Large hub shelter in the wind?

[sdatver]

I am looking at purchasing either a Clam 1660 or an Otter XTH Resort.  I want to have a shack that 3-5 guys can fish out of comfortably, with atleast a couple holes each.  All I have used for a shelter thus far is a sled style.  I was just wondering what some of your opinions are on these 6 sided hub shelters and how they are to set up in windy situations or how they hold up on a windy day.  I am in Ne corner of South Dakota where the wind always blows.

[52isntbigenough]

I am looking at purchasing either a Clam 1660 or an Otter XTH Resort.  I want to have a shack that 3-5 guys can fish out of comfortably, with atleast a couple holes each.  All I have used for a shelter thus far is a sled style.  I was just wondering what some of your opinions are on these 6 sided hub shelters and how they are to set up in windy situations or how they hold up on a windy day.  I am in Ne corner of South Dakota where the wind always blows.

You won't be setting it up by yourself, so it shouldn't be too bad, but these hubs do act like sails in the wind. Use at least 3 guys if it's a breezy day.

[rangerbill]

Make sure you secure it to the ice well.  I learned this the hard way.  Long story short, the shelter blew over which tipped our lantern over in the process.  This caused one of our anglers to get burned.  Next, the shelter tumbled down the lake.  Since we were on foot, it was very hard to get it back. Have a good plan to get the anchors in the ice.  Depending on the quality of the ice, this can be a challenge.

[hardwater diehard]

Make sure you secure it to the ice well.  I learned this the hard way.  Long story short, the shelter blew over which tipped our lantern over in the process.  This caused one of our anglers to get burned.  Next, the shelter tumbled down the lake.  Since we were on foot, it was very hard to get it back. Have a good plan to get the anchors in the ice.  Depending on the quality of the ice, this can be a challenge.

Eskimo or Gander Mtn Ice anchors .

http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=Eskimo-Ice-Anchors-2-Pack&i=431319&r=view

http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?i=796550

[IFF]

I would be drilling some small holes, (6") and do the wood down the hole, (2x2x12") turn them sideways under the ice, with strong nylon cord/rope to tie off too.  If it were to break the board or ropes you will wind up in the next county, or shouldn't be out there.  That's how we anchored Army Command tents on ice.

[DR.SPECKLER]

ive fished in some strong wind in my shappell widehouse 6500 quite a few times.i use  4 anchors and put them in the bottom of the shelter corners. then I have 4 other eskimo anchors for the hubs and threw the  chinsy ropes that comes with it away and use ratchet strap for the hubs and fish all day with no problems.alot of times I just anchor the 1 or 2 sides that are facing the wind.

[WildMN]

The Otter Anchors are a carbon copy of the Eskimo anchors.  The XTH resort comes with guy lines for every hub as well, it  does not come with anchor for every line and all four corners.  If I recall correctly it has 9 anchors.  More than enough to cover all corners and the wind side hubs.  Properly anchored it will be warm, quiet and solid.

[vexvision]

It can be challenging but it can be done with appropriate ice anchors. We've done it several times when we have a large group. The worst part about the large hubs like this is trying to get it back into the stuff sack after dark, on a snowy windy day. Its pretty much impossible unless you have 3 or 4 guys helping!

[FG Steve]

Haven't tried the 6-sided, but my Eskimo QF6 has been good on windy days.  Probably haven't seen anything above 20 mph.  I would think if anything that the hexagonal shape would be a little better than my rectangle, depending on the day.

For sure, I always have enough anchors and guy lines to stake it down from all directions.  And my personal windy setup method is to put an anchor in first and put a guy line on it, before doing anything else.

Never, ever had a problem packing it back into the sack.  YMMV.

[montanabob]

2 guys should be able to set it up in the wind fairly easily.

In a really hard blow:

Decide where you are going to put it down, take it out and stake down all the corners using your ice screws.  I think the eskimo style are the sharpest and easiest to start.
Put ONE guy line anchor out into the prevailing wind.  Put it 5-6 feet from the house.  You should know where to put it based on previously use.
Now, pop it up.  Attach that guy line and let it go taunt. 
Now, pop up the rest of the house and put in the rest of the anchors.
Simple. 

NOTE:  Leave the guy lines attached, don't remove them as you take it down.  It will make it a lot easier the next time you have to set it up in the wind or put down the guy lines because the wind picks up.

Take down, remove all the guy lines and collapse. 
Now remove all but two of the bottom anchors. 
Fold up best as you can, then remove the other two anchors and finish folding up. 

If you try to remove all the anchors and then fold, it will get away from you.   

[ak Laker hunter]

Anchor all sides plus you'll need extra for middle so they won't collapse in. I've had my Eskimo out in 40mph wind plus gust up to 60. Not fun look for any kind of wind break you can be auger car or a hard side on ice lol

[Sawtooth]

The grommets around the base of my hub (an Eskimo) eventually deformed when heavy winds tugged at them, so I replaced the grommets and then put a short piece of strong cord in them as a loop, and then used ice anchors in the loops to save the grommets.  For the hub sides I also threw away the skinny cords and used 10 - 15' cam straps that are meant for securing canoes onto roof racks, as they adjust so easily and can be tightened up in a second.  Those keeps the hubs out.  I've withstood 50 mph winds with them.

[DFresh75]

I tend to tell guys that just like a tent the guylines are key.  Crank them down, outside AND IN and you should be fine.  Be careful upon setup and takedown. 

[FirstTimer1311]

I had a Eskimo 9416i it was huge and I had to set itbup in 35mph winds with me and a buddy the way that we found worked well and that was to pull the shanty out and find the 2 anchor homes and anchor one side first before putting it up (drilled pilot holes for the anchors) and then we pulled on the shanty and the wind aided in the setup was really easy to get the rest up. When the shaty wssbupright we made sure to use the mid level tie downs on the wind side and we had no problems at all hope thisbhelps