Shappell bay runner

[huntneiowa]

Anyone have or used a Shappell Bay Runner? Pros- cons? One guy setup? Using it in the wind? Enough room for two people? Thanks

[Elrik]

Just a few posts below is 800Stealth's awesome mods page where he details the different work he has done to his bayrunner. Really a work of art. I got mine after Christmas and have had it out for it's maiden voyage, and will be taking out again tomorrow morning.

I bought a $10 winter floor mat at home depot and have it in as a floor to keep there from being too much ice/water build up in the bottom. I just laid it over top the holes and cut out the openings with a knife and then pushed the carpet in. When I got home I ripped it out, gave it a good shake to get rid of the excess ice and brought the rug in to dry while the bayrunner stayed in the shed.

Went out with my son. I am 5'8" 220lb and he is around 4'6" and 80lbs. We were very comfortable in there. I have tested in the basement with my wife and I both being in it with all equipment and two augers and we were comfortable, but we weren't wearing our snow suits, don't know if that would put us over the edge or not. Definitely comfortable for an adult and a kid, two full grown men, might be pushing it. We went out in 31mph winds. Forgot tiedowns so had to bank some snow at the back of the sled to keep it in place until we got into it, once in the only real wind noise was from the fabric on the zipper pull. I tucked it into the sled and wind noise became practically non-existent. Pulled the hut fully setup about 300 yards with the wind coming full on from my left side. On glare ice, the sled would catch up to me and be to my right. When on snow banks it would pull behind me. I never felt like it was going to blow over at all.

Very very easy one person setup. I don't really know how you could get two people to set it up.  I made a template and pre drill my holes and move the hut over them. I do 3 and have one that is mostly under the sled between the two hole covers, with only about a quarter of the hole showing through one side. I put the transducer down this one and fish out of the other two. Works real well. Is lighter than most two man sleds by about 20lbs, so easy to pickup and lift on your own.

The one con I found is that your really need to be careful how you fold it back down, and your really should have the travel cover if you are going to have it outdoors for anything more than hand pulling. On way back home the wind grabbed the fabric as I collapsed it, so instead of still keeping the top wall of fabric rigid against the poles it all gathered loosely in the sled. Well, once we hit some speeds wind found it's way in and started ballooning the fabric up. One of the windows bashed into my bungee strap enough to shatter, and I had some wear in the fabric in the area where it was whipping into the bungee as well. Could have been avoided if I had the travel cover, but they don't sell them around here. I called Shappell and they sent me a replacement window and I have ordered a new travel cover that should get here next week. For this weeks trip I will have a tarp tied down over top of it instead.   Imagine once we get some snow on the ice I will need a smitty sled for it. Right now my main lake is all glare ice, so I should have no problems pulling it out to the laker grounds tomorrow!

[Elrik]

Headed out this morning. Got to the parking lot about 30 min ahead of my buddies so setup hut and loaded everything inside. Walked out 1.5 miles to the laker grounds, was fishing nice and fast since everything already setup. Wandered into shallower water for perch later keeping the hut setup. Finally broke it down when back at the car ready to go home. Really makes moving site to site painless which is exactly what i was looking for when i bought it!

[huntneiowa]

Thanks. I move around a lot and like the idea that you can just pull it to another spot all setup. Really glad I didn't go with a hub style. Just pick one up at mills fleet farm, I'm 1 1/2 hours from them called this morning and they said had 3 in stock. Thought about it all day and at five decided to go, called to verify they had one and guy said they didn't !?!?! Called another mills and they checked and said the store I was driving to had 3 in stock. Took a gamble and when I got there was told they didn't have any, that's when I asked to talk to the manager!!! All said and done I got my bay runner and got it for "sale price" $269 even though there not on sale. Guy who told me they didn't have any was sweeping the floors when I left.

[Elrik]

Excellent! Be sure to let us know how you like it on e you have had the chance to have it out on the ice.

[800stealth]

You'll love it. Best 1-2 man portable out there in my opinion. And as mentioned above, they are very mod friendly.

[huntneiowa]

Used it first time Saturday at a ice fishery there were a lot of people around and all staired when I pulled the huge sled out of back of explorer and out on lake. Drilled two holes poped it open and Crawled inside, I could see a lot pointing in my direction, can guess what most were saying while they set up the hub style and tie them down. In about 15mph wind. I always thought flip overs would be handy but took some guys awhile to get there's ready to use. Most of hub guys setup and never moved all day, I moved 4 times, pull transducer, get out grab rope and pull. Drill 2 holes put sled over holes, get in and ready again. Fabric flapped a little in wind but not bad. Having the big sled is ok but it's nice that I can put everything I need in it. 2 pails, flasher, hand auger, slush scoop, tackle bag, buddy heater, cooler, 5 poles in a bag and a stadium seat (fits on bench, has backrest). Would be a little snug with two people, but would work especially if she was cute! Very happy I decided to go with the bay runner!

[icefishnrancher]

do you haul equipment in it while it's folded down? is it not much good as a fishing sled on a nice day when warmth/wind break isn't needed? I only ask because i am considering getting one.

[huntneiowa]

Have only used it once so far but you could haul your stuff in it and still be able to unzip it and get at everything without unfolding it. Then just sit beside it or take 30 seconds and just setup to get at stuff. It's really a half minute setup and take down!

[800stealth]

Yes, everything goes in the tub. I carry a hand auger, medium buddy heater, a jig rod bag, rod holders, a tip up bag, a tackle bag, lunch bag, my bait bucket, and a small radio or laptop for tunes, and other stuff I'm forgetting. Also have my sonar, a 12 ah battery, power inverter, and light system permanently mounted in it. It all fits with room to spare with it folded up. The only things I don't keep in it are my spud and the dog... I don't see how it's any different from any other sled when you don't want to be inside on the nice days.

[Elrik]

regular flip styles on nice days you can sit on your seat with the canvas folder back. Closest you can do with the bayrunner is have both doors wide open. You will still have some sight lines blocked but will see more and be able to have the breeze on your face. Suppose you could sit on the bench pushed all the way back (though there will be fabric between your butt and the seat) and drill a hole behind the bayrunner. That would have you fishing pretty much the same as someone on a regular flip up with their top down. You wouldn't be able to do this if you modded a backrest like 800Stealth has though.

[Minnowhead]

It is the perfect shanty. I love the sliding padded bench seat. I ended up sight fishing on a recent trip and was able to slide the bench forward to look down the hole. I'm 6'2" 230 pounds. So I also slide the bench back to stretch my legs while fishing with the Vex or camera. That electronics shelf is so nice. It is a pleasure to stare comfortably at the electronics instead of constantly down. I have plenty of room and my daughter can fish inside as well. I put the Shappell hyfax runners on it and got the travel cover. Worth every penny. I pull by hand and have no issues with it gliding over slush or 5" of snow so far. I'm thinking of putting cargo nets inside to store items. And found milk crates are perfect to store stuff under the seat. No issues on the wind. I usually pop it up and keep it up while moving from spot to spot. Very well built.

[huntneiowa]

I have used the bay runner a lot in the few weeks I have had it and it's great, 30 degrees to -5 with 20mph wind with small buddy heater was still plenty warm. I use a fold up stadium seat that hooks under bench and electronics shelf makes a great footrest when there not biting!