Behind the scenes at Strikemaster-the Big Volt electric auger

[Finlander]

The electrics put out Ozone! Oh No!

[CaptainMusky]

I dont own a wheelhouse or an electric auger so I wont be buying this unit. BUT, I have to ask one question. How many of you guys that have anything that is rechargeable whether it be a cordless drill, cell phone, laptop, etc have great experiences with those batteries?

I personally think not having a battery is a good idea. So what that you have extension cords on the electra, that battery will likely not last very long anyway rendering you solely reliant on the cords. This new model appears to have a much more powerful motor so there is a big advantage there.

[pulleye16]

True, battery powered equipment do die...and I agree 100% that they do leave you stranded. I bought a gas powered one last year cause I couldn't stand the batteries not lasting more then 1-2 years. I did however purchase a spare battery that I bring with me in a bag tied to my auger. But hey, I'm able to go out and fish and leave the fishhouse and vehicle/atv behind. I understand these were intended for fishhouse but there will be a day when you may not want to go to your fish house...there may be a day when you decide to put out a tip-up. Maybe you want to hit a local lake for a few hours. At least with the electra you could do that or have the option to do that. All with the same benefit as the big volt but little less power (which still drills thru the ice just fine) AND the option to use it with an internal power source for independant use...

Have any of you used and electric auger off your ATV or truck? it is not too fun and a hassle to say the least. Some batteries are easier to get to but my ATV the seats coming off and is a pain to lock back in.

This doesn't sound like a good purchase IMO PLAIN and SIMPLE! I guess whats hard to swallow is that it cost's more. Who would pay more for less?

I give it one year on the shelves unchanged! I like Strikemaster but this is a fail!

[McGurk]

"Alex, I'll take Cheap Solutions to Gas Auger Problems for $400."

You own a wheel house/perm or maybe even a resort and do not want gas/exhaust fumes in the house. You want it to be ready to fish in the moment the holes are drilled instead of keeping the door open for a half hour while the scent lingers. If you spent $10,000 to $15,000 on your wheel house you more than likely don't want it to smell like a auto repair shop.

*BEEP* ..."Mcgurk?"

"What is 'Amsoil Sabre Pro mixed at 100/1?'"

"Correct... Next Clue..."

[Jim Almquist]

What works for you may not work quite as well for the next guy. I have a gas auger and use Amsoil but I don't have a wheelhouse or a perm. No matter what you mix there will always be a small amount of fumes from a auger. But maybe the guy with a perm/wheelhouse who hates the smell of his auger in the back of his Suburban/Tahoe on his 2 hour commute up north. The same guy hates to mix up gas just for his auger because it is his only 2 stroke motor he even owns. With the price of gas I could see a few resorts recouping the cost of the auger in a season or 2.

[merrier212]

This auger seems to be a very good idea for a wheel house, I will be in the market for one soon.. However is any one aware of a auger that would run off of 110? It would seem to be very beneficial for wheel houses with generators and you could easily add extension cord for tip up holes. I would think they would be inexpensive and very powerful... If anyone knows of any currently on the market let me know. Also.. My batteries in my wheel house are not easy to get to to attach alligator clips, Do these augers come with the ability to plug into 12v outlets?

[Write-Outdoor]

It's a great question that I'll try and find an answer to...but my gut reaction is that you wouldn't need to run off 110 because the battery powered augers will let you cut a ton of holes off a single charge/battery. Most anglers don't run and gun from a wheelhouse so once you drill 20-25 holes you stay put long enough to let the battery charge (and then some most likely). Still, it's an interesting question!

[Knoc]

A corded auger sounds about as nice as a corded lawn mower. I understand alot of people have power supplies right in their house, but still alot of people dont. Dealing with a cord sounds like a real hassle. Alot easier to crack the door for a few minutes to get the fumes out IMO. Or to get a propane one.

[Shack]

I think the Big Volt stands out for those with permanent houses, wheel houses and resorts.

The Big Volt DOES NOT have any sort of battery in it and its name states the reason why it is better overall than battery supplied augers. Drill one hole with a fully charged battery auger and then one with the Big Volt. Night and day difference! Basically a commercial auger which will drill as many holes with no fumes at the same rate each time and offers more power at every hole.

An additional benefit is powering the Big Volt off a snowmobile or ATV battery. Let the snowmobile or ATV idle while drilling and you cut good ice.

Also if you have an SUV or Van it is nice to be able to load up your auger and not worry about leaking mixed or non-mixed fuel or the stink of un-burnt or burnt fuels in the cab.

Also YES, the lazer auger bit will fit.

[JSK76]

I bought the big volt last year and the auger is great but the cord is a bigger pain in the but then I expected. I run my house 100% of a generator so I need to run the auger off my vehicle's battery. Even with the little snow we got last year my house seemed to get drifted in pretty good so it made it challenging to get close enough for the cord to reach and even without the snow the cable was only inches from not reaching my furthest hole from the door and required parking right infront of the door. This year I'm ethier making longer cables or selling it and getting the ION.

[JSK76]

This auger seems to be a very good idea for a wheel house, I will be in the market for one soon.. However is any one aware of a auger that would run off of 110? It would seem to be very beneficial for wheel houses with generators and you could easily add extension cord for tip up holes. I would think they would be inexpensive and very powerful... If anyone knows of any currently on the market let me know. Also.. My batteries in my wheel house are not easy to get to to attach alligator clips, Do these augers come with the ability to plug into 12v outlets?

You would need a vary lage generator to run one and water and 110 AC isn't the best idea. As far as 12v outlets it would melt the wire or blow the fuse at the least, the Big Volt pulls 45 amps so you need to hook right to a battery.

[hovermn]

I think the Big Volt stands out for those with permanent houses, wheel houses and resorts.

The Big Volt DOES NOT have any sort of battery in it and its name states the reason why it is better overall than battery supplied augers. Drill one hole with a fully charged battery auger and then one with the Big Volt. Night and day difference! Basically a commercial auger which will drill as many holes with no fumes at the same rate each time and offers more power at every hole.

I have an Icegator and completely disagree with this statement. I've turned lakes into swiss cheese with my onboard battery auger, done it faster than most gas augers I've seen and have never run out of juice. Just recently purchased the Iithium battery which is 1/3rd the weight of the lead acid battery with 50% more run, (fun time). I think it's too bad that because Icegator isn't one of the 3 or 4 big companies, it's never taken into consideration. Even with the new Eskimo ION, I still believe that they're top of the electric class of augers.

Just my $0.02