Auger Buddy

[iceman]

Had a chance the other night to get a few pic's on the Auger Buddy in deep snow..


just tip it back and up it went ..


while on top you can see how much it sank in the snow




while under full load ..



now i wish my clam went this easy in the deeper snow..

www.augerbuddy.com

[WoodChuck]

  hey ! now that looks like a rite handy outfit for a 1 handed auger person !

[iceman]

Welcome to ABI Ice Fishing, Inc., home of the Auger Buddyâ„¢ power ice auger carrier!
The patent-pending Auger Buddyâ„¢ ice auger carrier, manufactured by ABI Ice Fishing, Inc., is available now! The Auger Buddyâ„¢ is a hand-operated, lightweight sled for transporting a power auger vertically across ice and snow. The Auger Buddyâ„¢ makes it easy to transport your ice auger across the ice to wherever you want to drill your holes for ice-fishing.

Easy To Transport & No Heavy Equipment
Why Lug your Ice Auger when the Auger Buddyâ„¢ will do it for you?

With a total weight of under 20 lbs. The Auger Buddyâ„¢ is designed to be assembled tool free in under five minutes. It has also been tested in gusting winds up to 50 miles per hour with no problems. The Auger Buddy's frame is made completely out of steel giving it the strength to withstand years of use.

Field Tested by Professional Ice Fishing Guides
We sent professional guides the Auger Buddy for advanced field testing while they were out on the ice. They were used for several days under different weather conditions. You can read their ongoing responses at catchn. Here's some highlights of what they had to say

 
No Expensive Vehicles Needed
No ATV or snowmobile is needed to carry your power ice auger!

Doubles as a Support Stand for Storage
Store your AugerBuddy in the upright postion when not in use. Simply remove the skis for extra space.

Made in the USA
Manufactured completely in the United States the Auger Buddyâ„¢ removes the stress of old fashioned ice fishing, by enabling you to simply push your Ice Auger across the ice with ease.

[Spinach]

I will admit that I am a gadget guy, but this Auger Buddy is something I will not be purchasing, My Jiffy isn't the lightest auger on the market but it's light enough that I will just carry it from hole to hole or lay it on my house for transport, why would I want to add another 20 pounds of equipment to my heavy load allready?

Thumbs down from me. What do the rest of you think?

[WoodChuck]

    ???  ???  ??? with that iguess i could sell the wheeler and buy more tackle or gas for the auger ?

[jigglestick]

give me a break  ::)

I see no situation where this would be practicly useful.

[laker]

Seems quite gimmicky.

[JD]

I can think of a lot of other things I need to spend $90 on than something like this.

[Spinach]

I'm glad I wasn't the only one who thinks this is a worthless piece of steel.

[Woody]

As with anything, I'm sure there is a reason that the inventor came up with this.  It just isn't as obvious as I'd like that reason to be.  I've thought maybe for and "old timer" this might be ok.  But with one hand pushing this-leaves him only one hand for the sled and his equiptment. 

I could see if it lowered to the ice as you drilled-then there would be those who aren't physically able to hold the auger to drill as customers.  But it doesn't do that.  It just stands there. 

Perhaps iceman or someone can tell us more about it such as why it was initially invented.  I've made many things over the years (at work) that at first glance looked ridiculous only to find out it was "modified" for someone who was handicapped, or somehow physically disabled.  There is always a reason why something is invented.   So I guess that's why I'm not so quick to shoot this down.  Just my 2 cents.

[iceman]

why do you all jump to conclusions ?

 it's much easier to move on fresh, deep snow when drilling multiple holes rather than carrying the auger when trying to get Thur that 18 inches of snow without something in your hands is hard enough or on bare ice how many times have you fallen with your auger or came close to it ?
or
drilling a part hole just to keep your auger upright then going back only to find it frozen in..

did you know that when leaving your auger in a parsley dilled hole you can damage your cutting blades or change the pitch ? well you can..

i can see this is going to be a challenge ..
but i hope to change your minds..

[jigglestick]

"auger buddy pro-staff"? ::)

[Ice_Hole]

How about this one-handed drilling?

[iceman]

Ice_Hole,
I want to see you drive that off the beaten path on mille lacs..

[Ice_Hole]

Ice_Hole,
I want to see you drive that off the beaten path on mille lacs..

been done.  Not mille lacs, but other lakes.

[auger]

I'll answer any questions,and ask a couple of my own.first question is to ice_hole.how many times have you driven that vehicle on 4 inches or 8 inches of ice to use it?

Spinach your thoughts about the extra twenty pounds to carry is incorrect.the unit weighs less than twenty pounds,but you don't carry it.you slide it across ice or snow.It actually reduces some of the load you do have to carry ,by carrying your auger for you.

