Strikemaster Propane?

I’ve been wondering why Strikemaster hasn’t jumped in with the competition with propane augers. It seems like they’re losing out quite a bit by not having a model of their own. Do Jiffy and Eskimo have rights to propane ice augers or something? Or is Strikemaster developing something currently? It’d be awesome to see a Honda lite run on propane, that would be the world’s most perfect auger.

Auto propane conversions were the rage 15 years ago but that lasted only a few years. In extreme cold they leave a lot to be desired along with the weight penalty. The red and yellow guys are just picking up the crumbs. 4 stroke is nice but electric is the future.

Personally I would like to see the actual numbers sold of gas, propane and electric augers in US and Canada.
I do not see propane as the future in ice augers. Granted I think they do have positives, such as not having to deal with clogged jets after a few years.

For that matter 4 strokes have been really slow to take off. It has to be creeping up on 10 years I would think since they have come to market on ice augers. Ice augers are a seasonal thing, meaning they don’t get a ton of use by most and don’t wear out as quick. Those Tecumseh 2 strokes that every auger MFGR was using were solid engines, a lot of people are still using the late 90s and early 2000 models. Some are just so accustomed to using 2 stroke , (me too) that the 4 stroke is not even an interest to them.
Now Electric is coming out ( going on 4 years now maybe) and are doing quite well with the Li battery life and a low weight. I think It may be a force to be reckoned with especially if they can come down $100.

Its really though to say but is sure is neat looking back at the evolution of fishing in general in the last 25 years. A lot of things and come and gone and tons of mergers have happened.

Just my $.02

You couldn’t pay me enough to run propane. Not only are those 1lb cylinders stupid expensive, but they are heavy.

My 10 year old strike lite has proven it can get the job done with minimal maintenance.

I don’t think I will make the leap to electric any time soon, I drill too many holes.

I have a Pro4 Lite and it almost never leaves the garage. I just like my 2 stroke so much more and it weighs a TON less. I foresee electric being the next 2-stroke, not propane…Even I am thinking about a drill conversion for my Nils and I have been 100% against them for years. I re-fill my own 1lb cylinders, so price isn’t the issue, it’s weight.

I LOVE my propane, I have the Eskimo 8″

I can see the appeal of electric, but I do not trust how long the battery will last, and I don’t ever want to be stuck on the ice with a dead battery, and a spare is very expensive.

Someone above said the green tanks are expensive, you can get them for $4 at most places, and a tank will drill hundreds of holes in 12″+ ice. I would say 90% of people on these forums could run an entire season on one tank.

I liked the eskimo over the jiffy because the engine was designed for propane, and not converted (per eskimo marketing) but I think the auger is light enough

I love that I will never have to mix gas again, also, I love that I can put the auger in an SUV without any gas smell in the cab.

It is too each their own, but I think there will be a strong enough market, but it will never outpace sales of gas units, or electric for the wheel house guys.

Electric is the future. The benefits of electric go far beyond convenience, shedding pounds and avoiding gas fumes and spills. It offers modular redundancy with your equipment.

With electric you can use spare batteries to power flashers, or almost anything. If inclined, you could pack a spare “auger” under the seat of a vehicle just in case. If you find that you need to pack things tight, a combustion auger really takes up about as much room as a drill setup & a small honda generator. How many times have you packed a spare lead battery for the vex or a extra can of gas or some 2-stroke mix “just in case”?

The big question is when are Milwaukee and Strikemaster going to have their baby?

Like most things these days, more options to fill more niche applications. There probably isn’t just one that is perfect for all applications and situations. A couple holes, 100 holes? Inside…fumes?, outside not an issue. Weight, space…etc. I still have an older Mag 2000 2-stroke that I planned on selling after I got an electric. Glad I kept the gas one because I find I might be out drilling multiple holes a day although once you can drive out on the ice, the electric can be hooked up to the truck battery and I could drill all day without having to worry about the auger battery petering out.

One other option that seems to be overlooked these days is the good old fashioned hand auger. I still have my first one, a Strikemaster lazer. With the lazer blades it is surprising how little effort is required to drill holes. Best for early ice before it gets too thick and if you don’t plan on drilling holes all day. Advantage is lightweight, takes up little space in the sled and you will never run out of gas or battery juice.

Back to the OP about Strikemaster and propane. Rumor had it that pre-rapala, they were working on this. Never got anything they were happy enough to sell. Possible safety issues like fire and exploding tanks.

I have no info as to what they are or are not working on the last few years.

So far based on what’s out there.

Propane = Heavy… no thanks.