Gaff rebuilding

[tmilner13]

Hi ,




Is there any knowledge out there on the best method to rebuild a gaff? like the way to tie the ropes etc? maybe coating them in something to create a uv resistant bond?


thanks

[Kumz]

If i may ask what Gaff ? u have a pic  of the old one ?

[isivuba]

build this one from a broom handel, a bicycle grip and a old gaff hook I had.....hope it helps. Used resin mixed with oil bas paint for the colour effect to seal the hook and clear resin for the broom stick

[tmilner13]

Thanks very much for the info!


I like your profile pic awesome!

[isivuba]

No problem thats why we here

[Kumz]

build this one from a broom handel, a bicycle grip and a old gaff hook I had.....hope it helps. Used resin mixed with oil bas paint for the colour effect to seal the hook and clear resin for the broom stick

  nice 1 Isivuba.... 

[travelmember]

What is the gaff for? There is a big difference between a 2" hook for light tackle tail and a 5" for big tuna. Likewise the handle needs to be thick enough, long enough and strong enough for the hook and the fish.


I stay away from broom handles and stuff like that as they are not flexible enough. I have also found that aluminium can damage the boat when wielded by inexperienced crew. Rather use bamboo.


When you cut it, cut just below the notch so that the ends have a solid barrier to water ingress. At the top end (away from the hook) drill a small hole vertically into the tube giving you access to the first segment of the bamboo. Into this spray some expansion foam to keep the gaff afloat if goes over.
Rough up the area where you will put the grips and hook.
Drill a small hole for the hook anchor point and then file a shallow channel for the hook shaft to lie in.
Tape the hook in position and commence whipping from 2" above the hook all the way down the shaft to a point about 1" up from the end of the bamboo. Whip finish.
I have used longline mono, cord, string, rope etc, but now I have reverted to 400lb longline mono.
Soak the whipping with a 2 part epoxy and keep turning so that you get an even finish.


Varnish the handle - 3 coats every season.


For the grips, I use 8mm elastic shock cord. Whip and leave plain. This stuff has a good grip with wet hands. I don't bother with a hand loop at the end - it just gets in the way and gets tangled.


Cut a piece of garden hose to go over the hook and protect it.

[tkei]

I agree. for small fish (and short gaffs) you can use broomstick. for anything sizeable, dont. bamboo.
I stil prefer my old bamboo gaffs, but the maid converted them into mops. 
 
I havnt actually built my own but the post above is a good 1. I use the vivtec aluminium ones, but dont actually like them. they corrode in thwe ally tube (internally) where the staninless shaft goes in. you cant see it until it snaps in a fish. had 3 go like that, but to the eye looks 100%.
 

[isivuba]

What is the gaff for? There is a big difference between a 2" hook for light tackle tail and a 5" for big tuna. Likewise the handle needs to be thick enough, long enough and strong enough for the hook and the fish.


I stay away from broom handles and stuff like that as they are not flexible enough. I have also found that aluminium can damage the boat when wielded by inexperienced crew. Rather use bamboo.


When you cut it, cut just below the notch so that the ends have a solid barrier to water ingress. At the top end (away from the hook) drill a small hole vertically into the tube giving you access to the first segment of the bamboo. Into this spray some expansion foam to keep the gaff afloat if goes over.
Rough up the area where you will put the grips and hook.
Drill a small hole for the hook anchor point and then file a shallow channel for the hook shaft to lie in.
Tape the hook in position and commence whipping from 2" above the hook all the way down the shaft to a point about 1" up from the end of the bamboo. Whip finish.
I have used longline mono, cord, string, rope etc, but now I have reverted to 400lb longline mono.
Soak the whipping with a 2 part epoxy and keep turning so that you get an even finish.


Varnish the handle - 3 coats every season.


For the grips, I use 8mm elastic shock cord. Whip and leave plain. This stuff has a good grip with wet hands. I don't bother with a hand loop at the end - it just gets in the way and gets tangled.


Cut a piece of garden hose to go over the hook and protect it.

True have got two bamboo gaffs on the boat one 6ft and one 4ft works better for bigger fish just make sure your prep the wood properly first. Have also seen old surf rods being used as gaffs just cut to size remove the eyes and but a hook on works just as well.

[Psy]

Heres a tip I learnt when fishing deep sea.


It can happen that the fish you hook/gaff is too boisterous and shakes and flaps madly alongside the boat causing you stress and strain on the gaff, which in turn may lead to a snapped gaff and fish lost! Or the fish is too powerfull and the gaff-man loses control of the gaff (with fish).



Unravel some length of 3 strand rope and use one of the strands, lashing it with half hitches onto the gaff itself. At the very end of the gaff, provide a sealed loop, so that a length of safety rope can be attached in case your Tuna or Marlin decides to do another run on you.


Assuming the fish spat the hook and your only attachment was your gaff ~ you can now recover the fish with the safety line.

[Kumz]

  Great Idea Psy ....