Clam nanook

[bigfish54]

I just pulled the trigger on a new clam nanook thermal, I'm going to use it as a big one man shelter. I'm also going to be pulling it by hand.  if you have one how do you like it and if you have done some mods on it please share. I'm planning on doing some mods on it lights,rod holders and hyrax runners. Thanks and tight lines

[hardwater diehard]

Believe some IS members have reported that they tend to plow through snow ...may want to plan on a Smitty build in your future.

[cwavs1982]

Will be watching for replies on this one.  I narrowed my choice down to the Nanook and the Yukon.  Ended up getting the Yukon.  Done with my mods and think that I will love it, but there is always something in my mind as did I make the right choice.  Ended up building a Smitty sled anyway, either way, this was a must.

[tarmstrong24]

i'd say return it and get a lighter one man or buy a machine.  If theres snow it is a bear to pull.  I kept mine for when my wife wants to go and bought a single man.  Good shelter besides pulling like crap and being heavy.  Maybe skip the hyfax runners and mount some old snow ski's?

[Monticatgeek]

I just got mine and what I have done was added a four place rod holder behind the one seat area. and then bought and cut into the over head bar a Clam small light stick. Also added a battery holding bracket for the battery that will run the light bar. I can take pics either late tonight or for sure tomorrow and post them and show where and how I mounted the stuff. as for the pulling issue I bought one of the Clam pulling harnesses and will be pulling it with that on early ice after that I will drive out with the truck once the ice is thick enough to drive on. taking the one seat will save you a lot of extra weight too and you would be close to the same weight as a thermal one man house so you really don't gain anything by going with a one man house unless you only go by your self. If you were to go the one man way I would look at the Legend XL if you want more fishable area in front of you.

[bigfish54]

Im going to mount old skis to the bottom and remove the 2nd chair, I agree that the sled will be heavy but I know when my daughter gets a little older I want to take her out with me. Monticatgeek- I would like to see your mods for ideas thanks. Thanks for all of the replys and keep them coming

[Monticatgeek]

here is the 4 place rod holder :



here is the battery bracket for the light bar :



here is the light bar :



here is the view looking in the front door and out the back door :

[Monticatgeek]

one important thing to remember is to install the hyfax runners on the sled before you put the rest of the house together. also use a slightly under sized hole so the screw actually forms threads in the runner and the sled bottom as you screw it in. this helps hold it in place so you can flip it to put the nuts on the screws.

[OldSailor]

one important thing to remember is to install the hyfax runners on the sled before you put the rest of the house together. also use a slightly under sized hole so the screw actually forms threads in the runner and the sled bottom as you screw it in. this helps hold it in place so you can flip it to put the nuts on the screws.

That is a VERY good tip, no matter what brand!! 

[bigfish54]

Monticageek- those mods are great and those pics really gave me a lot to think about thanks I will definitely be doing something similar. Would it be better to put old skis on the bottom or hyfax runners??Or both. Either way whatever I put on the bottom will be done before final assembly, thanks for that tip I will definitely do that.

[hardwater diehard]

Monticageek- those mods are great and those pics really gave me a lot to think about thanks I will definitely be doing something similar. Would it be better to put old skis on the bottom or hyfax runners??Or both. Either way whatever I put on the bottom will be done before final assembly, thanks for that tip I will definitely do that.

Go with the hyfax ...that'll get you  through  1-3 in of snow easier ...but build a Smitty for 6 or more inches ...mounting the skis to the tub makes it longer and awkward ...plus the  Smitty sled skis will "float" some on deeper snow they will still sink some but easier to pull  ...if skis are  attached to the sled tub... the skis and tub will sink w/skis and once again you'll be plowing snow. I have hyfax on my Frabill Adventurer...work great on glare ice up to 3 inches ...after that onto the Smitty it goes ...after 12" of snow it more difficult but still easier then just dragging a  sled  w/o a Smitty.

[bigfish54]

I will also be building a smitty sled for when the snow starts to fly. Hyfax runners it is then thanks diehard.

[hardwater diehard]

I will also be building a smitty sled for when the snow starts to fly. Hyfax runners it is then thanks diehard.

You can get away with out the hyfax and just use the Smitty if your dragging on snow packed trails...but if your dragging across parking lots ... gravel...sandy beaches other rough terrain etc they save the tub..I see your from my neck of the woods ...it seems to be feast or famine with snow down my/our way .. I'm sure my hyfax has saved my tub more often then not .

[bigfish54]

Yeah I'm in the town of Newburgh and usually icefish in Sullivan county during early ice then fish where ever ice is good locally during mid to late ice. But I will get the hyfax runners and do the smitty sled it can't hurt. My clam nanook is waiting for me at gander mtn in Middletown hopefully going to pick it up in the next few days.

