New Eskimo's are out

[Zee]

Ardisam has specs for their new line of Augers on their web page. Most notable, the 3.7 HP Shark Z71.

http://www.ardisam.com/searchresult.aspx?CategoryID=452

The good -
- Tecumseh is gone and replaced by the higher revving Viper (Ardisam) Engine on most models
- better pull handles that can be started with mittens on most models.
- Slightly more power (very slightly) than previous years.

The bad
- everything has more plastic, not good for the weather up here
- More expensive than last year,

I was lucky to pick up a '06 from cabelas dirt cheap in March. I bought a Mako 10", and it is a great auger. The only thing I wish I had was the "mitten grip"

[Icemanjim]

Went to Sportsmans Warehouse Tuesday and they had the full line of Eskimo's out.  The wife was going to buy me one for Christmas so after fondling (the auger) I was sold and we picked up the Shark Z71 3.7 hp.  Hope it's good, a little heavy but should scream through the ice .

[Zee]

3.7 HP, 8000 RPM, yeah, now that's an engine...

[brrrknee]

I just bought one from the PA fish307 site- I got the lighter Z51 but with a 10" quantum auger, for a great price of $370.

[alaskanate]

Keep us posted on the new Z71 that should be a ice ripping animal. Iv got last years mako with a 10inch auger thing is great. Its been 5 to 10 below zero up here in ak every night and the auger has been in the back of my truck the whole time. Went out wednesday and 3 pulls and it fired right up!

[Zee]

I've got that 10" Mako from last year as well, great no frills lightweight auger. I love it!

[Biggs]

I went to sportmans warehouse and bought a new eskimo 1.2 horsepower with 8" quantam blades for 220 $ cabelas has it for like 350 or something. I don't need a huge engine because the ice around here rarely gets thicker than 1.5'. First pull it fired up and it runs great, still no ice where i live but this week its suposed to be in the 30s during the day and in the single digits during the night so its comming soon.

[Icemanjim]

The Z71 started on the third pull out of the box.  Very powerful in the garage and can't wait to get it on the ice.  Was -13 last night and 14 above for the high today so fishable ice is near.

[Biggs]

Ya i have been starting mine like once a week out of excitement. I'm about of a week and a half out till our ice comes, its in the single digits at night.

[Zee]

Ya i have been starting mine like once a week out of excitement. I'm about of a week and a half out till our ice comes, its in the single digits at night.

haha

I though I was the only one doing this. Started yesterday in -31C on second pull. not bad!

[Biggs]

Ya i thought about putting a 5 gallon bucket outside to let it freeze then drill into it, but my parents said no.

[Curley]

And I thought I was a twisted sick SOB.

[Biggs]

Its a small small world just went for a drive to the lake theres still no ice on the fridges i'm pissed

[zamboni]

Yeah BIGGS- I have noticed that Sportsmens Warehouse trounces Cabelas on price on almost EVERYTHING. Them SW stores are nice.

[steelydan]

I just bought my first power auger last weekend. I got the Stingray on sale for $209, I was thinking of doing the cordless drill thing, but for this price how could I go wrong? The throttle is cheaper plastic but nothing an hour or so in the shop cannot fix.