Ion Electric auger

[huntnfish]

Has anyone seen these augers? I saw one for the first time today and they looked interesting. I think it was a 40v Lithium ion battery. The auger shaft looks a little short for late season fishing and permanent house drilling but when I get a hard sided house I want to use an electric.

[Mid-Lake Rock]

It does come with a 12" extension that increases the auger length to 48". There are lots of details on the Ion HSOforum.

[PerchJerker]

I've played around with them a bit and I think they're pretty neat. I also had the impression that they looked a little short, but as mentioned they come with a 12" extension for free and that extends it to 48". I was really impressed with how light weight it was, and they had a video showing how it cut faster than some other auger. All in all I thought it looked pretty good.

You can check them out HERE if you want.

[pushbutton]

Yeah and wish I had not...just bought an electra last year. Same concerns with you about those extra couple inches in the house. Can tell you though, they just sound good cutting through the ice...kind of like the Gator....and do not seem to labor like the electra.Big test for them will be if they can provide good customer support, if they do, and the thing reliably works as good as its billed...and sounds..... they will definitely take away market share from Rapala.

[cavalierowner]

It will be interesting to see how they stand the test of time. I have owned one of the original Electras that is 30-some years old and still going strong. I didn't notice any mention of a power cord in case the battery goes dead. I'm not sure I would buy one if there is no power cord in case the battery goes dead, although without some kind of special electronics, I don't know how you would get 40v to the auger.

[pushbutton]

Hey PerchJerker, do you have a list of service centers for them? or any info on how they are going to go about servicing?

[PerchJerker]

I have not seen a list of service centers, but ION is a division of Ardisam, the same company that makes Eskimo augers and Eskimo fish houses .... so I assume they'll have a presence out there to take care of their customers ........

FYI, there is a 2 year warranty on the auger and a 1 year warranty on the lithium ion battery.

[pushbutton]

Gotchya Hey, are you going to have any for viewing/sale at the ice show?

[Lawrence Luoma]

Pushbutton, I'm pretty sure they'll have them at the ice show. They do have them in stock at Thorne Bros as the first auger ION ever sold was at the portable mod event. I'm pretty excited as I'll be picking up one this year. Problem is, the way I fish I'll also be buying a least two extra batteries and putting a after market 6 inch drill unit on it.

As for service it will be interesting, specially since I don't see these augers being on the shelf long. I predict they will be sold out very early this season.

[magicstix]

i also think this will be an auger to watch. If it does everything it says and CS is good if there is a problem, hopefully there isn't and its bombproof, it should make a huge impact in the ice fishing world.

I'm thinking about one for my inlaw but need to do more research first.

[Lawrence Luoma]

Also, for you speed freaks at the TB Portable Mod. they drilled through a block of ice with an ION side by side with a Strikemaster 4 stroke and the ION won. Just to give you an idea of the power.