Which motor drill for winter fishing should you choose?

Universal, with the help of which a number of mechanical operations are possible. These devices can be used both in winter for drilling holes, and in summer for drilling holes in the ground, for example, when arranging a columnar foundation, etc.
Specialized, which are designed either for drilling holes in ice or for drilling holes in the ground.

Many fishermen, faced with similar difficulties, try to alleviate their lot and remake ordinary drills by installing electric screwdrivers or internal combustion engines from chainsaws or other devices on them. After such modernization, ice screws of course work, but they cannot compete with factory products in terms of both performance and reliability.

To make a hole in the ice, fishermen use several tools.

Use durable metal objects with a pointed end. These include an ice axe, an ice pick, an axe, etc.
Holes are drilled using a conventional hand-held ice drill or a mechanized device.

Any fan of winter fishing would prefer a mechanized product, as it really simplifies the process of fishing in winter.

The universal CARVER AG-43/000 without an auger included is suitable for drilling soil and ice. Designed for operation in the cold season, it has a fuel pump to facilitate starting.

Advantages and disadvantages

The main advantage of motorized drills for winter fishing is the reduction in time for drilling one hole. A hole with a depth of 70 cm and a diameter of 150 mm can be drilled manually in 5–10 minutes, and with a gas drill it will take no more than 30 seconds.

Let's look at the advantages and disadvantages of motorized drills.

you drill less and fish more;
you don't need to waste effort on manual drilling;
In the summer, you can drill wells in the ground on your property or earn extra money by helping your neighbors.

you will have to pay more for a gas auger than for a manual ice auger;
due to its weight (about 10 kg), the motor drill is inconvenient to transport;
for work you need to prepare a fuel mixture (gasoline + oil);
Periodically you need to clean the air filter, change spark plugs, and lubricate the gearbox.

Buying a motor drill is justified if you often need to drill through ice more than a meter thick, and also have something to transport equipment (cars, sleds). Also, to save money, you can buy one gas drill for a group of fishermen.

This motor drill can be called perhaps the most convenient if a whole company goes fishing . The device has 2 handles, which are also very conveniently located, so that it can be operated by two or one person. The kit includes a long auger that can drill through thick ice without additional attachments.

Pros and cons of motorcycle ice drills

Let's look at the pros and cons of motorized drills, comparing them, of course, with hand drills. The main advantage of its “moto” counterpart over a hand drill is the speed of hole drilling. Especially with a larger diameter auger. If you use a manual ice drill with a 150 or 200 mm auger, then while you are drilling one hole, the owner of the motorized drill will drill five of them. This is where the advantages of the ice drill end, and the disadvantages begin.

The main disadvantage of a motor drill is its weight. A motor drill is actually a two-stroke gasoline internal combustion engine, equipped with a gearbox and an auger with knives or a cutting head. Engine cooling is air. Engine power from 1 to 3 hp. Can you guess why they don’t produce, for example, four-stroke motorized ice drills or drills with higher-power engines? Yes, because these would be completely heavy-duty devices that would have no practical use in winter fishing. But a standard motorcycle ice drill cannot be called light. The weight of a motor drill with a standard auger reaches 8-10 kg.

This leads to the next disadvantage of using a motorized ice drill for fishing - the mandatory availability of means for its transportation. What it will be is not so important. A snowmobile, all-terrain vehicle on low-pressure tires or a motorized dog. The main thing is that you can transport the motor drill from the car to the fishing spot. Well, the last cons. A motorcycle ice drill requires gasoline and oil. The motorcycle ice drill is very reluctant to start with a manual starter at very low temperatures. And the smell of exhaust and the sound of a two-stroke engine do not in any way contribute to unity with nature while fishing.

The best motorized ice drills

Before buying a motor drill, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the models that are in greatest demand, choose the best manufacturer and the most reasonable price.

ELITECH BM 70V 3.3 l. With.

This tool is designed not only for drilling ice in winter, it also easily copes with soft and hard soils, deserving the title of universal equipment . The device has a proprietary single-cylinder gasoline engine with a capacity of 3.3 liters. With. and volume 71 cm³. Using the tool, you can drill a fairly large hole or hole, up to 30 cm in diameter.

