Just finished putting together the house and one of the sleeves that hold the poles together broke. Also the center wind support bars do not fit when both in place. Not sure if the canvas just needs to stretch, but it seems I need a good 2″. When the house is set up it lifts up a little so the bottom poles are not touching the ground. Wondering if any one else has experienced these issues and has some set up tips.
Yes I just finished putting my together this weekend and mine is very tight. I can get the wind poles in when I have the poles in the shorter extension position, but not in the second position. My front pole is off the ground about 3 inches.
I purchased mine a year ago and it also lifted the bottom pole off the ground about 4-6″.
It really needs to stretch out. You’ll have to use the support poles all the time. Over time it’ll stretch out a little so you may not need all of them at some point.
Not quit sure why the center support poles don’t fit but be aware that it is a tight fit.
Maybe post some pics if you can.
I know there were a few issues last year with some tight canvases. I thought they were all taken care of on this years version though. One thing to check is to make sure you double check the instructions on pole location. Not all poles are the same length. I bought a used one with this issue of being too high in the front. Downloaded the instructions from the Otter website and found the guy had switched the poles around and everything is great now. May or may not be this problem in your case. Otter customer service is great if you can’t get it fixed.
The canvas is always tight and will stretch after a couple uses. Or you can accelerate the process by setting the house up outside and turning your heater on and letting it run for a few hours. That’s what I do afterror assembling a house as it ensures I’m ready to go once I hit the ice.
If the canvas wasn’t very tight when you first set up the house it would be overly loose after you used it a few times and the canvas stretched.
Also the center wind support bars do not fit when both in place.
The wind supports should fit regardless of how tight the canvas is. This is just a guess but it sounds like you might have some of the frame poles installed in the wrong location or you have the wind support poles in the wrong spot. You’ll want to verify the assembly before going further.
Try loosening up the Velcro wraps. Tha helped on my house.
I just helped a friend set one up. I think one must do it with everything a room temp, and make sure all pole are in there correct location. it was a snug fit but all went real smooth and its ready to hit the ice.
Well after checking everything over all is in correct place. After it sat out in the cold I can barely open up the house without expecting some seems to bust loose on the canvas. Talked to otter today and they are sending me a shorter pole for the back and center. I wish they would have sent me a new canvas. Don’t want to lose headroom to stand up. After it stretches for a while they said maybe I could switch back to the other poles. The house at the show set up and down no problem. Can’t imagine this will be the end solution. Has anyone else been sent other poles or a new canvas? Did the poles solve the problem?
Where are you located. Maybe I or another member could meet you to take a look. I’ve got the same one and could compare the setups.
Champlin
The fix that Ottor recomendes works. Ihad to do the same thing. I didnt lose any headroom. But Iam only 5’10. I can stand straight in mine.
I had a similar issue last year. I took the center poles out and cut them 3/4 of an inch shorter then re drilled the bolt hole and everything now fits fine. I had a buddy with the same issue as well who did the same with no issues. I’m 6’6 so 3\4 of an inch wasn’t going to mess with the lack of head room.
I know this is kind of a rant but you would think for the money you pay this issue would have gotten fixed. I had the same issue with a cottage last year and also my lodge from 3 years ago. I like the fishouses tremendously but I think some quality control practices need to be put in place and have this issue resolved. For that $900 to $1000 dollar range on a fishouse you shouldn’t have to make any fixes out of the box in my opinion.
Set your house up. Stand outside of it and varify the back wall is vertically straight up and down. My guess is that’s its not because the hidge assembay is mounted to far back on the sled. That would also make your back wind support to small because the back wall is now at an angle now (this is just a thought). I also replaced the self taping screws with bolts and nylon lock nuts. Lastly, I would mount the seat bar on the sled as low as the sled will allow. If you follow the direction the seats uncomfortable due to the forward pitch.
I know I ran into the “tight canvas” last year on my Lodge. Otter told me the same thing, set it up, let it stretch, etc, etc. None of that worked for me. It finally got so bad that the canvas ripped right about the seats where the vertical bar meets the horizontal bar. I continued to call Otter through the process because I knew it would rip sooner or later. When it did rip, I called Otter, sent them pics and they sent me a new cover. The new cover fit just fine. I sent the torn cover back to them.
I’m with everyone else, I’m not spending a 1K on a Otter shanty and cutting the poles to get it to work. I would have hoped that the problem was solved but it sure doesn’t sound like it.
If I were you I would be pushing for a new cover, not putting a bandaid on the problem.
I have assembled over 50 houses. Dan Murphy with Ice Hunters. I am an Otter dealer and do many assemblies and all of them fit nicely when the poles are all in the right place. I feel the directions are vague on how the support poles go and I have seen many houses assembled wrong. If you are having problems contact me and I will see if I can help. If your looking for any Otter product, visit my site at http://www.icehunters.net
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i just assembled my 2014 cottage and while it was a pain, it went together nicely in the end. the one problem i have is that the wind support pole that goes over the back center location seems to be about a full 2 inches too long. all other wind poles fit fine. i dont think i assembled it wrong but i suppose its possible. i was just going to say forget it but maybe i should contact otter and see if they will send me a shorter pole. Love the house on the ice so far!
Hi Crappie55369,
I would not hesitate to contact them if you are concerned. Deb and the team in customer service do a great job. If your support poles and frame pole are correct you should not have that problem. If you flipped the 2nd and third frame upper side tubing or have the back 2 top wind support poles reversed are the 2 things that can cause that. If you have those right then call Otter. Some good pictures help to show your problem. Good Luck and Good Fishing!!
I love my lodge xt 1200 pro could not be happier . the only thing with mine is one of the pole straps in the back was sewed in the wroug spot and can’t use it . The bottom pole does come up on when all setup but I just use the front support pole up front and it works perfect
I know this thread is a bit old but I pulled my xt650 out recently and was reminded of my canvas stretch issue and the bottom/floor frame not sitting flat issue. I heated up the garage and put a heater in the shelter to stretch it out so I could put the last wind pole in but it didn’t work. I ended up just releasing the velcros on the front corners a bit so there was some slack and it was able to drop about an inch towards the ground. Still a bit of a gap until I forced the last wind pole in by going at an angle then sliding it straight. That worked a lot better and closed the gap down to the floor.
Point – put the last wind pole in at an angle then push it sideways until it’s perpendicular with the frame bars. I’ve had it stretching with heat for an hour then heat turned off and cycled this for the last 5 days. No noticeable improvement on getting a wind pole in any easier, but the velcro loosening was the most effective.
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