Gaff Jaws

[Dragonsong]

Hi ,

The gaff jaws of Dragonsong need re-lining with leather,unfortunately Martham boats no longer have anybody able to do this.

Can anyone point me in the direction of someone able to do this ?

John

 

[Poppy]

Someone I know had this done by a Saddler. Not sure where, but Mr Google may be able to help.

[Dragonsong]

Thanks , I did wonder about a saddler, I will have to do some phoning round if nothing else comes up . John

[ranworthbreeze]

Hi John,

Could an upholster be another option?

Regards

Alan 

[Dragonsong]

Thanks Alan ,interesting idea !

john

[Polly]

You might try doing it yourself? I'd have a go at least?

[ranworthbreeze]

4 hours ago, Dragonsong said:

Hi ,

The gaff jaws of Dragonsong need re-lining with leather,unfortunately Martham boats no longer have anybody able to do this.

Can anyone point me in the direction of someone able to do this ?

John

 

Hello John,

Do you have a picture of your gaff jaws?

Is it one of the fully covered in leather or the type that is just covered on the inner surface?

Regards

Alan

[Polly]

https://www.tandyleather.eu/en/ 

I have bought nice off cuts from them, I am thinking wet the leather to mould it to shape and pierce it for hand stitching?

[Dragonsong]

Thanks for the various ideas.

Alan . The jaws are wooden and were previously lined just on the inside with a canvas like material stuck on with impact adhesive .

Polly. I will have a look at that website,thanks. I have looked at some of the classic boat sites. There seem to be a lot of examples of the leather being soaked and bound to the jaws and then nailed on with copper nails,which maybe easier than sewing . 

John

[JennyMorgan]

Any half decent saddler should be able to do a job like that. Last one I had done was fifty quid from the saddlers at Ashby Hall near Somerleyton.  

[grendel]

We used to use the rawhide dog chews on shield edges when I did viking re-enactment, soak it stretch it, tack it on, let it dry and it hardens like iron, used to wear well and take sword blows a treat.

If you damp leather it will take a shape, and then stretch it over, punch holes at the seams and lace it up using strong thread like a pair of boots. let it dry and it will shrink tighter.

[Dragonsong]

Yet more interesting ideas, I think I will ring some saddlers.

thanks again

John

[ranworthbreeze]

10 hours ago, Dragonsong said:

Thanks for the various ideas.

Alan . The jaws are wooden and were previously lined just on the inside with a canvas like material stuck on with impact adhesive .

Polly. I will have a look at that website,thanks. I have looked at some of the classic boat sites. There seem to be a lot of examples of the leather being soaked and bound to the jaws and then nailed on with copper nails,which maybe easier than sewing . 

John

Hi John,

Your last paragraph is why I suggested an upholster, pictures I have seen, show results not that dissimilar to that of an old office chair.

Regards

Alan   

[JanetAnne]

We have used the chap at Ashby Hall as well though that was a while ago. I think this is his details...

http://www.bigreddirectory.com/ashby-hall-saddlery-lowestoft

[Dragonsong]

 

Morning ,

I did a search for Ashby Hall  and found a facebook page from 2012 all about a closing down sale. The link posted by JanetAnne is listed under "health and beauty" so I suspect there has been a change of use !

thanks again for all your comments.

John

[Springsong]

There is a saddler or at least there was on the Horizon estate at Catfield, nice chap and very

reasonable. I have used him myself. Long way from West Yorks though. Let me know if you are interested and I will go have a look see. 

[Wildfuzz]

7 minutes ago, springsong said:

There is a saddler or at least there was on the Horizon estate at Catfield, nice chap and very

reasonable. I have used him myself. Long way from West Yorks though. Let me know if you are interested and I will go have a look see. 

I believe he has now gone or at least downsized the unit he was in....... and what is a "Gaff Jaws" is it a sailey term?

[Poppy]

6 minutes ago, Wildfuzz said:

I believe he has now gone or at least downsized the unit he was in....... and what is a "Gaff Jaws" is it a sailey term?

Indeed it is. The 'Gaff' is the spar at the top of the main sail in a traditional rig, and the 'jaws ' are the part at the end nearest the mast which keeps it located

[Wildfuzz]

29 minutes ago, Poppy said:

Indeed it is. The 'Gaff' is the spar at the top of the main sail in a traditional rig, and the 'jaws ' are the part at the end nearest the mast which keeps it located

All is now clear, may thanks........ getting ejumicated on sailies I am.

[JennyMorgan]

Very clear is that! Mind you, some awquad, bloody minded, pedantic old sod might refer to a gaff as a 'yard' rather than a 'spar'!

Still, you can always say 'parallels' to that!! 

[Dragonsong]

Poppy thanks for explaining that ,I doubt my IT skills would be up to including diagrams.

Barry,thanks for the kind offer . I am down next week so I will have a run out to Catfield and see if I can find them. It has just dawned on me that I may have had a brief conversation with you soon after Springsong went back in the water . You were moored in the dyke alongsideone of the big yachts( America etc..) I followed the restoration on another forum ,fascinating !! 

John