Shappel Bayrunner

[rugby ice]

Hey, looking to be more mobile is the bay runner the cats meow? Just seems so sleek and self contained. Thoughts?

Thanks In Advance!

[3300]

there are a few treads about it here. you would have to use the search engine like i would, to show them to you.

only a few takers on this site have them. they seem to enjoy them.  guess they would have to because they own it now.

i wouldn't want to be in it on a windy day unless is was being held by a tow bar to a machine. being trapped in that thing if a strong wind got a hold of it would be bad news.
the tub is all the room you get and it is not enough for me. i use my tub to get my things on/off the ice and fish outside of the tub. all of those things inside the tub and me in it wouldn't work out. i would have to remove lots of stuff to have the room to use it. i use several shacks. closest to the bay runner is the shappell fx100 for me. i sit in the tub, but i have many things under my bench and it is square where the bench is.  the entire tub is full of gear. only my back side is in the tub, the rest is out of it so my things are not in my way at all. on windy days i drill a partial hole with my auger and throw the rope over it and onto the ice for an emergency brake if you will. it works well for one person. 38 pounds empty. pulls easy on a smitty ski.

i have been breaking in a shappell wide house 6500. its nice to be able to stand up and stay warm and inside and be able to walk around to stretch the legs and back inside too. also, holds 4 persons. feels like a big tent with only myself in it, because it is.

i have the shappell dx3000 too. some what small inside. can stand up, but can't move at all with fishing 2 persons. nice to have a floor tho and would nicer with only one person in it for room for the gear. seems like it is a 3 x4 section of floor space per person. uses the same trap doors as the runner does.

how mobile do you want to be? what do you use now?

many times i don't use a tent if i am scouting for fish even tho its right there. if the temp starts to drop fast with the sun it goes up for sure. when the weather is poor like it has been here in michigan, then i set up shelter fast and stay put. the 6500 needs the bigger heater when its zero out. i have several of those too. the mr heater little buddy the mr heater portable buddy and a colman with a built-in fan and a lantern. above say 15 the little buddy and lantern is fine. can't see your breath.

the fx100 is the easiest and most portable to use. no extra sled needed. keeps you things inside it so if the weather starts up, you and your things are good to go. shappell roof to wall seams do leak tho. they used a single stitch on it and folded stitches on the walls seams only. i used windshield silicon to seal the roof to wall openings from the giant needle the chinese are using to build the tents.


maybe some of that info will help you pick a shack.

[Elrik]

I can easily fit a tackle bag, a 5 gallon pail, 6-8 rods, fishfinder, ion auger, heater and lunch bag inside my bayrunner and still have room for both my son and I to comfortably fish out of it.  You would have to pack a lot of stuff to not have enough room in there for you.  I keep the auger in the hut with me. if you leave the auger outside you could easily add a second or even third 5 gallon bucket under the seat. I have also been out in it in very windy conditions. On a really windy day I secure it with a rope and ice anchor and will put its back into the wind and build a snow or slush dam in front to keep it in place over my holes until I am in it. Once I am in it I have not felt it try to budge and it has much less wind flap than a pop up or regular flip as there is nowhere for wind to get under to add lift to the push.

[Minnowhead]

I own this shanty and it is perfect. I have no idea why people say the shanty would suck in the wind. It's a perfectly mobile shanty with great storage. The electronics shelf is pure genius. Very mobile and very comfortable. Easy set up and take down. I've hand dragged it across deep slush and 5" of wet snow. Very happy with it. I love the hatches. They have a lip on them that keeps water and slush out. I hate being on the bare ice in a flip.