Fintan Murphy Posted March 12, 2003 Posted March 12, 2003 Hi all, I finally got around to starting back on the boat this year. As I say to everybody who asks, I'm three years into a six month project. She'll be in the water this year for sure. It might not have any portholes, but that won't stop it sailing. Anyway, the question, I've cut and glued the gaff jaws onto the gaff and am looking at the through-fastening. The plans recommend a 5/16" threaded rod, but my problem is, not only will I have to buy the rod, I'd also have to buy the auger (sp?) bit to drill it with. That's a very pricey hole I'll be drilling. I'll already have to buy a bit for the stem hole, through the bowsprit, and they don't come cheap. The thought of buying another one for one hole is putting me off. Has anybody used anything else, for example two long 4~5" screws, one from each side? At the moment it is glued up with epoxy. Quote
Craig Posted March 12, 2003 Posted March 12, 2003 Fintan. My jaws are not glued to the gaff. The through bolts allow rapid repair if they were to ever be damaged. Using long screws and glueing the jaws on is an excellent and simpler method of construction. Damage would be harder to repair, but, your proposed method is quicker and much cheaper. SS ready rod is quite pricey everywhere. I would go with your plan... Quote
Charlie Jones Posted March 12, 2003 Posted March 12, 2003 Fintan- Am I missing something here? a 5/16 bit is just over 1/4- not very large at all. Here one would cost a couple of bucks at the most. Why do you say it's a costly bit? Quote
Fintan Murphy Posted March 12, 2003 Author Posted March 12, 2003 Charlie, you may be right, I just remember looking at auger bits a while back in the shop, and they were pretty expensive. Of course, I may have been looking at the 1 or 1.5" ones, and the cost just stuck in my mind. It's moot anyway, as I just dropped into my dad, who happened to have an old hand operated 5/16 bit in the garage. This also solves the problem of drilling true, as it's easy to rig up a jig for the hand operated one. (no heavy drill at one end to worry about). Thanks for the help. Quote
Charlie Jones Posted March 13, 2003 Posted March 13, 2003 Ah- an auger bit for a brace. I missed that part. Yes they can be a bit hard to find these days. Glad your dad had what you needed. I have a set of auger bits that run from an extremely rare 3/16 up to 1 inch, plus several expansion bits, and a couple of extensions. I can bore up to 3 feet deep as long as the diameter is larger than the end of the extension. The brace may be one of the most powerful screw drivers you can find also. Some times the hand powered stuff is way quicker and cleaner than power stuff, sometimes not. I tend to go to the older hand tools first though, even in my daily work in the shop. (EXCEPT for sanding- thank goodness for power sanders ) Matter of fact, that's what I used to bore the holes for the all thread in the gaff jaws I built. Quote
capt jake Posted March 13, 2003 Posted March 13, 2003 Using long screws and glueing the jaws on is an excellent and simpler method of construction That worked for me!! Simple and got the project moving. Quote
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