Remember the Ice Gator? Anyone have/use one?

[Agronomist_at_IA]

I'm thinking about getting just the electric head, and using with my HT hand auger thats a shaver. Anyone try one? likes dislikes? Problems? Is a guy better of getting a clam drill plate with a 24volt dewalt drill?

[Brad B]

if you go with the Clam plate just remember it was designed to have the best performance with a 6 inch or small auger. one of the other power sticks that fishes the UPL events was telling me about how on this one lake last year he was getting 25 holes on his fully charged battery when drilling through 50 inches of ice. he had the extension on the auger and was able to get through by bottoming out the plate against the top of the ice. there was a few spots that he couldn't get through because the ice was just too thick. now granted he was running only a 5 inch auger on the plate and for the battery he had a 4AH on the drill. over all the plate/conversion kit is a great product. one word of advice is if you decide to get one do it right away as they could sell out early like they did last season. a couple of improvements that were made to the plate this year was the handles and trigger going to the drill is now rubber coated and the plate that holds the handle of the drill is taller to let the plate except even more brands of drills.

[grundy]

I am going on my 7th year with my 24 volt ice gator. Still using the original batteries which are the larger (12AH) batteries. I am on my second Ice Castle and that is what I purchased the Ice Gator for. No fumes no spilled gas etc. I use a 8" Strike Master Lazer drill on the powerhead and it cuts flawlessly. You won't be disappointed in an Ice Gator.

[Agronomist_at_IA]

A nyone have the ice gator with the ion battery pack?

[DTro]

Its tough to argue with a Powerstick, but the only thing I'd be worried about with the Gator is customer service or getting parts (have not posted on Facebook in over a year and no responses to posts on their page), other than that, probably the best electric auger out there.

[Hawg]

He's one of the lucky guys that has one that works, is he the guy that make them? If he is, tell him to answer his phone and emails.

[harvey lee]

I had one and used it for 2 years with a issue. Sold as it I had numerous augers and wish now I never would have.

[Crappyfisherman]

Its tough to argue with a Powerstick, but the only thing I'd be worried about with the Gator is customer service or getting parts (have not posted on Facebook in over a year and no responses to posts on their page), other than that, probably the best electric auger out there.

">

[DTro]

He says on the video "we are using 8 inch blades"

[clayton08]

I've seen other people with ice gators and from my experience they look pretty awesome. The guy running it said its the best auger hands down. I run a drill plate with a 6" lazer bit, with a dewalt hammerdrill its pretty awesome. 25 holes thru 3' of ice per battery then again thats with a 3.0 ah and now they came out with 5.0 for dewalt. I will probably be using this until something better comes out which might be never. All in all electric is the way to go no priming, no warm up just truly run and gun.

[Crappyfisherman]

I stopped the video to look at the size of the augers, sure looks like the gator has a 6 on it. I don't care either way they both cut better than the old Strikemaster electrics.

I've seen the gator with a 8 on it and it really cuts. Didn't mean anything bad, it just looks smaller.

[DTro]

Considering the price you would pay for both, the customer service thing, and the dual purpose usage, if I was to buy something right now it would be the Clam adapter and a really nice drill to go with it.

Its going to be lighter, plus you know Clam and Home Depot aren't going anywhere.

[DTro]

I stopped the video to look at the size of the augers, sure looks like the gator has a 6 on it. I don't care either way they both cut better than the old Strikemaster electrics.

I've seen the gator with a 8 on it and it really cuts. Didn't mean anything bad, it just looks smaller.

I think it does too and quite possibly is, but you know why women wear black right?

[Crappyfisherman]

I have the Clam plate, Milwaukee fuel 18 hooked up to the blue Mora 6 inch. Great combo, might not use my Nils this winter.

[Agronomist_at_IA]

Considering the price you would pay for both, the customer service thing, and the dual purpose usage, if I was to buy something right now it would be the Clam adapter and a really nice drill to go with it.

Its going to be lighter, plus you know Clam and Home Depot aren't going anywhere.

I have an 18volt dewalt. was thinking about a clam plate, but am a little worried it wouldnt work has advertised. i might buy one just to try it for $50. Anyone put a dewalt on it? how'd it work.

[Crappyfisherman]

With the changes they made to the bracket that holds the drill in place you shouldn't have any problems.

[Hawg]

If I was a 6 inch or smaller hole guy I would definitely consider the drill plate but for a larger hole the Ion is pretty foolproof. Why would anyone overlook zero customer service (Ice Gator) as not a big deal? Call Ion/Eskimo and you can talk to anyone from customer service to tech support to the President if you ask. Every product will have lemons and problems so take all the responses on here with a grain of salt, but no response or returned emails(gator)is inexcusable.

[Lawrence Luoma]

Agronomist_at_IA, check it out. This Drill in the video is the 20V XR Hammerdrill with the 4Ah batteries. I drilled over 5000 holes all tourney season last year and never picked up a gas auger all season. Can't tell enough how well it worked. This year I'm going to run the 20V XR Brushless with 5Ah batteries and it should work even better.

[Stickjiggler]

Just wondering if the clam adapter for cordless drills can drill a 8 inch hole .

[Crappyfisherman]

It can but it isn't very practical. Cordless drills work better with a 5-6 and if it's a really good drill a 7.

Your best bet would be a 7 inch mora or lazer if you want a bigger hole. I've been using a 6 inch Mora,.

I like it better than the Lazer. Will be trying a 7 inch Mora this winter, my wife likes a bigger hole.

Don't expect to cut a ton of holes with a 7 or 8 inch on a cordless drill. A 8 inch hole is twice as big as a

6 inch.

[Hawg]

Crappy is right, always remember who you're getting advice from and their motives.

[clayton08]

I personally wouldnt recommend anything over 6'' on the clam drill plate. If your talking 8'' holes get the ion or gator but if you get the ion id throw the drill bit away. They quite possibly have the worst cutting bit on the market.

[grundy]

I'm not the guy that makes Ice Gators. I'm just a customer that bought one a long time ago and wouldn't trade it for any other. Like Harvey Lee said he wished he wouldn't have sold his. As for a contest I would put my 8" against any other electric. Watch the video, seeing is believing!! They WORK.

[B-man715]

If your talking 8'' holes get the ion or gator but if you get the ion id throw the drill bit away. They quite possibly have the worst cutting bit on the market.

What are you smokin'??????

In my opinion, it is one of the better bits out there. I've owned an auger from dam near every brand out there over the years.

The blades last forever, it cuts buttery smooth, it never EVER catches on the bottom of the hole, it has a tough paint job, it is very light, it re-drills old holes with ease, etc. The one and only downfall (and a minor one at that) is the lack of a center point.

[mallardnwalleye]

I personally wouldnt recommend anything over 6'' on the clam drill plate. If your talking 8'' holes get the ion or gator but if you get the ion id throw the drill bit away. They quite possibly have the worst cutting bit on the market.

Do you recommend not using the clam drill plate with an 8 inch auger from experience? What drill and what bit were you running? Anyone else have an experience on this?

I was thinking of running the heavy duty brushless 18V Milwaukee and a Nils 8 inch bit this year. Thoughts?

I like an 8 inch hole so I don't knock the fish off at the top on the bottom of the hole.