Otter Cottage Seating

After many years in my Fish Trap I am thinking it’s time for an upgrade. I have had a couple Otters through the years and am sold on Otter products. Anyhow, I’m looking for a one man shelter and have decided the Otter Cottage/Cottage Pro is the way I want to go. My question is how does the seating bar ( specifically where it rests on the front of the tub ) affect the integrity of the tub ? By that I mean that since I’m 6’3″ and go 260 pounds will the bar/supports that rest on top of the front of the tub cause the tub to push out/compress ? The reason I ask is years ago I bought one of those plastic center seat consoles that sat across the width of the tub. It worked great at first but in time it deformed the tub = bummer.

Could a guy just avoid putting in the seating bar completely and just go with a 7 gallon pail or other seating option that doesn’t rely on sitting on the tub for support ?

Also, is there any advantage to having the Cottage Pro VS the regular Cottage ?

Thanks in advance for any input on this.

The one I had a few years back would support your weight without issue.I installed seat hardware,and then decided it was too heavy.Very sturdy set-up.Either the boat seat or bench will give you no problems.

I got the XT Pro Cabin in early January and fish in it by myself most of the time and its great. I am 250lbs and there are no issues when Im in it on my own or when there is another person in there. The weight is distributed by the cross bar but also the side edge of the sled

The tub is more than sturdy enough, I have never felt the slightest flex in my cottage.

I agree with Dan. I have a Cottage blue camo that’s the 950 thermal and I fish 2 men in it all the time. I’ve never had a hint of it flexing or anything. A couple tips I would pass on are you want to fish rods shorter than 30” I tried longer but always have the rod hitting the fabric. I like my Cottage so much more than my Hideout because the system for the flap inside the Cottage for drafts is far better than the Hideouts design. Granted the Hideout is a little lighter and a longer area for fishing but not near as warm as the Cottage. You’ll love it !!

I fish two in my cottage. I fish out of the cottage seat and my buddy brings a fold up chair. Sets the back legs inside the tub and the front legs outside the tub. Works slick

I switched from a Cottage back to a Cabin this year because I felt there’s just not enough room up front on the Cottage, rod tips hitting the fabric as others have stated…

Agree on the rod length. I have all 32” and hit on every hookset. Also, if fishing alone, I always sit on the left side of the sled, the side with the flat back rather than the slant. I have tipped down before on the far right side.

I took the rail and seat out of my pro cottage and now sit on a bucket inside shanty. Gives me plenty of room to fish 2 32″ rods. I’m 6’1′. Gives me a lot more storage room also. If I am going for a long outing I have a little directors chair that I will bring along and sit on. Also save a lot of weight taking seat and rail out.

Thanks for taking the time to post your thoughts on the Otter. This is exactly the kind of info I was looking for.

Spend the extra $$ on the Pro series UNLESS the bench seat is absolutely your thing…