Electric Fillet knife help.

I received a Rapala cordless fillet knife for a gift. I was thinking about exchanging it for the Deluxe one. The one I received has a internal battery that says it will last appx. 25 minutes per charge. It came with both a 110 and auto charger plug in. The deluxe kit has 2 battery packs that say they will last appx. 30 minutes each. It also has both the 6″ and 7 1/2″ blades. It only comes with the 110 charger but the auto charger is available seperate for a small additional cost. the ? I have is am I better off getting the corded one over the cordless one. I’m worried about how long the battery packs will last and if replacement ones will be available at a reasonable cost down the road. So if anyone out here has and uses a electric knife I’d like to hear your thoughts on the situation. I know there has been other post on this subject but I could not locate any of them. if anyone could locate and direct me to them that would be much appreciated as well. Thanks in advance for all of you thoughts.

I have 2 American Angler knives and they are in my opinion the best electric knives out there. I have used them all. I carry a powere inverter in my truck with an extension cord so I always have the power I need and don`t have to worry about batteries running down.
Tom Cooney

I have had a corded Rapala knife for at least 5 years. It has all the plug ins, battery,wall outlet,cigarette lighter,ect… and has worked great for me.

I have the Rapala unit you are contemplating. The knife works good, but the batteries are weak. They do not hold a charge in storage for very long. If you charge them right before you use them they are ok, but if you don’t they are usually dead when you pull them out to use them.

JT

I have the same problem as JT…but it’s not a Rapala brand.

I don’t clean fish that often, but when I do I end up using a regular knife because the batteries are dead.

It really would make me plan when I was going to keep fish.

I had the same knife fishthumper, and it recently went in the garbage.

It was only 2 years old, but the battery was shot. I called Rapala in hopes of getting a replacement, but they said there wasn’t one available.

I was able to open it up and figured out how to get a new generic battery in there, but for what I found at a price to replace, it was more cost effective to go and buy a cheap corded one.

Bought a Hamilton Beach from Target @ $14 and it works great.

I clean a lot of fish as part of my Guide business…and when we are at Everts my buddy Al and I clean most all the Sauger for the guys…usually 6-8 men.
I’ve had the American Angler and Rapala but the Mr. Twister Electric Fisherman has been the best and most durable. I carry an extra 7″ blade and short extension cord in the box with it.($21.99)
Their newest Piranha Salt water model has thin multi serrated stainless blades and 25% more torque than any thing out there. It is on my spring wish list!($31.99)

I have had the corded rapala knife for approx 8 years now still going strong. Keep in mind I don’t clean alot of fish though. It came with all the attachments needed to plug in wherever you might be. I really like it and if/when this one ever dies I will purchase another. personally I would stay away from the cordless knives for the reasons listed by others.

For the past 5 yrs my old green and yellow corded Rapala has been stinking like it’s about to burn out. So far so good. I have a tendency to be a little tough on it but like they used to say about those old Timex watches, “it takes a licking and keeps on ticking” jerr

x2 on the Mr. Twister. I have had mine for nearly ten years now. Still works like the day I bought it.

I’ve used the Mister Twister for ~ 8-10 years now.
Wore out my first one a couple years ago. I know I clean more Fish than the average Guy (Even TOM GURSKY)
These were recommended to be by a friend who owns a Canadian Commercial Walleye netting operation and has tried all the retail type Electric knives and only buys Mister twister now.

The Mr Twister has been a good one for me too.

I will tell you which knife you definitely do not want to get, and that’s the Pro Guide model from Cabela’s, it’s red and black if I remember right. Have seen a couple buddies go through them very, very quick.

The places I clean fish have electric. So no problem.

I have the Rapala Deluxe kit, with the two batteries and two sized blades, it is the Bomb !!! When one battery gets low I switch it out with the other…I have only had it since Aug…but I have Absolutly No Complaints !!!

Now I just need Tuck to tech me how the master does it !!

I received a new Mister Twister electric fillet knife for xmas 2009.
It died the first time I ever used it which was at Everts last March with the guys. Apparently I got a drop of water in it. There was no indication that anything was wrong at the time but it was dead from that day on.
Now I’m back to the ever trusty rapala 9″ fillet knife. The manual one. It never fails me.

I was just about to ask everyone that uses electric filet knives –why??? Give me a razor sharp 12 inch and step aside. Are you guys cuttin through rib cage , then step no. 2 gettin them out or what? I make 1 swipe pull off ribs, second swipe and that sides done. And I bet I have a cleaner skeleton when I’m done. My grandad was a great teacher, and when you caught a mess of fish, you better know how to make them go to the fry pan real quik. From what I’ve seen with electrics is that they waste some meat . Give me that sharp point of the blade to work– Thats what it’s All about. Just my .02

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I was just about to ask everyone that uses electric filet knives –why??? Give me a razor sharp 12 inch and step aside. Are you guys cuttin through rib cage , then step no. 2 gettin them out or what? I make 1 swipe pull off ribs, second swipe and that sides done. And I bet I have a cleaner skeleton when I’m done. My grandad was a great teacher, and when you caught a mess of fish, you better know how to make them go to the fry pan real quik. From what I’ve seen with electrics is that they waste some meat . Give me that sharp point of the blade to work– Thats what it’s All about. Just my .02

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Mike, each to his own. You sound just like I used to, but that was before I was able to see someone that was truly good at cleaning fish use an electric. I assure you, done correctly there is no wasted meat, it’s quicker, and the fillets look picture perfect. I’m just saying you should keep an open mind until you see an avid angler use an electric. You’ll probably be eating your words as I had to.

As for the original question. I had the Rapala electric with the internal battery too. I can tell you with the most confidence that this is the worst electric knife I know of. It dies very quickly and then you have to wait too long for it to charge again. There is also no way to run this knife off of 110V like I had thought. I’d say return it.

I clean a lot of fish where electricity is not available so I went with the dual battery knife. I can clean about 18-24 walleye per battery, so it has plenty of power. If I had electricity, I might have looked into a corded model, but I’m really happy with my knife.

My mind is open Joe.Different strokes for different folks,just my observations

I also have the Mister Twister. This will be my second one in 20 some years. I got the first as present years ago and thought – how stupid – give me a good knife and NO ONE can fillet as good as I can. After finally giving in on some big fillets, I now am hooked. I even used to use regular knife for the ribs on small gils. Now I do everything with the electric, it just takes some practice like everything else. I don’t have the battery pack, just use adapter in truck if I need it. There is NO waste on my fillets. I even did some with another guy a few weeks ago and he was amazed.

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I have 2 American Angler knives and they are in my opinion the best electric knives out there. I have used them all. I carry a powere inverter in my truck with an extension cord so I always have the power I need and don`t have to worry about batteries running down.
Tom Cooney

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This is dead on. I bought one in 1992, and am still using it today…And I am sure this knife has done thousands and thousands of fish.

Tuck even gets a cut or two done back handed….

Tuck on the electric knife.

-J.

Ha! She was in action this weekend after a trip to Mille Lacs!!

For the record, that was my portable Rapala knife which will do in a pinch.

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I have 2 American Angler knives and they are in my opinion the best electric knives out there. I have used them all. I carry a powere inverter in my truck with an extension cord so I always have the power I need and don`t have to worry about batteries running down.
Tom Cooney

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This is dead on. I bought one in 1992, and am still using it today…And I am sure this knife has done thousands and thousands of fish.

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I have an american angler as well.I love it! plus it will accept the rapala blades which I prefer.