The weight of the equipment without drill is 10 kg, width and height 420x380 mm . It should be noted that all products of the Russian brand ELITECH are manufactured in modern factories, have the necessary certificates, and are equipped with detailed instructions. The buyer can always count on after-sales service, as there is a wide network of authorized service centers. The cost of the equipment is about 13-14 thousand rubles.

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DDE GD-65-300 3.2 l. With.

This motor drill can be called perhaps the most convenient if a whole company goes fishing . The device has 2 handles, which are also very conveniently located, so that it can be operated by two or one person. The kit includes a long auger that can drill through thick ice without additional attachments.

It is also worth noting the presence of a 3.2 liter two-stroke engine. s., but the downside is the small volume of the fuel tank - 1.2 liters, so you will have to take a canister with you when fishing . The engine is equipped with a gasoline pump, which ensures uninterrupted operation in winter. The total weight of the equipment is 10.8 kg, the cost is about 10-11 thousand rubles. In general, the products of the American company DDE are characterized by high quality, as evidenced by their popularity.

CHAMPION AG352 1.9 l. With.

This electric motor drill is also a universal tool, since it can be used both for making holes in ice and for drilling wells in soil . When sold, the auger is not included in its package, but the equipment allows the possibility of attaching an auger of any diameter from 60 to 250 mm. The advantages of a motor drill also include a durable frame, air-cooled engine, and handles with controls. The weight of the equipment is 11.8 kg, the cost is 9-10 thousand rubles.

A motor drill is a great helper in winter fishing. The tool works quickly, allowing you to create many holes of the desired diameter and required depth. The main thing is to choose the right equipment, taking into account its functionality, so that fishing really brings pleasure.

Domestic fishermen liked the affordable price, light weight and ease of use. Users consider the weak engine to be a disadvantage.

TOP best motorized drills up to 300,000 rubles

Oleo-Mac MTL 85 R 5.7 HP

This device is perfect for working with soil of any level of hardness. The holders are designed for two people, which facilitates the subsequent operation process. This also makes it possible to carry out manipulations in hard-to-reach places. A model with a reverse option allows you to work for many hours without operators feeling the true weight of the product. Self-transportation is not recommended. Your hands will get very tired due to vibrations.

How much does the new product cost? The purchase will cost 259,990 rubles.

Oleo-Mac MTL 85 R 5.7 HP

Advantages:

with reverse;
assembly reliability;
comfortable handle;
excellent equipment;
does not overheat;
functionality;
versatility;
optimal power;
performance.

Flaws:

heavy weight;
shock-absorbing pads do not cope well with their tasks.

EFCO TR 1585 R 5.7 HP

This popular model is characterized by the presence of optimal power and performance. The weight is light, however, the handles are a curved metal structure without protective covers, which somewhat complicates subsequent use. Due to its compact dimensions, the product can be carried independently, as well as taken out of the holes. During operation, the motor power does not interfere with operation. Your hands get tired quickly, so you should think about gloves or auxiliary pads for metal handles. The manufacturer provides built-in overheating protection.

Average price – 189,000 rubles.

EFCO TR 1585 R 5.7 HP

Advantages:

compact dimensions;
high-quality protection against overheating;
sufficient power to solve everyday problems;
a reverse option is provided;
places for two operators;
performance.

Flaws:

strong vibrations;
significant weight;
small fuel tank.

STIHL BT 360

This time-tested manufacturer offers a high-quality motor drill, the basis of which is the use of a two-stroke engine. Its power is 3.9 hp. This indicator allows the use of 20 mm nozzles with a working diameter of up to 35 cm. D-shaped handles designed for two operators are responsible for increased ease of use. For greater convenience during transportation, they fold. You will need to unscrew 8 nuts. The assembled model weighs 28.5 kg. To unscrew a jammed auger, use a special locking lever, which is located between the gearbox and the motor.

