Gaff Business

I did not 100% followed the original Phil Bolger drawings when I built Bluster.  Most of the deviations involved raising and widening the cabin, changing the stern cut away and adding a mast tabernacle.  In hind sight, all good ideas.  One item I considered changing but did not is the straight style gaff horns (fork?).

The straight ones are easier to build but do not work as well or look as "gaffy" as the curved style.  This retrofit was on my to do list for this year.  

I started by cutting away the straight horns but leaving the base, where the one piece original horns were attached to the gaff.  

The new horns were cut out of 3/4" plywood and glued into place.

Epoxy sealing and a couple of coats of Interlux Brightside Polyurathane White.
Job done. Tick.

In place, working fine and looking good

Old Gaffers Association of BC - AGM

This past Saturday evening I had the pleasure of attending the Old Gaffers Association (OFA) of BC annual general meeting.  The Old Gaffers Association was started in the UK in 1963 to promote the gaff rigged and traditional sailboats (www.oldgaffersassociation.org) and has local chapters throughout the world.  The OGA of BC chapter  (gaffers-canada.ning.com) has been active for a couple of years and although a relatively small group they are quite active and very welcoming to this first timer.

Jamie pipes in the executive committee

The meeting was fun as the group observes traditions such as bag piping in of the executive committee and toasts to the Queen and Canada.  Discussed were plans for  the coming year and gaff rig related items locally and nationally.  After the official AGM we all sat down to a lovely pot luck dinner with much boat talk.  I enjoyed reconnecting with past sailing mates Jamie and Curtis as well as meeting some new keen trailer sailors.