Which Ice Auger?
 

We're planning on heading over to Rattlesnake in a couple of weeks, walking from the Minge Cove area. Reading the Ice-In posts, it seems that the ice may be thin at spots (we're on the Broads side).

What are the recommendations for an ice auger that we can carry with us to check the ice as we progress? How frequently should we check?

Many thanks in advance!

- Richard & Maria

A cordless drill with a 15"-18" bit works great, we have 12" in Tuftonboro bay

the drill idea sounds good. i would check every 15-20 as you get closer to the island.

it was not long ago that was open water, as you said some areas thicker than others.

I would use extreme caution and not follow too close to each other.

I always waited on shore until someone heavier than me headed out.. I followed them! LOL.. seriously, the cordless drill is a good idea.

A lot of Black Ice around this season....ie Clear Ice that you can SEE through... LOOK at the cracks. How DEEP are they. That's the way we judged the thickness back in the day. Ice boaters NEVER carried an Ice Drill. :look: FOUR Inches of black ice is Plenty.. for walking ..or ice boating.

PS: Think of it this way: ICE Floats. You are walking on a SLAB of "FLOATING" ..Ice.

In the pictures below......NOTICE we are Spread Out.

Sorry the pictures are slightly OFF Clarity. They were "Scanned" from 40 year old 35mm Slides. The Originals were Perfect. I have an HP ScanJet 4050 Flat Bed Scanner. This Anomaly Really Annoys Me. :( Nb

Which Ice Auger?
 

This one!!!

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...?do=ad&id=5619

:D:D:D

Yeah...a really long drill bit is best. With some kind of marks on it at different inches....BUT....One trick is to use electrical tape to hold the bit to the chuck. Wrap the tape around the bit first and then around the chuck. I wonder how many drill bits are at the bottom of the lake because the chuck loosened up and the bit slipped out?:laugh:

That's when you want to go out with the wife just let her go first in case it's too thin. :D

I can't speak for you but most guys wives are lighter than them sooo....:laugh:

That's why you make her carry all the gear......oooo if my wife reads this I'm dead.:laugh:

Which drill type?
 

Thank you, experienced Ice Trekers, for your guidance. The gas auger aside, it appears a hand-held cordless drill is the preferred tool here.

That begs the next question: What kind of bit? I was thinkining perhaps a masonry bit, but then what do I know? Also, how long? If 6" is plenty to walk on, wouldn't that be enough? Don't need to reach water do I, as long as it's > 6"?

Get a large wood bit like the electricians use, with a long bit you can feel when the bit goes through the ice and be able to measure the depth

You need a wood auger bit with flutes that pull the ice chips out of the hole and help keep it from getting stuck, much in the way a full-sized ice auger works. Get a 5/8" dia x @ 10" lg. wood auger bit.

Something like this:


http://images.dnr.state.mn.us/educat...ice_drill2.jpg

An auger bit is the prefered and fastest boring method .

....best el cheapo bet.....go to Salvation Army store in Laconia....close to Pitman's Freight Room-NH Jazz venue....and look for an olde carpenter's hand powered bit-brace and auger bit for short money....like maybe three-dollars or so!!! .... and go spend the money you saved on some cheap & tasteless beer like Labatt's 24-oz Blue Ice for about 1.19/jumbo can to help power up the bit-brace......round & round & round & round & round & round & round & round....how many turns to drill through 10-inches ice with an olde bit-brace and dull auger bit?:cheers:

Thanks To All
 

Thanks, everyone, for helping us out on this. After watching the YouTube video in the "South End of Rattlesnake Ice Conditions" thread, I wouldn't dream of heading over the our cabin without the drill/auger.

Thanks again!
:)