Coleman Sportcat Heater

[chevy343]

Has anyone ever used one of these heaters for heating ice tent and if so how did it work???

            Thanks,Len

[Bluefinforme]

Has anyone ever used one of these heaters for heating ice tent and if so how did it work???

            Thanks,Len

I have one and it works awesome........

[oakorchardfishking]

I have one and it works awesome........

I think the SPORTCAT is nothing more than a glorified hand warmer... but if its all ya got, it will do the job! 
Spend the extra coin and get a BUDDY heater instead!

[Yellow Belly]

I totally agree. I had a Coleman black cat and exchanged it for a Buddy. There's no comparison.

[Polar]

I used a blackcat/sports cat for years.They work fine for a day around 35 degrees.When the temps are in the teens or below they are not worth a dime.Go with a buddy heater,thats what I have now and they are worth the extra cash.

[Colorado_Ice]

chevy343,

The Sportcat puts out 1,500 BTU/Hour and Portable Buddy 4,000 & 9,000 BTU/HR. I'd rather carry the Mr. Heater even if it is more money.

The Mr. Heater Single Cooker Propane Heater is rated at 8,000, 12,000 and 14,000 BTU/HR and looks good if you ever want to heat food.

I bought a Coleman ProCat Portable (3,000 BTU) and wish I'd known about the Mr. Heater line back then. I'd have gotten one instead.

 

[billybono]

i agree....i picked up a colman focus 5 on ebay last year.....back up there it goes. with the crazy money the focus 5s go for at time, i should be able to put a buddy in my shack and some cash in my pocket 

             billybono

[wyogator]

I had a Black Cat. Actually, I still have it. It stays in the house with my camping gear. The portable buddy heater goes in my shack. As for being a glorified hand warmer, or not worth a dime; I disagree. I thought it worked okay. Just not as well as a buddy heater.

[Slammerman]

The catalytic SportCat replaced the forced heat style Focus 3 in the Coleman line when someone decided "that style of heater isn't safe enough". I had a Focus 3 and it WORKED GREAT - then someone stold it out of the outhouse during deer hunting season and I had to replace it with what was available. The SportCat works fine for me in my Frabill UltraLite shanty while ice fishing or Ameristep Outhouse blind while deer hunting - it IS QUIET. I eventually was able to find a used Focus 3 on eBay and now have both available - along with Coleman lanterns and stoves burning propane, and a bunch of Coleman fuel burning lanterns, stoves, and heaters.

My dad and I used our old Coleman fuel catalytic heater for YEARS in our big shanty and often had to remove a few layers because it blasted the heat.

I guess it depends on how much heat you need for the size of the shanty you're using. My "glorified hand warmer" works fine for what I use it for but would definitely go with something with a higher BTU output for use in a bigger shanty.

[billybono]

did that with the focus 5 also....there were lawsuits....i just saw a focus 5 on ebay ,non electric ignitoin go for 132.54  ......looks like im getting a buddy and some new jigs 

                                billybono 

[BrianF]

should do a search on this in the is forums as it has been asked b4.

I had one and returned it then later bought a buddy(for my portable shanty). You are right it is good for when it is not too cold to take the edge off. But for me a 32+ degree day is not a call to use any portable heater.

Fish hard = stay warm 

Brian

[billybono]

well looks like my brother is in the market for a new buddy......tailgate opened up on the way home......well...not a pretty sight


                billybono

[Lobes]

I use the Sportcat and like it a lot when less heat is needed. It is not intended to give a lot of heat (like the Buddy Heater can). But they are very reliable and go just about all day on a cylinder of propane.

[PERCHEYE74]

I HAVE ONE AND AM NOT HAPPY AT ALL. YOU WILL FREEZE YOUR B@LLS OF IF IT IS BELOW 30 DEGREES!!!!!BOUGHT A MR.HEATER -HEATER COOKER COMBO- AND LOVE IT, ACTUALY TO HOT FOR MY 2 MAN FRABILL PULLOVER....

[kirkwooders]

I have a Mr. Heater, and find that it works too good.  My girlfriend and I fish in a Shapelle 3000 and it drives us out on most days.  The one nice thing about it is you can cook on it. Just remember to bring a truckload of those little bottles along with you.  We would sometimes use 3 or more in a full day of fishing, and at almost $3.00 each that's more than I care to spend.

Any way we just bought a Sportcat for the warmer days. Seems to work good. I've used it 2 different days now and haven't changed the bottle yet. 

Dave

[Hijinks]

Sportcat is crap. Took it to Canada with me this year. Couldn't keep up with the cold temps below 30 as mentioned, plus you can't cook on it. I tried - trust me.
Good for mild days just to take the chill off at most - other than that - useless.
Yes - you can run a tank for 2 days, but I would rather spend the extra dough on the propane and be able to stay warm and cook. At least to be able to thaw out the beers.

[Lobes]

The Sportcat is a very reliable and good quality unit. But it is not intended or rated for high heat output. I use mine as a handwarmer but when it gets cold I break out the Buddy Heater. The more heat you get, the faster you go through propane though ... goes with out saying.
My Sportcat lasts all day, I bring spare cylinders for the Buddy Heater.

 

[crowkiller]

i have the pro cat with the fan i love it works very well even in very cold weather