Woody,I use a sled to pull my gear on the ice ,such as cook stove ,traps,portable ice shelter etc. I put the rope over my shoulder and down across my chest and walk and push the auger buddy.

As far as lowering to the ice,you get into a more compicated unit,and more expense.plus when your auger binds up,as i'm sure we've all had happen at least once,not only are you fighting with the auger, but you would be fighting the auger buddy as well.

As far as why it was invented.I don't consider myself old at 53,although my body will dissagree most of the time , now that the arthritis is setting in.My jiffy weighs approx 47 lbs.I would drag all my stuff onto the ice using my sled, including my auger.When I got to my spot I would pick my auger up and start lugging it to drill my holes.spaced about forty feet apart for 6 tip ups.If your not getting flags you start lugging and drilling more holes.After a short time of lugging and drilling, that auger felt more like a hunderd and fifty pounds.By the end of the day we might of drilled 30 or forty holes each,looking for the fish.Now I start the auger up, drill my first hole,place the auger on the auger buddy and slide it to the next spot,drill next hole and just keep sliding the auger around.No more trying to keep the auger running while holding it, and lugging it to the next spot.I don't mind drilling the holes,because the auger does the work.I would get tired out because of all the lugging of the auger.

Some say 90 dollars is to much.It's made out of steel,which is not cheap,and high impact plastic skis,so they will not crack in extreme cold weather.It is built in the USA,not in some sweat shop in china.price of labor quite abit higher here,but as long as I have a say,it won't get shipped to china to be built.

Some might say it's a gimmick.The pet rock was a gimmick,it did nothing.The auger buddy will do the job that it was made for,and that is to lug your auger for you,over ice or snow.

I have never met the iceman,and I've only talked with him over the phone.He told me up front before I even sent an auger buddy unit to be field tested,that he was a big skeptic when it came to someone saying they had a product that would make it easier on the ice.I sent a few units to MN and IL.I wanted to send them to the skeptics,and I did.Skeptic was the kindest word at first.words like stupid idea and crazy idea was the norm.Those words have been changed to great idea,believe it or not.

Iceman has not received anything for field testing the auger buddy,other than the auger buddy itself.I might be wrong,but I don't think he wants to give it back now either.

I do consider iceman a friend even though we haven't  met yet,and hope to meet him someday soon.He said he'd show me how to catch some eyes,and I've never caught one before,so that's on the agenda.

It will take awhile but it will get around.Have to walk before I can run.The naysayers will still be there,but that's ok .that's what makes the USA the greatest country in this world.Like they say,anything is possible in America.
Thanks for your time and if you have any questions,I'll be more than happy to answer them.
   Craig Bouchard

[Woody]

Mr Bouchard, first I want to thank you for the detailed explanation!  When I wrote "old timer" I was thinking of my grandfather trying to lug around an auger-which he certainly could not anymore.  So for him this would be a possibility of something to ease that for him.  (I'm 37-and much of the time feel old, and not just because the grey hair is taking over!)  So no offense intended with my "old timer" remark.

As far as how you carry/tow all your gear-it makes sense! Sometimes my blinders don't allow me to see the whole picture.  I didn't think of it as an early ice device.  One thought I like about this is I wouldn't have to lay my auger down after drilling.  I knew there was a reason for this being invented, I just needed to know more about it.
(Those who think things are invented to get rich quick are way off-I know this for a fact-I have an invention that is work related, sitting on the shelf collecting dust only because I cannot afford to go past the prototype stage-we use this everyday at work however). 
So I thank you for taking the time to explain this to me/us here at MNO.  I for one apologize for any offense you may have taken with my post-it wasn't my intention.

[DaveO]

Looks like it may get top heavy,,,,,,,Is it?

[auger]

Woody no offense taken.The Name is Craig though,not Mr.bouchard, that'll make me feel old.

Woody I can feel for you as far as the costs go.Patent attorneys get you like all the rest.If I can get even on the costs,on a new invention, then I'm ahead of the came.If I can make some profit on it ,then I fall in the 2 percent of new inventions.I was lucky that I had a friend to back me.

No matter how much ice we have,and however we get our equipment out to our spot,we still had to pick up the ice auger and start lugging.

No matter what your age ,do you like lugging your auger from spot to spot,I sure didn't.It used to be a test of wills with my fishing friends,on who would crank up the auger to drill some more holes to find the fish.Then it was, do you mind popping a couple more over here while you've got your auger warmed up.

I didn't plan on inventing the auger buddy.I figured there was something out there to carry the auger for me.When I finally started using a power ice auger,and I had to lug it,I said to myself there has to be a better way.I went on the internet to look for a carrier.I found nothing,and I was supprised.I found something that I needed either a snowmobile or an atv  to use it,but I didn't own either one.So as the story goes,the rest is history.