There is no reverse option. If it is locked, you will have to stop the motor and turn the auger manually in the opposite direction, holding only the handle. The manufacturer has installed a safety clutch, so the device should automatically turn off if the force coefficient is higher than the established norm. An auxiliary and a main air filter are used. You don't need any special skills to adjust the carburetor. It is enough to strictly follow the instructions supplied by the manufacturer. If necessary, the main filter can be removed. The oil should be checked regularly using a proprietary dipstick.

Cost – 169990 rub.

STIHL BT 360

Advantages:

operational life 30 years;
folding handles;
high level of reliability;
automatic gearbox locking;
overheat protection;
high traction force.

Flaws:

high price.

The best motor drills for excavation work

In order for a motor drill to cope with any soil, the tool must have a powerful engine. Since it is more convenient to make large wells together, weight does not play a decisive role. Experts liked the following models.

ADA instruments Ground Drill 14 Reverse 8 HP

Users liked the technical parameters of the motor drill, which cannot be said about the price of gas-powered tools.

Advantages

high power;
large hole diameter;
reverse;
4-stroke motor.

Flaws

CHAMPION AG364 3 HP

According to users, the motorized drill is perfect for solving local problems in the garden. Only the functional equipment leaves much to be desired.

Advantages

versatility;
ease of operation;
durable frame;
reasonable price.

Flaws

modest functional content.

Fubag FPB 71 2.7 HP

Users appreciated the affordable price and lightness of the gas-powered equipment (11 kg). Among the shortcomings are low-quality plastic and weak fastening of the fuel tank cap.

Advantages

affordable price;
good power;
shock-absorbing handles;
versatility.

Flaws

low quality plastic parts;
shallow hole depth.

ELITECH BM 70V 3.3 HP

As for the shortcomings, users are dissatisfied with the short spout of the muffler and the drying out of the seals on the canister and tank lids. But the engine starts quickly in any weather.

Power
Construction weight
Dimensions of auger and fuel tank

How to choose earthworks

Before purchasing, you need to understand that you can only buy such equipment in specialized stores, where they can give a guarantee, and it is better if they also carry out repairs with sharpening. The gas drill, although a powerful tool, is quite capricious, which can cause it to break even in the warmest conditions; the cause may be a small pebble in the motor. And therefore, when buying such a tool, you need to look several steps ahead, anticipating the worst-case scenario.

As for the technical side, the main difference between a drill for excavation work and that used for making holes on ice is:

Power
Construction weight
Dimensions of auger and fuel tank

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The fact is that the soil is much harder than ice and you need a more powerful tool for such work. In addition, during excavation work, harder rocks may fall under the auger; it all depends on the terrain and geological conditions of the site. Therefore, it is necessary to take into account the hardness of the soil, the presence of hard rocks at the drilling site and the amount of work.

A reasonable limit for heavy soils is 150 mm augers, but here it is as always: a powerful drill is usually not sought for light work, and often a 2.7-horsepower two-stroke is already forced to work in conditions where it would be worth thinking about a powerful four-stroke. The Fubag gas drill does not like overloading - it was not in vain that we immediately went through the gearbox, the strength of which is not enough for long-term work with great effort (and it is not the filling of the gearbox that “gives up”, but just the crankcase itself).

How to choose the right model

Everyone's selection criteria are different. Some carefully study the characteristics, others pay attention to the material of manufacture, others are interested in the amount of “horsepower” and fuel consumption. Which product is better to buy depends on many factors, including the tasks assigned to the unit. What should you pay special attention to during the purchasing process? Experts recommend not to lose sight of the following parameters:

Screw characteristics. The connection diameter must be 20 mm or 32 mm. If the need arises, you can use the services of an adapter. The most popular diameters of the screw part are considered to be 200, 150 and 100 millimeters. In specialized retail outlets you can find products whose diameter reaches 200 or 300 millimeters. Such models are indispensable when making strong columnar foundations or large supports. Designed for installation on high-power units. Equipped with replaceable blades or blades welded to the shaft.
Characteristics of a gasoline engine. Four-stroke engines have lower fuel consumption than two-stroke engines. Despite their considerable power, they operate almost silently. They are distinguished by their environmental friendliness.
Properties of the fuel tank. The container must be spacious. It is advisable that the manufacturer take care of a comfortable head. This will make refilling the device safe and easy.
Maximum power indicator. The performance of the structure and the speed of work completion depend on this value.

