Augers in Anchorage/Valley?

[MNViking]

Is there any place besides Sportsman's that carries augers? Specifically I'd like to find a nil's hand auger to put on my Ice Gator (greatest invention since the tip-up).

[Drifter_016]

How do the batteries hold up being out in -30 all day?
How about being out in -30 all day and drilling through 5 feet of ice??

[akdube]

not sure about the batteries. But am thinking about getting a battery auger. Do you have to buy the bit seperate or is it included? I fish louise in a hard shack and I would hope I could keep them warm as to use it. Any size on the auger? we drill through 3 feet regularly and upto 4 but not common. I also heard husquvarna sells a nice auger...

[Drifter_016]

not sure about the batteries. But am thinking about getting a battery auger. Do you have to buy the bit seperate or is it included? I fish louise in a hard shack and I would hope I could keep them warm as to use it. Any size on the auger? we drill through 3 feet regularly and upto 4 but not common. I also heard husquvarna sells a nice auger...

The IceGators will handle up to an 8" bit currently.
Only the powerhead and charger are included with them.
You need to purchase a hand auger to attach to it.
The Strikemaster battery powered augers include the bit but you need to hook them up to a 12 volt deep cycle battery so are not as portable as the IceGator.

[akdube]

12 volt deep cycle does this mean it would not run off my snowmachine battery?

[MNViking]

I used my icegator to get through 4 feet of ice on Big Lake at -15 last year. I only drill around a dozen holes when I go out and have not had a single problem with it. I would not trade my icegator for any gas auger in the world.

[Drifter_016]

12 volt deep cycle does this mean it would not run off my snowmachine battery?

I wouldn't if it were me.
The battery in your sled is a cranking battery not deep cycle and as such is not designed for prolonged heavy draw.
You could try it and as long as your sled has a pull start you should be ok.
You could be reducing the life of your battery using it like that though.
I wouldn't do it with my sled, mainly because it's a 4 stroke with no pull start option.
Not that I could hand start a 1000cc sled any way.  

[akdube]

got a response from strike master and I quote "at -20 and 4 feet of ice the battery on our unit would probably not make it through the first hole. I would have to hook it up to my sled battery which is ok. HUH who would have thunk that the strikemaster would not handle the "pressure" still waiting to hear back from icegator. Will let you know what I find out. I have a bearcat 570 fan that has a pull start so I agree on the back-up. My buddy on the other hand has a 4-stoke and that could be a nightmare...