[hardwater diehard]

one important thing to remember is to install the hyfax runners on the sled before you put the rest of the house together. also use a slightly under sized hole so the screw actually forms threads in the runner and the sled bottom as you screw it in. this helps hold it in place so you can flip it to put the nuts on the screws.

Also soak/keep front tips of the runners in a 5 gal bucket of hot water ...EZPZ in stall ...

bigfish54 don't forget the SENY gathering on Nov 19th @ Gander Mtn .

[NorthNH603]

My best friend has one, its a beaut. Saving my pennies for one of my own.

[Monticatgeek]

anytime I put together a new house I always put the hyfax runners on it and also buy the travel cover for the house too. the travel cover comes in handy when hauling the house to the lake and for off season storage. during the season I haul my house on a cargo carrier off the receiver hitch on my Tahoe and the travel cover keeps the snow out of the house when going down the road. it is also nice to have the cover to help keep dirt and dust out in the off season. now when I had my scout and legend they would fit inside the back of the Tahoe but the new Nanook will not unless I would fold the back seats down which I can't if my son goes with since he still sits in the back seat. so to sum it up yes get the hyfax runner and also consider the travel cover.

[Lyontyl]

I bought one last year, I only used it at SoDak but it was -25 out and with a small heater we stayed pretty warm.  It is pretty tight with two people in there still but it definitely gets the job done.  I wouldn't replace it with anything else as it fits my needs.  I pull it with a snowmobile so not sure how hard it is to pull it by hand.

[bigfish54]

I ordered the hyfax runners and the cover for it from cabelas they should be here next week. I'm going to fabricate a center console for it out of aliminum and build a few other things for it when I have some time. Diehard what time are you meeting on November 19th? I work weird hours I can try and make it.

[Monticatgeek]

I ordered the hyfax runners and the cover for it from cabelas they should be here next week. I'm going to fabricate a center console for it out of aliminum and build a few other things for it when I have some time. Diehard what time are you meeting on November 19th? I work weird hours I can try and make it.

here is the stuff I put in my house and a few other items for you to think about :

here is the 4 place rod holder that is in mine.

http://stores.clamoutdoors.com/clam/accessories/four-position-rod-holder.html

here is the light stick.

http://stores.clamoutdoors.com/clam/accessories/light-stick.html

here is the battery bracket.

http://stores.clamoutdoors.com/clam/accessories/battery-bracket.html

here is stuff to look at too.

http://stores.clamoutdoors.com/clam/accessories/bait-well-with-1-2-gallon-bucket-and-sled-bracket.html
http://stores.clamoutdoors.com/clam/accessories/console.html
http://stores.clamoutdoors.com/clam/accessories/corner-console.html
http://stores.clamoutdoors.com/clam/accessories/shelter-hang-hooks.html
http://stores.clamoutdoors.com/clam/accessories/single-mountable-rod-holder.html

[bigfish54]

Thanks for all the input and tips., I will post pictures of all of my mods. Tight lines and be safe, bigfish54

[SlimShanty]

I just bought a thermal Nanook myself.  I would be interested in seeing your pics. 

[Royalwapiti]

I bought one last year, was deciding between the Yukon and Nanook.   Nanook won.   Glad I did, it fits in my Equinox perfect with the back seats down. I planned on using a hitch hauler, but these are actually wider than the haulers and I would hate to lose my Nanook.    The Yukon would not have fit inside at all.   Nanook weighs about 100 pounds, one guy can load it himself.  When by myself I remove the second seat. 

This is my first flipover so I don't know what is or is not too much resistance in snow.   I have the clam runners on it.  We drag it 300 yrds max one direction.  I would not stand a chance using this on a big lake anywhere constantly moving.

I put big eye bolts in the front to tie ropes to for pulling.  I put big fender type washers on it to distribute the force from the bolt.  Get a rope long enough to go around your waist so you are not just pulling with your arms.  You can walk facing forward.

I am building a black iron pipe shaped like a T to go in the eye bolts and the other end will go in my ATV hitch.  This will easily connect for when we take the ATV.  Don't need ATV for the smaller lakes nearest my house That I fish most often.

I still need to mod the sled.  Will likely add the Clam lights and Console.  And build a wood shelf to hang in the bars on the side.

[banders731]

just bought a couple of those items.....pics will be posted once they are installed

[smitty0312]

I have a Clam Yukon.......my "Smitty" works just fine with it.......I made a center tray for my Yukon to keep things organized, best thing to have in my opinion.......