Auger for permanant

[harvey lee]

What's the best ice auger out on the market today to use in a permenant? For opening and re-opening.

No gas, don't want the fumes. maybe the propane or a certain brand of electric-12V.

Please give the reasons why you like the one you do.

Thanks for the direction on this.

[grundy]

Ice Gator is my vote. I have used mine in my permy for 4 years now and love it. Its a 24 volt, self contained unit and will drill as fast if not faster than a gas auger. Check it out on the web. I put a 8" lazer drill on the powerhead and it cuts like butter with no fumes. These units will surprise you how nice they work and how long the batteries last.

[Hawg]

So far my new ION is pretty slick. Ice is milky and tough to tell depth with a locator, i drilled about 30 holes in 9 inches of ice and the battery was still on 3 lights which is full charge. I'll find out about reopening tomorrow. The people at the factory told me I could throw it through their front window if it doesn't reopen easily. They were very nice, and confident people. I had a propane but it was WAY to heavy. The verdict is still out but so far so good.

[SwivelDigger]

Pro 4......hands down. It's heavy but never misses a beat. A buddy has an electric. First year was good. 2nd year ok. 3rd year he was only getting a few holes per charge so he bought a new factory battery. Still junk. He thinks motor is going out. That's the second guy I know with similar story. But my pro 4 keeps drilling

[Hawg]

I wouldn't dispute the older electrics were junk, the SM is lucky to get 10 holes on a battery and it's super slow. I think the ION may be a game changer in electrics though. The Pro 4 is the leader of the gas/propanes augers at this time. If you watch the video on the ION HSOforum between the two you'll see another important thing to me, and its fact as I found out. When the Pro 4 cuts the blades really throw ice chips and make a mess out of the house where the ION makes a very clean stack of shaved ice thats easy to scoop. I move my house a lot so as the ice gets thicker this gets to be more and more of a mess. If ION wasn't out I would have the Jiffy in a heartbeat. I still have my SM chipper if it doesn't work out. It's an expensive gamble I know but one I decided to take.

[hovermn]

Ice Gator is by far the fastest and longest lasting electric auger on the market. The Ion won't hold a candle to the speed and endurance of the Ice Gator Lithium. It's a touch heavier than the Ion, but will blaze through the ice faster than most of the augers on the market, gas or electric. Also, and no offense to anyone with an Ion, but there's no way I could handle the start delay. I like my equipment to start when I want it to start, especially if I'm popping holes in succession.

Another thing I like about the 'Gator is that I have my full bit on it. That means that in the Permanent shack, I can cut the holes with the house up through most of the season without an extension, then set the house down on the slush pile, sealing the hole. Extension needed to do that with the Ion. Towards late season, I throw the extension on, and I'm good to go again. Another extension will be needed with the Ion.

Just my $0.02

[2thepointsetters]

I have the pro4 10" and it is somewhat of a pain in the a$$ inside the wheel house because of the weight and amount of chips it throws. I must have complained about it enough because my wife gave me the Ion today for Christmas. Now the pro 4 will stay on the snowmobile and ion will stay with the perm. It will be nice to compare them side by side.

[pushbutton]

Think the Gator is the best all around electric on the market, but they have had some communication issues in the past. Unless this has changed, make sure you have a local sercive option. The big volt is great for reopenng, but not versitile. The electra is just ok for both reopening and new drilling. Still to early for the Ion, especially with durability, but so far so good with performance. Cuts great and it did reopen a day old open ice hole with no problem, but the real test will be later in the year with the 2 ft deep shrunken but still open hole. Dont think it will be an issue with the "guide" on it, but we'll see......cant really comment on propane as never have used one, but IMO still stink up the house a little, but no where near the gas.

[waskawood]

Harvey,

I only fish out of a permanent house, have a sore back, and older than dirt. I was tired of my 2 cycle stink and started looking at electric augers. I ended up going with the Strikemaster Big Volt. It uses my 12 deep cycle battery in the fish house. I do take an extra battery if I am scouting for a spot so I don't use up all my house power. I like it because it is much lighter than the augers with self contained batteries, and is very powerful. I have an 8 inch chipper auger and it re-opens holes very well. For wheel house use I feel it is ideal.

[hovermn]

Ice gator did go through a rough spell. For the first few yrs, it was, for the most part, a husband and wife company. They hired a couple of bad salesmen, and then had bad communication. Now, they've cut the fat, hooked up with an invester (spoke to him personally in-depth) and have a receptionist that answers the phones. They have an on hand inventory now, and great customer service. The couple of issues I had with their older style unit were taken care of promptly. The new design has been bombproof. It's all I've used for 3yrs now!

I would highly recommend the 'Gator. If you'd like to test drive mine, drop me a line :-)

[B-man715]

Loving the Ion! You will too

Light, fast, and of course fumeless.

It was a cold night in the portable on Mille Lacs last night and my holes froze over. It re-drilled them very smoothly this morning when I got up.

[20lbSloughShark]

I don't see the big deal, you don't enjoy the smell of 2 stroke?

[Iambjm]

I was thinking about the Ion too, but a replacement battery is $149

[hawkeye43]

Did harvey lee get a new house for christmas????