Professional operators advise paying attention to the presence of additional functions:

Availability of an emergency braking system. A necessary and useful option. When jammed, it prevents the gearbox from completely failing.
Damper spring. Helps dampen strong vibrations and minimize the consequences of jamming.
Reverse stroke. Thanks to the option, you can quickly and easily remove the auger from a hole in the ground.
Equipping the device with locking levers. They prevent accidental starting of the gas drill, which has a positive impact on the level of safety of the structure.

When choosing a product, you need to find out whether the fuel tank needs to be filled with oil. It is worth taking care of such an option as a fuse. If a stone, tree root or other solid object gets in the way of the drill, the fuse should operate at lightning speed and stop the operation of the unit. Otherwise, the operator may be bruised or injured.

Which company is better to purchase a product depends on personal preferences. Where can I buy a suitable model? There are several options. It is advisable to visit a specialized retail outlet, get acquainted with the assortment, talk with a professional sales manager, and get practical advice from him. You can order a product online in an online store, having first reviewed the reviews and made sure of the integrity of the supplier.

How to choose a good motor drill?

The most loaded part of a motor drill is its gearbox : this is both high torque and shock loads when the auger jams. Therefore, it will never have too much strength, even at the expense of weight and price. Having at least a lock in case of jamming is useful: this will allow you to “turn” the auger out of the ground using the handles of the drill, rather than trying to pull it up along with all the soil itself on it. Ideally, of course, just turn on reverse, but this is the lot of a few high-power models.

Pros:

Review of the best models of motor drills

Motorized ice drill Mora Ice HL-250 (without auger) is a model of a Swedish company. Equipped with a 4-stroke gasoline engine from the Japanese company Honda with a power of 1.6 hp. It features stable and quiet operation. The average price is 31,000-35,000 rubles.

Motorized ice auger Rapala Vortex 33CC-8 (with auger) - the model is adapted to harsh winter conditions, it starts easily, without causing trouble to the owner. The weight of a fully assembled and ready-to-use tool is 12.5 kg. Allows you to make holes up to 200mm in diameter. Price 20,500–24,000 rubles for a complete set.

Patriot PT AE 50 gas drill is a tool from an American company with production in China. It has a universal purpose, can be used in the warm season, for work on the ground, and, in winter, for drilling holes. Engine power 2.2 hp. Price 15,000–17,000 rubles.

We have compiled a list of the best motor drills based on expert assessments and reviews from real customers. Our recommendations will help you make a choice that suits your needs and desires. There are many competitors in the global technology market, but we have selected the best manufacturers and recommend paying special attention to them:

In winter, on the river, the fisherman and his trophies are separated by an insurmountable obstacle - a thick layer of ice. You can hit this ice long and hard with an ice ax or rotate a hand drill, turning your vacation into an “ice battle.”

Likewise, relaxing on a summer cottage or garden plot ceases to be enjoyable when it becomes necessary to dig holes for tree seedlings, install new fence posts, or dig piles under a gazebo. The need to excavate a large volume of soil manually will certainly greatly upset any summer resident.

A motor drill will easily solve all these problems. Autonomous in operation, not connected by a cable to the power supply, lightweight and compact during transportation, it can significantly make the life of summer residents or fishermen easier. In just a few minutes, this device will do the work that would take hours and a huge amount of physical energy. The choice is obvious!

We have compiled a list of the best motor drills based on expert assessments and reviews from real customers. Our recommendations will help you make a choice that suits your needs and desires. There are many competitors in the global technology market, but we have selected the best manufacturers and recommend paying special attention to them:

CHAMPION
ADA
Oleo

A motor drill for earth should be selected based on engine power; the more powerful it is, the deeper the holes it can make. You should also take into account the density of the soil. Soil with a high clay content and soil with small stones is more difficult to drill than sandy or loose soil.

