Mr. Heater Buddy or Sunflower style

[sjohnnie26]

What type of heater do you use and what type of house are you heating with it? 

My brother is debating which one to get, he has a Clam 6800.

 

[Woody]

I've got the Eskimo Quick Flip II portable fish house.  I bought the Mr. Heater Big Buddy only because I can always turn the heat down should I get too warm.  With the Buddy heater I was concerned it might not warm the house enough on cold windy days.  For the most part I only use one burner on the Big buddy once the house is warmed up.  It takes maybe 10 minutes on the coldest days to get it warmed up enough to drop it down to one burner. 

[pheasantman2121]

I have a buddy jr that i use in my one man fish trap.  I also have a sunflower style that I use in my large 2 man fish trap.  I also have a mr heater cooker that I use when I want to save some space.  

The 6800 is a good size shack.  I would think that you would want to get a mr heater or a mr heater cooker to save room.  Especially on the cold days

[ThunderCAT]

I have a Yukon and have used both a Mr Heater Cooker and currently use a Big Buddy. The Cooker threw off plenty of heat, but I have to say I like the Big Buddy better. On high it's plenty of heat, usually use it on low except for really cold or windy days. I run it off a 20lb tank that sits outside and have a filter for the hose (a must).  I have two buddies that run Buddy Jrs in their Yukons, and it seems they are always fighting to stay warm, especially on the colder days. I'm always in a sweatshirt when I fish.

[Woody]

I forgot to add, the only thing I don't like about the Big Buddy, is you can't cook on it.    Hmmm....maybe they need to come up with that next?! 

[kingfisher1]

I forgot to add, the only thing I don't like about the Big Buddy, is you can't cook on it.    Hmmm....maybe they need to come up with that next?! 

that's the best thing with a sunflower.  You get the right sunflower attachment, you can flip it up and cook on it.  what's better than sitting on the ice, rods down, and cooking eggs and bacon at the same time?

[thunderpout]

I have sunflower heaters, and all the Buddy heaters.... The Big Buddy, the original Buddy, and that new little Buddy.(great for My little original trap & deerstand, next year )  Pros on the Buddy heaters:  The big one HAS A BUILT IN FAN to blow the heat around like yer furnace at home , They have the screw mounting holes on the back so ya can get em off the floor & out of the way if ya have walls or another way to rig it, they all have the low oxygen & tip over shut off, & can run off both bulk tanks AND the small canisters, so if its just a half day outing ya aint haulin a big damn tank with ya .... Cons: besides not being to cook on em, they are a little finnikey when outside in the wind, But for me the Buddies are definatly the way to go, no brainer, hands down the way to go.... Hey, if ya want to cook... get a little one burner that screws on a canister...15-20 $.... fits in a pocket!

[thunderpout]

Like my grandpa once said, if yer eating(let alone cooking) you aint fishing! eat before you go fishing....

[Outdoors Junkie]

Here is a sunflower with propane tank (1/2 full) for $40 on CL.

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/spo/984256356.html

[MnMoose]

I have the Buddy Heater!! I have a frabill XL ranger two man flip.  This heater works great unless its under 10 degrees, then it needs a little bump from the coleman lantern.  What I did is went to Menards, bought the fuel filter and a five foot hose for a 20 lb tank hook up.  no more green bottles of propane floatin around.  the setup was a mere 20 bucks well worth it.  and I dont get al light headed from those  sunflowers.

[kenhuntin]

The thing I prefer about the Buddy heaters over Mr. heater is You do not have to listen to the combustion roar of the Mr. heater. The buddys are quieter.

[Woody]

MnMoose, the filter & hose setup is definently the way to go!  I do the same thing.  Plus then I don't have those  green bottles to contend with when they're empty. 

Kenhuntin, I totally agree on the noise-or lack thereof.  The Buddy heaters are nice and quiet!

As for cooking I already have a small propane Coleman cookstove that does the job for me. 

[ThunderCAT]

and I dont get al light headed from those  sunflowers.

Amen to that!    I hated that with the sunflower. Buddies are safer for sure...and quieter aspreviously stated.

