This auger debate is getting darn right hilarious. Why is gas vs. electric somehow become compound vs. crossbow? Why do people care what others use? What really cracks me up is the justification by both sides to somehow discredit the other side.
Electric crew:
1. Gas/Oil is messy. It's a hassle to mix gas. I don't want to bring a gas can along.
It takes approximately 1 minute to mix up 1 gallon of gas that will last the entire season for the average fisherman. If that’s too tough, you can buy premixed gas. I would guess the average gas guy spends less time mixing gas/filling the tank than electric guys spend plugging and unplugging their charger.
Bring gas along? A gas auger will punch more hole on one tank of gas than an electric will on one charge. I never bring gas along for a single day of fishing.
2. Gas augers are hard to start. I pull the trigger and I’m cutting a hole.
I you truly believe this to be true, you have never owned an Eskimo gas auger. I’ve owned mine for 5+ years, and I would say 90%+ it starts and idles on the first pull. I don’t believe I have ever pulled it more than 3 times to start. The same guys that have crappy gas augers probably don’t take care of any of their crap. If they switch to electric, they won’t charge their battery or sharpen their blades and will likely be using your auger by the end of the day anyway.
3. Electrics are quiet.
Frankly, I think this point is moot. Fish will be spooked by the blades cutting through the ice, not the sound of the motor. As far as residents on the lake? That is part of the joy of lakefront living. And if that is your motivation, I hope you never take a quad or snowmobile on the ice!
4. Electrics are light.
Truth. This is by far the most compelling reason to go this direction. Most options are substantially lighter than any gas option.
Gas guys:
1. As one person on another thread put it, electric guys are “Sally’s”.
That is about the dumbest thing I’ve heard and frankly it deserves no comment or consideration.
2. Electric options are expensive.
Truth. This is the most compelling reason I can see to avoid this route.
Electric augers run in the $450 - $600 range from what I’ve seen. And if you ever burn through your battery, you will likely be in the price range of a gas auger just to replace the battery.
I think you can go cheaper if you set up your own with a cordless drill. But if you want a nice setup (full plate with handles, good bit, good drill), You are still going to end up in that $400 - $500 range from what I’ve seen.
On sale, a very nice Eskimo gasser with a Viper motor can still be had for well under $300.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Why do people care what others do? It is so weird to me.
Electric Advantage:
+ Weight
+ I guess noise, but that is a weak one to me
Gas Advantage:
+ Cost
+ The fact they are always easily ready to go. If you run out of gas, you can be back up and running in seconds. Run out of battery power, not so much. It likely rarely comes into play, but I think about weekend trips or just simply forgetting to charge the electric one!
If I was starting over, I would likely go the electric drill set up so I could then also use the drill to drive shack stakes. Many times now I'm taking my gas auger and a cordless drill to drive stakes, so I'm really losing on the weight side. But I'm not starting over and my Eskimo Mako is a very nice rig. No way I could justify the cost of a drill set up.
