Generator for Ice Fishing

Hello –

I have been starting to look and research generators. I am looking for one to use for ice fishing. I don’t have to power much but I don’t want to buy to small of one either. What do people have or recommend. I know the Honda 1000i is probably the best but I don’t really want to spend $700. Has anyone used an ETQ or Generac? Advice on the small portable generators would be great. Thanks in advance.

Chad

Hey Chad,
I work at a local retailer that sells honda, ETQ, generac and so on. From what I see on a day to day basis is that if you want a generator that is going to last and have the least amount of problems go with the honda. I see a lot and I mean a lot of ETQ’s come back. Generac in my opinion is better than ETQ but it still isn’t as good as a honda, I talk to a lot of customers about generators and when they come back with a broken cheapy they always say “I should have just spent the extra money and been done with it”. I do understand that the $300 generator is appealing but more times than not they come back. Just my two cents.

Thanks Andy. I am looking at a used Briggs and Straton right now on Craigslist. Do you have any advice about that brand? Thanks.

Chad

all I can say is honda all the way I know u don’t wanna spend extra money but u get what u pay for the honda is super quiet and way efficient on fuel

I have a couple I use for different needs. Basically how many watts I need. Yes my next will be a 2000 honda but…
I find myself using my 1000 elcheapo I got from Menards for $100. I’ve got a lot of hrs on it. Its 2 stroke, not too loud and rund about 6 hrs on 1 gal.
Also have a 1750 coleman with a Subaru engine. PD bout $350 for it. Its ok, kinda loud. Runs about 10 hrs on 1.5 gal. Also this unit does not run evenly (hunts) 1hen its below 20 deg or so.
But for lights and tv I like the Menards cheapie. -mark

IMHO, do it once, do it right Honda 2000, should power about everything you can normally run in a ice house, and flexible enough to have enough power to be useful on and off the ice, as temped as I am of the cheap generators, I know you’re going to get what you pay for in the long run, why waste a couple hundred this year to only have to spend more later to get one that does a job you can rely on, that makes the Honda generator even more expensive when the day comes that you do buy one

I myself couldn’t quite justify the a 1000 watt unit, It’s not as much the normal load on the generator, it’s the starting things and the extra draw they can demand.

Chad I would not worry about getting that B&S generator. If you have problems with the engine, parts are easily found and all small engine shops will work on it. As for the generator just about the only thing that will normally go bad are the brushes.

I bought a generaic 2 cycle 1000 watt generator 8/4/2002 and used it a lot for the first 6 years, then I broke a pawls on the recoil when trying to start it. It sat for a few years before I decided I needed it again, by that time the fuel tank got water in it and really messed it up. The company that I got the generator from did not sell the 1000 watt model now they sell a 1250 watt model but the parts inter-changed. Actually I think it runs better now then it did almost 10 years ago when it was new.

I have the ETQ 1000 watt. Love it. had it for 3 years now.