Anybody ever make gaffs out of bamboo?
I just cut a bunch and want to make some long (8+ foot) gaffs. Like the Cali long range boats use.
Do I need to treat the bamboo with any preserver?
should I mount the gaff hook with the shank inside the bamboo or outside and drill a hole for the elbow and whip it?
any help would be appreciated.

I haven't made any gaffs from bamboo and would have to really give this some thought in order to come up with the best way to do it. However, I think you're on the right track. I might whip the hook to the outside of the shaft, then again, I might shim the hook and epoxy it inside and whip the outside for hoop strength. Interesting project.

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How would you go about shimming the gaff shank if you're sticking it in the small end of a tapered tube? I've wondered this myself many times when I see gaff blanks listed.

I put together a gaff yesterday using a 12/0 7731 hook...whipped it to the outside of a solid glass blank. If I knew how to shim the hook inside a hollow blank, it would make a much cleaner project.

Jay

Bamboo is pretty flexable without heat treating... How stout does this need to be??? If your starting with a culm, you would want to drive out the moisture I would think, as it is full ....