strikemaster or jiffy?

[frydaddy]

I'm in the process of getting another auger, and was just wondering what some of you would recommend.  I'd like to get a 10" this time, and I'm leaning towards a strikemaster Mag 2000 in 10-1/4" over the Jiffy Legend XT.  Also, I was wondering whether or not it would be good to get a 4-stroke or a 2-stroke.  Any advice would be much appreciated. 

[fishfry]

[groundsluice_pete]

4-sroke... do they even make them? A 4-stroke ice auger with a 10" cutter... sound like some serious weight. Maybe you have found the motherload of big fish, eh?
(PS, Eskimo is good also. 12 years on mine, and it keeps going and going and going...)

[fishfry]

My 8" mag 2000 has served me very well.

[frydaddy]

Strike-Lite 4 cycle.  It only comes in 8", and it weighs 20 lbs.  Runs straight unleaded.  I wonder if it runs better in the serious cold, or if it would even matter.

[Barleydog]

Frydaddy, your opening a Ford vs. Chevy style debate equal too a Marcum vs. Vexilar throwdown!  I'm not a name brand kind of guy, but I do rely on feedback from others who have operated such equipment.
I have used, borrowed, and owned both species of auger and I won't be bias!  I believe that whatever auger you get should fit your style of fishing!  Don't get fooled by the stickers and paint, some augers are polished turd5!  Here's some pros and cons I  had with my units.

Strikemaster pros - lightweight, easy pull, compact, easy to handle on the ice, chipper blade systems are great for silty ice, starts up at -20

Strikemaster cons - doesn't finish holes with an extension very well, too much plastic, awful gas tanks, cheesy gas cap, carb is a POS and tempermental, customer service (3X) gave me fits!

Jiffy pros - solid made, durable design, great start up at -30, can be dropped from a truck at 35 and survive a fall, easy operating throttle, and great customer service on line with fast replacement parts.

Jiffy cons - they are heavy, hard to maneuver with an extension, take up more room in a sled, older blades dulled easy, and leaky gas cap

I would consider both augers legitimate contenders for purchase, "if" you match them to your fishing style.  If you like to fish from a sled or walk around the ice setting up tipups perhaps the lighter weight Strikemaster would be your auger?  If you don't have to haul an auger around all day, then the heavier Jiffy would be your friend.  
I like the Jiffy's design and durability, but not it's weight issues when I'm "going light."  I like the Strikemasters "throw over your shoulder" weight, but not it's durability in the extreme cold, mechanics...  Jiffy is better made but you pay for it with it's girth!  What a dilemma eh!    The important thing is that you won't be soar from drilling holes by hand or borrowing an auger from someone else.

Have you considered the Eskimo too?  

Barleydog  

[frydaddy]

Thanks for the quality information.  I will take a look at the eskimos, but after reading your post, barleydog, I'm getting a Jiffy.  Weight isn't much of an issue, as I'm a fairly large human.  I don't do well with plastic, or cheap products.  If there's a way to break something, I can usually find it.  ..........by the way, ...........have any of you tried or checked out www.jamminjigs.com?  they just got 50 bucks from me, and I'm pretty excited to try out some of those....especially that #2 crippled willow supreme on some lake louise lakers.  I also thought that those little micro tube jigs might work pretty well for char on big lake.  I've seen them work well out there, but they're hard to find around here.

[groundsluice_pete]

Strike-Lite 4 cycle.  It only comes in 8", and it weighs 20 lbs.  Runs straight unleaded.  I wonder if it runs better in the serious cold, or if it would even matter.

Wow! News to me (but then I'm not in the market). I bet they're gearing up for when they eventually ban 2-strokes (Al Gore doesn't ice fish or cut firewood).
Will it start in the serious cold? Probably, as long as you keep the headbolt heater plugged in

[littlesturgeonguy]

i would say if you do go 4 stroke i would run nothing other than synthetic oil do to the cold extreme conditions.

[Grizzly1]

I'm on my second season running the Jiffy Model 30 10" and it's an outstanding auger...........I'll second what Barleydog said about the Jiffy auger's including the weight  , but like you I'm not a lightweight and the weight of the Jiffy is managable.  I'd look at running synthetic mix, I have used Amsoil Saber from day 1...............The stuff is awesome!

