seems like a good time to look into getting a new heater.

[jimmyjames76]

I switched to the Big Buddy heater from a sunflower after I started getting a little light headed in my portable. It didn’t happen all the time, but I figured better safe than sorry. Personally I think the Big Buddy heater puts out just as much heat as the sunflower. The only downside I can see with the buddy heaters is they go out much easier. Here are the ratings from Mr. Heater’s HSOforum:

Sunflower Heater/Cooker: 8,000-14,000 BTU’S/HR

Buddy Heater: 4,000 -9,000 BTU/HR

Big Buddy Heater: 4,000-18,000 BTU/HR

[jimmyjames76]

I'm pretty sure you can get that replacement part in most stores that sell Mr. Heaters. For a couple bucks it might be worth fixing even if you do get a different one.

[muc33]

I have a Mr Heater Cooker/Heater for my Otter two man, and for my Scout and Pro's I have a Mr Heater Big Buddy and the new Base Camp. The Base Camp is great to just get that chill off, but can't see it being real effective on a really cold day. I have used it on days about 10, but not below. I do like it though.

[Down Deep]

I'm also interested in how your sunflower bit the dust. About the only thing that can go wrong is the thermo-coupler or the screen rusts out. Both parts are inexpensive and easy to install. I personally like my sunflower or heater cooker. I bought a Big Buddy and there several times when the Buddy couldn't keep up with the Northern MN cold so I went back to the sunflower. There are some good sales for Mr. Heater's going on right now.

ZEEK1223 Being the republicans must be the choice of the intelligent voter, would you please provide a list of the good decisions and accomplishments of the most recent President and the congress he had for the first six years of his presidency.