The best two-stroke high-power motor drills

STIHL BT 360

For the convenience of turning out an auger that is jammed in the ground, the gearbox (its gear ratio is 151! Compare with other participants in the rating...) is equipped with a lock - its lever is easily accessible between the motor and the gearbox. In the absence of reverse, you will have to stop the motor, block the gearbox and start turning the auger in the opposite direction along with the gas drill itself by the handles. Moreover, the design also includes a safety clutch: if the maximum force is exceeded, the gearbox locking is automatically disabled.

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There are two air filters - main and auxiliary. In dusty air, this allows for quick maintenance without opening air directly into the carburetor - by removing the main filter (not serviceable, but replaceable. According to the instructions), we leave in place the auxiliary filter, which becomes dirty much more slowly. Carburetor adjustment is simple and straightforward.

To check the oil level in the gearbox there is no dipstick: the motor drill must be placed on its side and the lower control plug must be unscrewed. If oil does not flow from it, you need to add it through the top plug. This is perhaps the only inconvenient thing about servicing the Shtil.

Reliability
High traction force
Foldable handles
Presence of gearbox locking
Passport service life – up to 30 years

High price
Inconvenient folding handles

ADA instruments Ground Drill 8

Modernized design taking into account complaints about the previous generation (since 2015)
Quite powerful engine
Two throttle triggers
Moderate weight

Sensitivity to soil density and drilling depth typical of small-capacity two-stroke engines

Fubag FPB 71

A reasonable limit for heavy soils is 150 mm augers, but here it is as always: a powerful drill is usually not sought for light work, and often a 2.7-horsepower two-stroke is already forced to work in conditions where it would be worth thinking about a powerful four-stroke. The Fubag gas drill does not like overloading - it was not in vain that we immediately went through the gearbox, the strength of which is not enough for long-term work with great effort (and it is not the filling of the gearbox that “gives up”, but just the crankcase itself).

Good ergonomics
Can be used with a four- or two-handed grip
The engine is quite powerful and at the same time moderate for its class in terms of consumption.

In reality, with 200-250 mm augers you can only work on light soils

Tatyana Ilyina Published: 02.11.2012, 15:01 Category : Winter Category
: Gasoline drills (motor drills)

This equipment is necessary on the farm.
You can’t do without it when installing a fence, drilling a well or fishing - it helps make holes in the ground or ice. Depending on their purpose, motor drills are divided into 2 categories. To carry out work in the winter season, regardless of where the gas drill is used - on a construction site or in the household - there is a special category of equipment. It is characterized by high engine torque (above 330 Nm), which makes it easier to make a hole in frozen ground. For such cases, motor drills ECHO EA-410, Efco TR 1551 are optimally suited.

Having decided on the tasks to be performed by the equipment, it is necessary to consider its technical characteristics. They will help you choose the option that is best suited for your case. What should you pay attention to?

I specifically analyzed reviews on Internet resources (websites, forums) on ice augers with motors, where there are quite a lot of complaints about the purchased augers, before purchasing my own fishing motorized ice auger. Sellers tell everything fabulously about the advantages, but unfortunately the reality is distinguished by its opposite. And already on the first fishing trip, some people’s engines stopped starting, others started to stall, etc.

I'll start with the theory. A motorized ice drill is equipment for drilling ice that has an auger and a two-stroke or four-stroke gasoline engine. When considering the purchase of a gasoline ice auger, the buyer should have confidence in its quality. First of all, the reliability of the auger with knives and the engine.

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The ice drill engine should not have vagaries with starting in severe frost. Based on the lifespan of its operation before failure, one should understand how long its operation will last. You should pay attention to the warranty period, if it is short (1 year) or not specified at all, it is a fake or low quality drill. When it comes to the quality and reliability of a motorized ice drill, one cannot dwell only on its price.

I specifically analyzed reviews on Internet resources (websites, forums) on ice augers with motors, where there are quite a lot of complaints about the purchased augers, before purchasing my own fishing motorized ice auger. Sellers tell everything fabulously about the advantages, but unfortunately the reality is distinguished by its opposite. And already on the first fishing trip, some people’s engines stopped starting, others started to stall, etc.

Most people who see a motorcycle ice drill for the first time will think about quality something like this - if it’s more expensive, it means better quality and better. That’s how it is, but the price depends on the celebrity of the brand, on the emergence of new brand models or, as it is now, some sanctions, etc. In order not to make a mistake, it is necessary to study the experience of owners operating motorized drills in different conditions for a long time.

