Otter Assembly Help

Hello everyone, my name is Jim Seagraves.  I’ve worked for Otter for 5 years now and the last 2 I have also been on their Pro-Staff team.  For the past 4 years I have been in charge of building all the Otter display houses seen in stores and at fishing shows.  I’ve been called the “Otter Assembly Guru”.  This year I was appointed to be the “Online Otter Assemble Concierge”.  So, I’m here to help you guys and gals with any and all assembly questions you might have.  I’ll be posting pictures and videos all year.  Feel free to private message me any time.  Hope to see you at the shows and on the ice.

Attachments:

1. 

   2016-10-22-13.13.14.jpg
   

This is timely. At the end of last season, I got a Otter Lodge XT, but when I tried to put it together, I found out that none of the holes on the sled had been drilled. I e-mailed customer service and they gave me an older manual that included paper templates to cut out to mark where the hole should be drilled. But there were two problems. 1) Those only covered some of the holes and 2) Even with the templates, I had no idea where exactly to put the templates to make sure the holes were in the exact right place or not. I am really trying to do this right to avoid binding of the poles, etc because the holes are on the wrong position. It’s just really hard to know where the position the templates because there is not a 90 degree corner to be your guide.

I was considering driving the thing to Otter HQ at some point this fall for them to drill the holes out. But if you can help me out somehow over this, that would do as well. I need to get my sled down from the rafters but at that point, if you can help me out, that would be great.

I had the same problem a couple of years ago with my xt1200 cabin. I found out that last year that all the new sleds have dimples in the molding to let you know where to drill.If you bought that lodge new at the end of last season it should have them. You might not see them from the top but if you flip it over you should be able to feel them. I hope this helps.

Jim
Glad to hear. I bought a 1200 XT Lodge last year PITA to assemble a very frustrating experience compared to the Clam I replaced. I think the assembly instructions need to be re written to simplify and more pictures, better yet a video you tube assembly would have been great! Even if the production quality was on the low end.

But I do like the final product

Bob

My otter 650 frame doesn’t rest on the ice so when there is no snow, the wind easily flows into the shed. I couldn’t have assembled it any different, or did I do something wrong?

I had this problem so I loosened the velcro straps attached to the poles. There was enough play so the front touched the ice.

This will be my third winter with my 650 Lodge. I had no problems drilling the holes with the supplied templates/instructions.

The canvas is a little tight at first, thus the front not resting directly on the ice.
I spread out the canvas indoors for a day before assembly based on other comments.

Sorry I wasn’t more help with the drilling issue…I don’t think they have to be exact?

I’ll try loosening the Velcro. We just didn’t have the snow last season to back over the fabric. Thanks for the tip!

Kevin. Some of those 650 canvases were a little small. The poles to the left and to the right of the seats need to be drilled out. The pole that goes in the L pipe above the seats need the push pins need to be moved down a half inch. This well loosen the canvas allowing it to rest on the ground.

Queenswake
Templates for xt lodge
Hope these pics help

Attachments:

1. 

   20161031_070529.jpg
   

2. 

   20161031_070514.jpg
   

Templates for xt lodge

Attachments:

1. 

   20161031_070609.jpg
   

2. 

   20161031_070551.jpg
   

So there’s enough space for me to re-drill the holes? I think I’ll try loosening the Velcro first!

Hey Jim,

I have a XT Pro 900 and a new XT Pro 1200 cabin. I noticed that the XT Pro 1200 has a new plastic slide on the end of the poles that stops the sloppiness when the poles are extended. Can I get these for my XT Pro 900 poles?

Thanks
Al

Yes Al. Your looking for part number 200197. Contact otter at
1 800 go otter or http://www.otteroutdoors.com

Thanks Jim, They are on order I will be picking them up Friday morning.

Hi Jim,

While assembling my otter cottage last year I ran into a problem where my seat seems to fit really tight! as a result my crossbar has been bent. Now I have read lots and lots of posts on this and I am well aware of the fact that people say they can be tight and they eventually losen up but I think my case is not quite the same. Mine has never loosened up. Im concerned that with the amount of torque I have to put on the crossbar just to get the seat to go on that eventually it will become more damaged than it already is. I have sat in the seats at stores 100x and have never encountered a seat as tight to get on as mine. I have tried filing the plastic on the seat down as well as putting 10w-40 on the seat base/crossbar to no avail. Any suggestions for this? Thanks

Getting new seat rail brackets will help with being bent (im assuming thats the bent part) and yes they are tight. Holding the seat rail while locking the seat slide base will solve this problem and should make the seat slide bace loosen up. Contact otter at 1800 go otter or http://www.otteroutdoors.com for the seat rail brackets. They should b covered under warranty.

I loosened the Velcro today and that did get the front of the rail to hit the ground. Can’t wait to see how that helps on the ice when the wind hits it. Thanks for all the help!

Kevin
There are some slide on clips that secure the fabric on the rear of the shelter.
There should be some excess fabric. Remove the clips and let more fabric go forward until the front touches the ground then reinstall the clips.

Personally I think the assembly instructions are poorly written. I have built a portable shelter (clam) before without issue. I think if your buying a premium product the instructions should be better. I also suggest Otter put a you tube video out to help better understand assembly.

When I was struggling with my assembly. I called Otter 3 times to no avail. The 4th time I asked to speak to someone in authority and Im not sure who but I think was possibly a owner. Well who ever it was he was great and made the above suggestion and it solved my issue.

It is a great well made product once you figure it out

Jim thanks for your help on my Hideout skirt !!!

How much over lap of the canvas should there be when installing the trim lock on my new otter pro lodge? Mine seems to have about 2″ past the high point (widest point of sled) with all wind supports and poles extended to the first detent. The directions are very poor and almost skip the trim lock part of assembly. Do I just pull it tight and clip the trim locks on?

Yes there should be that much play. Pull it tight fold it over the edge of the sled and snap on the trim lock. I recommend using a number 2 square screwdriver bit for the trim lock screws. If your having trouble with the trim lock you can put on one side screw a screw in and then pop the rest on. Hope this helps. If you have any other questions feel free to ask.

Attachments:

1. 

   20160815_070131.jpg
   

Hello. At the end of last season, I purchased the XT 1200 Lodge with all of the accessories. I have not had the time to assemble it. So, is there an Assembly Company that I could take it to in the Twin Cities? Thank you!

Jim I got my new skirts for my Hideout today they sent 4 skirts but no mounting screws. Does this picture show that I have it on correctly ? I think maybe I’ll have our seamstress shop sew Velcro in middle to be able to hold those two skirts together.

Attachments:

1. 

   20161112_135250-1.jpg
   

2. 

   20161112_135250.jpg
   

Yes it is on correct. If you have any other questions feel free to ask.