[kingfisher1]

You get headaches from the sunflowers due to the carbon monoxide that it produces in higher levels.  If you're using them in well ventalated areas (as you should), you will get less headaches.  The headaches are one of the first signs that carbon monoxide poisoning is starting to set in.  Which is also why you might get a little sleepy after the headaches set in>

[thunderpout]

Thats why I dont use em anymore(sunflowers) for ice fishing, houses are confined, unventalated spaces... if ya leave the door open, it kinda defeats the purpose eh? 

[kingfisher1]

a lot of portables have zippers or velcro on the windows that you can open.  It helps with the CO and doesn't let too much heat out.

[Big_D]

I have them all...Mr Heater/Cooker, Mr Heater buddy, and the two burner Mr Heater..love them all

THinking of staying the night on the ZUmbro tomorrow night in my new ice rig (old camper converted in my shop this week) and the Buddy will come with...has the low O2 sensor in the pilot...will leave a window cracked too.....hoping that's safe enough

[kingfisher1]

I'd almost suggest bringing a CO detector too, especially if you'll be sleeping in it.

[JCAMERON]

Deffinately can't be too safe when it comes to a heater in house. I was fishing through the night on red lake a couple years back with a mr. heater/ cooker. I nodded off a little bit and started having horrifying dreams... had to step out of the house into -20 degrees for a bit to replenish my oxygen.

[kingfisher1]

exactly!  I'd rather come home safe to my family than try to stay a little longer for a few more fish.  If you're getting headaches and a little drowsy, open the vents, and the door a little bit while you step outside for a few minutes.  You'll cool off a bit, but you'll wake up, the headache will go away, and you'll make it home safe.  Regardless of if you have a sunflower or Mr Heater buddy, always keep the vents open.  You may have to keep it on high, but in the end, what's going to cost more: that extra propane, or a funeral?

[Dan R.]

Mr. Heater or the Mr. Buddy, Ford or Chevy
They both do the job. JUST USE YOUR NOODLE

[Woody]

Mr. Heater or the Mr. Buddy, Ford or Chevy
They both do the job. JUST USE YOUR NOODLE

Good point Spuds! 

My dad taught me a lil lesson. If your eyes get sore/dry then the air needs to be refreshed. 

[kingfisher1]

Mr. Heater or the Mr. Buddy, Ford or Chevy
They both do the job. JUST USE YOUR NOODLE

that they do.  whichever you choose, just vent the house.

[sjohnnie26]

Thanks for all the input fellas.    He went with the heater/cooker and bought the hose adapter  to keep the tank outside.  We fished Saturday with it and with one vent open had no troubles.  Plus we were nice and toasty!

Good luck to everyone

SJ

[kingfisher1]

glad to hear that you enjoyed it and stayed warm!

[sandmannd]

I have used a heater/cooker for years and love it. It will blast you out of the house with heat. Cons is that you can get light headed. Open the vents on your house and you are generally fine. I got a Big Buddy this year and not nearly as happy with it. They are very tempremental when you try to light them. Won't always stay lit and is not nearly as warm as my heater/cooker. It is, however quiter than the cooker as well. On an extremely cold day I will use the heater/cooker and on a more mild day it will be the buddy as you don't have to worry about burning your canvas.

[Big_D]

I'm having the same problem with my buddy...will do fine for awhile, then acts like it's starving for gas, and click..it goes out.

restart it and it runs for awhile, then back to click...

Thoughts?

My heater/cooker is TOO much for the shack, the buddy is PERFECT, but it needs to stay running...any help would be appreciated.

I have used a heater/cooker for years and love it. It will blast you out of the house with heat. Cons is that you can get light headed. Open the vents on your house and you are generally fine. I got a Big Buddy this year and not nearly as happy with it. They are very tempremental when you try to light them. Won't always stay lit and is not nearly as warm as my heater/cooker. It is, however quiter than the cooker as well. On an extremely cold day I will use the heater/cooker and on a more mild day it will be the buddy as you don't have to worry about burning your canvas.

[slugofishhunt]

i had the same problem using my buddy with the small tanks till i hook it up to the 20 lb tank then it work fine stay running

[Big_D]

Just the opposite here, does it with the 20# tank.

HOw many of you guys use the "recommended" filters on them?  I have, didn't like the way they worked, so I stopped using it...could this be it?  NEeds a filter?

[kenhuntin]

from what I understand they malfunction without the filter and they recommend replacing the filter yearly. Still need a kerosene heater?