[Barleydog]

Frydaddy, I'm sure you'll be happy with your purchase.   Jiffy's are built pretty bulletproof and since your not a lightwieght, you won't mind the extra wieght.  I always slept well after a day on the ice!  

Wow! News to me (but then I'm not in the market). I bet they're gearing up for when they eventually ban 2-strokes (Al Gore doesn't ice fish or cut firewood).
Will it start in the serious cold? Probably, as long as you keep the headbolt heater plugged in   
 
 
 

HAHAHAHA!

Grizz, you like the Amsoil?  I thought about using it, but stuck with the Tanaka mix instead.  I heard Amsoil was a quality product for older engines?  I was a little leary changing anything with my older auger, (if it's not broke don't mess with it.)  I think my next purchase will start with Amsoil. 

[Grizzly1]

Yeah Barleydog I really like Amsoil, easy start's and little to no smoke, there are a couple of dealers that carry it here, so it's easy to get too.  I've read (here on IS) that it'll breath new life into an old auger, but can definatly understand why you wouldn't want to change when the Tanaka has been serving you well.

[catchumall]

I'm on my 3rd season with my Eskimo, so far so good and i expect any of the major brands have there strengths and weaknesses but if you ask me do not buy one with less than a 10" auger.  That's my 2 cents worth tight lines and good fishing. 

[Salmonman]

I have an eskimo 10" that I bought from AIH(Alaska Industrial Hardware). I think the model is a Mako. It is light and drills hole like mad. They are on sale again right now for 319. Good price and a good auger. I have the extension still on it from last year. With that extension you can drill 4'+ of ice. I did drill through that much ice when I bought it last year on Long lake(Mi 86). You definately need it there also, at least by jan-feb.

[walkonwater1]

This will be my third year with the strike lite 4 stroke..I just started it with the second pull  for the first time this season and she is purring like a kitten.
Super lite, quiet and sips gas. I like to be able to drill 15+ holes at a clip without breaking a sweat. No regrets...My buddy has a 10+ year old jiffy and it is a very reliable unit but it is heavy to haul for us guys on foot.

[fishermanjake]

i have to say four strokes are the way to go if you have a shack.  my uncle has one and i was very suprized at how light they are.  The big thing is they are quiet and don't have a ton of exaust, thats a big deal if your in a shack.  with my 2 stroke strike master i can only handle 2 or 3 holes at a time in a shack before i'm fumigated and deaf.  BTW my strikemaster throttle is toast, my gas tank busted up, the screw that holds it on is stripped out.  They're not really solid, but it still runs great.  when i have to do it over i'm getting a jiffy or a four stroke strike master (they look more solid than the 2 strokes.

[frydaddy]

I just wanted to say thank you for all of the quality responses.  Very good info. 

[Tinman]

Not really wanting to get into the whole jiffy vs strikemaster debate. I'm still using a 3 h.p. 10" eskimo barracuda purchased from AIH a few years ago, it cuts holes fast but it's the first generation when they leaned them way out trying to make cleaner 2 strokes. It has always had runability issues unless you take a bit of time to really let it warm up good. It is usually running tip top about the time you get a 3rd hole cut which is also usually the time to shut it off. I like it still, it's got ton's of power and I'm still running the original blades, no sharpening.

What I do want to second or third is the Amsoil Sabre 2 stroke oil. I first started using it in a small 8 h.p. outboard as an experiment. Mixing it 100:1 just like it says. As I grew more confident with it I started using it in the chainsaw, small 2 stroke snowblower, and finally my beloved ice auger. I have had nothing great luck with it. Easy starts, more power, less smoke yadda yadda yadda. I can't beleive how far even a single quart of this stuff goes. I mix it 2 gallons at a time but if my math is correct that is 25 gallons of gas per quart of oil. It takes a LOT of fishing to burn off 25 gallons in an ice auger. Another perk to using the thin Amsoil mix is less varnish from evaporated gas and gummy crud I used to get using conventional oils. I don't do anything special to my equipment at the end of the season, just park it, hang it on the garage wall whatever. Come back next season, add fresh gas and away you go. That never happened until I switched to Amsoil Sabre. (Dang I should be getting some kind of kick back for this testimonial)

Tinman