Best auger choice

[Iambjm]

I have a SM mag 2000, which I do like, but I am wondering what would be my best bang for my buck to use in the wheelhouse. My husband has COPD so the smoke is an issue. Would I be better off picking up an electric and keeping my other for outdoors fishing, or go with the SM 4 stroke and sell my other one. I have heard the 4 strokes have less of a smoke issue.

[Brad B]

keep what you got for outside use and get a big volt or ion electric for strictly in the wheelhouse. another option would be the jiffy propane auger.

[hamms-scooter]

I would get the 4 stroke sm with the honda on it or one of the jiffy 4 strokes. Gas or propane. I know some of the resorts on lake of the woods are running the propane jiffy and they love it. Inside or outside use.

[Iambjm]

Reason I didn't mentioned Jiffy is that they are too heavy for me. My hubby has a 10 pound lifting restrictions, his health has been so poor he ends up sitting in the car till I get the wheelhouse set up and then he gets in.

[hamms-scooter]

I would go for the ion then and keep your other auger.

[Brad B]

the ION with the 8" auger is 22LBS. this is what I would go with if you need a lighter weight auger.

[aanderud]

You said this is only for the wheelhouse. In that case, you're going to have plenty of batteries around -- both in the house and in your truck -- and so there's no reason to have an auger like the Ion with the self-contained batteries. It only adds weight and charging requirements, plus cost (they cost more initially because you're buying expensive batteries in the auger, and then you eventually have to replace those expensive batteries).

IMHO, you should get an electric auger that can connect to 12 volt batteries you already have in your truck and wheelhouse. The big volt from strikemaster, or ice gator makes one that connects to 12 volts, and I'm guessing there are others.

[Fishin4fun_MN]

The Ion(22#) cost more, but is still lighter than the Strikemaster Big Volt(25#) and the Strikemaster Electra Lazer(26#). Guess the choice is yours.

[davedplumber]

I have a Jiffy propane,easy start no choke,just pull and go .

No fumes ,perfect for my wheelhouse

[ClownColor]

Do you plan on throwing flags while in the wheel house? I'd go electric w/batteries vs that Big Volt. Unless you like hooking it up to your truck battery while driving around drill holes.

[Iambjm]

Do you plan on throwing flags while in the wheel house? I'd go electric w/batteries vs that Big Volt. Unless you like hooking it up to your truck battery while driving around drill holes.

No Clown I plan on keeping my SM mag 2000 unless I decide to go 4 stroke. You would have laughed if you saw how I drilled my holes last year. Pull up to where I planned to fish, went inside the house marked my holes, went back out and set 2 buckets behind the wheels, pulled house forward, drilled holes, then carefully backed up till the bumpers just bumped the buckets. Got out and checked the position of the house and lower. I was over the holes almost perfectly. But that sure is a hassle.

[Cliff Wagenbach]

I helped test the Ion last winter on Vermilion and it is very light, easy to control, and cuts through the ice cleanly with no torque as it is busting through the bottom of the hole. Great auger!

Drilled 30 holes through 25 inches of ice on one battery and was still going strong! About a 2 hour recharge time on the battery if I remember right.

$500 for the complete unit with an extension.

Ordered one last week and plan to retire my Nils!

Cliff