Portable shacks

[Fish out of Water]

Been looking around at portable ice shacks and have it down to a Fishtrap Voyager and an Otter Sled with a canvascraft cover. Any advice? Which one pulls easier (by hand)? More storage?
Appreciate any help.

[rngrfshm]

One plus that the voyager has is the side vents in it. Not sure if the Otter has that or not, but if you have small kids and your heater inside, it does make a difference, I didnt see this on the Otter that I looked at. I really like my voyager and the price after you consider the extra costs for the seats you have to spend on the Otter. Voyager there included for 2.

[vetspet(ind)]

i too am ready to buy one or the other....this summer....doesn't the voyager "canvas" seem too thin?...i have checked them out at our local gander mt in merrillville indiana...really impressive except the material is some sort of synthetic stuff which seems so thin that i would worry it will not last...whereas the otter canvas is heavy duty....the otter also has a better sled i think.....i have not seen an otter except on their web page so most of my info is off this site...steve

[Mattman]

Its not even close. Get the Otter! That thing is really tough. My brother has a Fish Trap II and I have an Otter medium. Mine is in much better shape and I fish with it a lot more than he fishes with his. Once a year for the last three I've had it on my annual Lake Trout trip. To get to my buddies cabin we have to haul all of our gear across the lake (25 minutes) with snowmobiles/Otters and then the Otter turns into our fishhouse. I can haul my Jiffy model 30, gear bag, tackle bag, Vexilar (in homemade wood case), 20 pound propane cylinder, chair, Jiffy chisel, shovel and three rods and have room to spare in my medium Otter. It's nothing to do 40 mph. Its nothing to cross portages. Its easy to hook two in tandem. Without question the sled is the most durable tub you can get. The rigid hich is great. The Otter has a zippered door. I can't say enough good things. Its much more durable than the Traps.

[ddt]

Go with the otterskin by canvascraft.I have the M 2 , they put it on the otter sled,best sled made at this time. yes, it has two side vents & the tent frame is made of conduit,very strong.YOU WILL NOT
BE SORRY.===ddt

[Bacala]

I have a Fish Trap II. A friend of mine has the large Otter sled/hut combo.

IMHO...

For me, I wish I would have bought the Otter.

In one year, my Fish Trap II had the canvas ripped, on the hut and on the cover. Starts as a little tear and grows with little effort. The Otter has a heavier canvas. (If I have to redo the canvas on my Trap next season, I'm gonna get it done with Top Gun boat cover material.)

I don't think the Trap is meant to be towed behind a snowmachine. It's not very deep compared to the Otter and the boggan itself is thin compared to the Otter.

As for price, I know the Otter is more expensive...but it is more durable than the Trap. Specially when towing behind a snowmachine.

There is one little thing I like about the Trap....if you fish like I do...(jig inside the Trap and have a still line outside the Trap), you'll appreciate the easy egress of the Trap. No zipper to mess with, just lift the front up and run!

Maybe if you like lightweight...the Trap is for you. For me, I shoulda went with the Otter.


Get the NE....vermind.


Bac

[Mattman]

The Otter flips up too. The door just gives you one more option. That being, bank it up and seal it tight when its really cold. It can be set up "half-way" and used as a wind break too.

[HONSET DON]

I CAN NOT SPEAK FOR THE OTTER, AS I HAVE NOT SEEN ONE OR FISHED FROM ONE. I DO OWN A VOYAGER AND HAVE GIVEN IT A LOT OF USE THIS WINTER. VERY HAAPY WITH IT AND NO PROBLEMS. AS FAR AS THE FABRIC AND ZIPPERS, AGAIN NO PROBLEMS. IT HAULS ALL MY GEAR AND I TOW IT BEHIND MY ATV. WHAT EVER UNIT YOU PURCHASE THINK ABOUT AN OPTIONAL COVER OR MAKE ONE. THIS IS A BIG SHACK AND I HAUL MINE ON A HITCH HAULER. THIS ALLOWS THE PICKUP BED ROOM FOR THE ATV, SLEDS,ICE SKATES, ETC.

HOPE THIS HELPS YOU OUT AND NO MATTER WHICH ONE YOU CHOOSE THEY ARE AWESOME.

[rngrfshm]

Hi Steve,

The fabric is called "Ice Armor". I bought the cover for it also which is made out of Ice Armor and made some holes in the material to put snaps on it so I can take off and on without the worry of loosing it. When I punched the holes in the material it was really a tough material. I think it is about the same toughness as regular canvas but not sure. I know that it is just as strong as my custom canvas boat cover is though, but lighter in weight. Not sure how it will hold up but so far I really like the house.

[wiggle]

I bought an Otter last year. In my opinion it is the best portable shack on ice. I can put my auger, 2 pails, shovel, 2 fold up chairs, minnow bucket, ice pick, vexilar, and my mr. heater on a 30lb cylinder all in the sled at the same time. I bought an optional cover for the shack when it is folded down to protect my gear from snow and water when towing behind my snow machine. I can easily cruise 60 mph across the lake, and my otter just floats behind with no problems. Takes maybe 1.5 minutes to set up. My only problem with it is that I don't use it enough!!!

[Don C]

An excellent method of covering the Otter sled and providing seats is to attach a vertical 2x6 frame on the top of the sled (cut to fit the contour of the sled)and attach two 3/8" plywood lids to this frame. The frame increases the capacity of the sled, does not interfere with the operation of the canvas tent, and the lids make seats that are the proper height. With the lids hinged at the back loading the gear is easy. The additional weight could be slightly reduced by using a 2x2 frame with spacer blocks between the frame and the sled.

[Bacala]

Thanks for the info....now i really wish i bought the Otter!

:)

Bac