In fact, you can make a drill with a gasoline engine yourself, and many fishermen do just that. The gasoline engine is taken from a lawn mower or from a saw, and the auger is used from a conventional manual drill using a standard factory adapter or a homemade one. The device of the drill is very simple. But at the same time, a torque similar to that of a factory ice drill must be provided. This drill can drill ice of the same thickness as a hand drill. It is also equipped with inserts that extend the height of the auger.

When drilling ice with a motorized auger, you must be extremely careful so as not to injure yourself and the people nearby. You can imagine what will happen to a part of a person’s body that is touched by a rotating auger. When transporting the auger, the knives are covered with a standard plastic case.

Disadvantages and advantages of motorcycle ice drills

The disadvantages of a motorized ice drill include its average weight of 3.5 kg; carrying it on yourself when moving on foot is a difficult task; you can’t do without a sled with a reliable mount for the drill. Secondly, from the sound of the running engine and its transmission through the auger to the ice, everyone within a radius of 20-30 meters moves away from the fright. You have to wait for the fish to approach for some time after drilling a hole, but much longer than when drilling with a hand ice auger.

Among the advantages, I note the speed of drilling holes, which is especially good for installing girders and fans of vertical trolling with spoons, balancers and other winter baits for predatory fish. Anglers gain a lot of time and strength when searching for fish when fishing from ice.

Motorized ice drills from Japanese, American and Swedish manufacturers are very popular among fishermen. Among the brands of motorized ice drills, I would like to note the reliability and quality of motorized ice drills from Mora and Hitachi.

We have selected the 7 best motorized drills for our review. They are widely represented in the Russian trading network. When compiling the rating, the opinion of the expert community and user reviews were taken into account.

Types of motorized drills

There is a wide range of gasoline motor drills on the market, but they are divided into two main types:

Lungs

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Heavy.
They weigh from 30 to 80 kilograms. The power unit is a powerful 4-stroke engine. There are two symmetrical handles on the body. They are necessary so that both operators are located opposite each other. It is strictly forbidden to work with such a tool alone. This is due to the power of the engine and the backlash, which can harm a person if he works alone. Such professional motor drills are used on all types of soil with large auger diameters.

Motor drill for excavation work

A motor drill for earth should be selected based on engine power; the more powerful it is, the deeper the holes it can make. You should also take into account the density of the soil. Soil with a high clay content and soil with small stones is more difficult to drill than sandy or loose soil.

An earthen gas drill does not require any skills to operate it. The average user can handle the tool by carefully reading the operating instructions. The installation of the fence frame, sports fields, and vineyards is carried out using an earth drill.

Motor drill for fishing

A motor drill for winter fishing is chosen to be lightweight, with ergonomic handles that can be folded. This is necessary so that it does not take up much space in the trunk of the car and can be easily handled by one person.

A motorized ice auger is equipped with an auger with a sharper blade angle than an earthen auger. Also, the handles of the device must be covered with frost-resistant rubber to prevent them from slipping out of your hands in cold weather.

Or the most radical option for fishing is to buy an ax and a cold forged pick, and cut the most natural holes in the ice for ice fishing. But this, as they say, is an option for the most extreme anglers.

How to work with a motor drill correctly

Before drilling with a motor drill, you should read the operating instructions and only then begin work. Apply markings at the intended location for making holes. Then use a thin rod and a hammer to check if there are any large stones or tree roots in the ground.

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To perform the exact depth of drilling with a motor drill, you need to put a mark on the auger corresponding to the depth of the required hole. Thus, there is no need to put the tool aside over and over again and change the hole made.

20-30 centimeters of the surface are removed, the auger is removed, and along with it the earth, then again deepened by 20-30 centimeters, and so on until the destination. Otherwise, removing the auger will be a long and difficult job.

By following all the listed rules and tips, the work will be completed accurately, quickly and efficiently.

Manufactured in China under American license. This is a universal tool that can work both in winter and summer. Equipped with a 2.2 hp engine. It costs between 15-17 thousand rubles.