To answer your question DaveO,the auger buddy is not top heavy.I gave the auger buddy a wide footprint and the auger sets in the center.you have to struggle to try and tip it.That was the first obsticle to overcome.
                                 Craig B

[Spinach]

i understand what your saying Craig...

My comment about carrying it meant that we somehow had to transport it to the lake and then unload it from the road and then transport it to to fishing spot.

When walking on the ice, I bring a shelter, inside I carry a lantern, propane, heater, tackle bag, ice scoop, bait, rod bag, snacks, beverages and my auger. These are just necessities when ice fishing, it gets rather heavy allready.

So if I add an Auger Buddy to my necessities, i have to either make 2 trips to my fishing spot or pull the shelter with one hand and slide the Auger Buddy with the other, I have no hands for a spotlight or lantern.

If I'm driving on a lake, I have the same gear, but I would still have to transport the Auger Buddy and load/unload it from the truck.

So, yes i do have to carry it at times.

Sorry, I am so skeptical, i am a diehard outdoorsman and own everything there is, but I am still not kooked on this Auger Buddy.

Please do not take offense to my comments, they are not intended to do that, I am just giving you my honest feedback on your invention.

[Woody]

Craig, that is how most things come into fruition-discovered, not planned!  That's what happened with me and the "gizmo" I came up with.  There was a problem, and it needed a solution.  Within the matter of hours I had the solution, had a prototype built, and used it.  Without getting into too many details, this is considered a consumable (product that is expected to be replaced within a month or so).  Well my "gizmo" has lasted me over a year without fault!  It save the company I work for hundreds the first year alone!   :)  When I looked into getting it patented-I studied information for months-it certainly doesn't happen overnight! 

I'm supposed to go fishing with Iceman someday-we always talk about it-just can't ever get the schedules worked out-yet.  When we do, I will give the auger Buddy an honest try.  I do feel it certainly has it's place.  Will it be for everyone?  Nope, the only thing that everyone HAS to have is air! 

I wish you luck with the Auger Buddy-I think it has potential. 

[Ice_Hole]

first question is to ice_hole.how many times have you driven that vehicle on 4 inches or 8 inches of ice to use it?

It is built in the USA,not in some sweat shop in china.price of labor quite abit higher here,but as long as I have a say,it won't get shipped to china to be built.

Glad to hear that Craig.

[ScottPugh]

I checked these out at the Ice show, I loved it especially for the # of holes I drill.  Anyone want to buy me a wheeler?  ::)

first question is to ice_hole.how many times have you driven that vehicle on 4 inches or 8 inches of ice to use it?

It is built in the USA,not in some sweat shop in china.price of labor quite abit higher here,but as long as I have a say,it won't get shipped to china to be built.

Glad to hear that Craig.

[Woody]

Aw heck...if you're gonna get Scott one, pick me up one too!   

[auger]

Spinach , no offense taken at all.As I mentioned to Woody I put my rope from my sled with all my gear on it over my shoulder and walk and push the AB with my auger on it.I will have a harness for me next year though. ;DI will say it doesn't push worth a darn on gravel or roads.If I have ice to drive on ,I unload the AB,set the cradle on top of the center post ajust the height place the auger on it ,and start drilling.there are no tools needed to assemble the AB and it sets up in seconds.

That's a nice atv,what about 4 or 5 K.and don't forget the auger carrier.I still have to walk though,because I don't have the 4K to carry my auger for me,and some think 90 dollars is high.   just wondering how many inches of ice before it's safe to drive the wheeler on.If I can walk it ,I can use the AB.

I will never take offense to anything said about the AB, life is to short .We all have opinions about fishing gear,that's why we're fishermen.

Little triva question,anyone know who invented charcoal? and why? some of you might be supprised.
I post at weird times because I don't get home from work till 4am est time.
till next time ,tight lines to all,and be safe on the ice.
        Craig

[auger]

sorry guys should of stated charcoal briquets for cook outs
            Craig

[Woody]

I know!  But I'll pm you with then answer and let others figure that one out.  Now don't be cheating and "Googling" for the answer-use your knoggins! 

Who invented charcoal briquets? And why?

[Grute Man]

Henry Ford created them from scraps of wood and saw dust from his factory.  He wanted a profitable use for it.  So he started selling it as Ford Charcoal and was later bought out by EG Kingsford.

Happy Grilling, boys.   

Grute Man

[auger]

Give the man a cupi doll.Did you also know that he had the engine crates built to his specs.after he removed the engine he dissasembled the crates to use the wood for the floor boards.The man was always thinking.

[rchaze60]

true but he was not the one who really invented it ....... a few years back they found a guy from thousands of year ago frozen in the ice with charcoal on him and flint too so i guess he is the reaL one who invented it  ???