I had my two Hub Houses and my flip over Hideout set up with a few friends over..
What a great day! !
Bring on the ice !!
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Nice armada! Which hubs did you get? I’ve got my eye on the Resort, but am waiting to see what kind of a netting fix they come up with. I really like the netting in my other hubs. It’s surprising to me that the Otters didn’t come with them. But, it won’t make any difference to a lot of fishermen, I understand.
Al
Hay Dave did you have all the support polls in the Hidout in that pic?
Nice armada! Which hubs did you get? I’ve got my eye on the Resort, but am waiting to see what kind of a netting fix they come up with. I really like the netting in my other hubs. It’s surprising to me that the Otters didn’t come with them. But, it won’t make any difference to a lot of fishermen, I understand.
Al
AC,
I have the Cabin and the Lodge…
Not sure what you mean by netting fix ? I have never owned a Hub before nor have I set one up..
This was realooking easy to set up and deploy !!
Hay Dave did you have all the support polls in the Hidout in that pic?
DTF,
In the first pic without the cover on ?
Yep…all three support poles are attached…
I was looking at the second one with the canvas on it jus looks like your roof line is tighter then mine
I was looking at the second one with the canvas on it jus looks like your roof line is tighter then mine
I started with all poles loose..started tighten each one and then repeated the same steps and it did tighten the cover up nicely !!
Hi Dave,
In the Clam hubs (I have the Bigfoot XL 4000T), the Cabelas’ hubs (one of which I also have) made by Clam, and the Eskimo Hubs (as well as the Glenn’s Army hub that I have) two opposite sides of the roof have nets that are approximately 15 inches deep by 4 feet long that can be used for glove, hat, light, etc. storage. They are very useful and handy.
The Otters do not. But, according to Joel Nelson, Otter is coming out with some kind of “fix” options for those who like the nets, like me. I’m betting that next year’s hubs will have the netting.
You’ll love fishing in your new hubs.
Al
AC,
I will look into that too…h
Great idea as the floor is the ice in the hub..
The main reason for me to get the Hub is my hovercraft,it would be a little hard to haul an Otter flip over
The Otters do not. But, according to Joel Nelson, Otter is coming out with some kind of “fix” options for those who like the nets, like me. I’m betting that next year’s hubs will have the netting.
Stay tuned to the Otter website. Otter has a 3-Pocket Cargo Net and a mesh Storage Hammock coming out somewhere around late December. There is also some heavy-duty Shelter Hooks coming too. We’ve been told they will only be available on the website this year.
Thanks for the update, Steve. Keep us posted, please. Hopefully, there won’t be an extra charge for those who have already bought a hub. I believe there should have been netting on them to begin with, since almost all other hub manufacturers have them installed on their hubs.
Al
Al, I have an set of them to for my XT Pro Cabin and I will tell you, they are really nice quality nets and hooks. They are an accessory product that will have to be purchased.
Thanks, Steve. I’m curious as to why Otter chose not to put the netting in to begin with, considering their competitors have them preinstalled at no extra charge. Can you explain the rational behind that? Can you tell us how much the after market nets will cost or where we can see them? As, you know, smaller hubs than the Resort have at least 2 nets on them. with the Resort (and more fishermen), at least two of the Otter after market nets will need to be purchased to get the same or similar storage space. It’s starting to add up, unless Otter will sell them dirt cheap. I’m guessing that won’t be the case.
Or, do we have to buy the healthcare plan before we can see what’s in it? Sorry, I couldn’t help myself on that last line.
I know it may seem like a small thing, but the omission and then additional charge is somewhat curious, considering I’m going to pay $500 plus for the Resort to begin with. And, the only way we can purchase them is through the Otter web site, you say?
I do realize that no one is holding a gun to my head. I’ll quit ranting on the subject now. 
Thanks again,
Al
Al,
Keep in mind, that this is Otter’s first run at hubs and with everything there are always improvements over time. Otter’s first focus is solely on putting out a quality product that is as durable and long-lasting as the flip-overs we’ve all come to know. Tougher. Stronger. Smarter.
As for nets in competitors models, I’m not aware of what they have in them. It’s been at least 2 years since I was in a Clam or Eskimo Hub and I don’t recall them having nets. I assume that may be something they’ve added in the last few years. Joel may have more insight about any decisions on nets and pockets.
Will Otter add them? Hard to tell, but it is certainly something that could be passed along as a wish-list item or product improvement.
The hammocks and cargo pockets that are coming have not been priced at this time. As I mentioned, Otter was guessing they would be on the website sometime in December, so we’ll have to wait until all the final details are worked out. I assume on the website only since they will not make it to the retailers in time for buying season.
Let me know if you have any other questions. If I don’t have the answer, I can always find out and get back to you.
Thanks again for your reply, Steve.
Al
Will a big buddy be able to heat the Lodge Hub or the Resort Hub on those -20 days?
I can’t decide which one to go with as of yet.
THX
Dave,
Thinking of adding a “hub” to my system to cut down weight on long walks through snow. How easy are these things to set up(by one person) and what kind of weight are we talking?
Rev
Hey Rev !!!
I have never ever set up a hub house before… I am not a big “read the instructions first” kind of guy and I pulled out the Cabin Hub that weighs 32 lbs and this was so simple even I could do it !!!
I did however pop out the sides first and then walked inside and poped up the center.. and of coarse after my set up I read the directions and it mentioned to pull the top up first… I’ll try that next time !!
The Otter Lodge Hub was even easier to set up for some reason… it was easier to pop the sides open then the Cabin…. The Lodge weighs in at a mere 41 lbs…
Both seem very well crafted and I like the bags they are stored in.. you can use the handles on the bags and loop your arms thru and haul it like a back pack !!!
I just picked up My Otter Lodge today!
Great deal!
Regarding setting up a hub-style by yourself, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT to DaveK, setting them up in your backyard in your jeans is a little different than out on the ice in a snowsuit with a foot of snow cover and a 10-15 mph wind. Having done this now for a couple years, here is what I’ve come up with. First, shovel the snow away. It will melt down anyway once you’re in and your heater is running. This also makes it easier to get your ice anchors in. I then anchor 3 or 4 of the corners before popping anything up. This makes it easier to get some leverage (again, by yourself) when popping the sides out. I also put 2 anchors in outside the upwind sides and attach ropes. Pop up the top, then the sides and tie off the 2 sides upwind. The fabric also gets a little stiff when it gets cold. I mostly fish solo and like having the room to move everything inside I need and still be able to move around a little bit. I wish I had the new thermal skins though. The biggest trade-off of a hub vs. flip-over obviously is that you are nowhere near as mobile because of the setup and takedown time of the hub.
Oh, and don’t be surprised if you snap a fiberglass pole or 2 once they chill.
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