G'day Guys,

I've just bought myself a gaff for tuna. The handle is anodised aluminium and as such a bit slippery. I am thinking that some tuna cord wraps in appropriate places would improve the grip. So my questions are:

1/ If I go with a cord grip, should I then seal it with urethane finish?

2/ If I don't use cord, what is a good alternative? EVA grips?

Any thoughts apreciated.

Cheers

Jason

It's just bare AL and no grip material on it? I am using EVA on some of my flying gaff handle I am making from AL. I will probably either cord wrap the section between the 2 handles or use cork tape, or use the shrink rubber stuff with mono under it for a texture. If you do cord wrap, I would seal it with something to help lock it onto the shaft. Some people put a very thin layer of rodbuilding epoxy on the shaft before they wrap the cord around it.

Jason,
For the grip, I would either use EVA , or a bicycle handle grip. Easy, inexpensive, and it would work very well.

Take care
Roger

Lots of landing nets use either bicycle handles or EVA and they work very well indeed.
Take care
Roger

The best traction on a Gaff handle is tuna cord wrapped sections about 3/4 - 1" long every 6" - 8" down the shaft.....................wrapped over wet epoxy & nothing on top.
sealing the top tends to smooth it .
Doesn't matter where you grab that gaff in the heat of battle you will have maximum grip. you will have your hands either over one of those grip rings or one will be right behind your hand.
the epoxy gives the grip wraps maximum adhesion to the aluminium.

Works for me & I have a pair that are over 20 yr old & have gaffed thousands of tuna & broadbill commercially tuna longlining without slipping, even when deckies butchering fish have had to step in & help gaff another fish with blood & guts all over their hands.

Hi Jason,

I have several gaffs, most of them fiberglass up to 8' long. I love using butt cord or sein-twine rolled on the blank using my wrapping machine over a thin layer of epoxy. Then I shrink flocked X-tube shrink tube over it (with a bit more glue on top of the cord to prevent slippage) The standard 1 meter section is perfect for a long smaller diameter grip length. The butt cord makes a slight ribbed feel for grip and I also apply thread and finish to the ends so water doesn't work it's way underneath. I like this better then EVA or hypalon due to the length of a smaller diamter single grip rather then several, plus it's more durable over time. Just an idea.

Best Regards,

Darrin Heim
American Tackle Company

The gaffs used on most charter boats and some provate boats here in Ca., are 8' and longer pieces of bamboo, with net twine handles. Whipping being the quickest way to apply the net wine, and if done properly requires no additional epoxy etc. In addition they will usually float enough to be recovered, are cheap to make, and usually last a very long time before requiring replacemant.

foularea
e

The gaffs used on most charter boats and some provate boats here in Ca., are 8' and longer pieces of bamboo, with net twine handles. Whipping being the quickest way to apply the net wine, and if done properly requires no additional epoxy etc. In addition they will usually float enough to be recovered, are cheap to make, and usually last a very long time before requiring replacemant.

foularea
e

Have you ever tried to wrap it in twine then use the textured heat shrink tubing over it?

Guys,

Thanks for the ideas. From all of this I'm sure I'll come up with somehting that will work for me!

Cheers

Jason