Gaff build

 Time to create some dust...again.

The Gaff or Yard whatever you like to call it will be made from Queensland hoop pine. Beautiful light-colored timber straight grained and no knots.

I was lucky that the stock piece I purchased was the exact thickness so all I had to do was cut it to length and shape.

A batten is bent in place over the measured marks and a pencil line drawn.

A small circular saw easily cuts along the curve.

The timber planks on the floor to the left of this pic is for the mast and boom.

The curve is cleaned up with a belt sander that I fixed to a bench.

The edges are routed and the complete unit sanded smooth.

Using a level the gaff is set up on a drill press. Larger diameter holes are drilled to fill and re-drill for the Racelight Gooseneck.

Same for the eyestrap holes that will support the block.

And lastly the hole on the aft end that lashes the head of the main sail.

Well, I couldn't help myself, after seeing how the blue gum inserts looked on the boom, I decided to include them on either side of the gaff.....more work.

So out with the router and in with some blue gum inserts. Here they are clamped in place until the epoxy sets.

Clamps off and time to clean up, I used a handheld belt sander followed by an orbital sander and finished off by hand sanding.

Here is the gaff and boom after receiving their first coat of non-yellowing epoxy.