repair aluminum gaffs?

[Tim_G]

Does anyone know if these can be fixed? If so, I want to do it or have it done right. If not they're getting tossed. Thanks. -Tim

[purple haze]

Tim We bend ours back into place all the time. The gold one should be OK but I would not use the silver one again. It might just fail when you need it the most again I try and not take any chances while gaffing. Gene

[Viking1204]

Choppedliver does aluminum welding, he might be able to help you fix them and even strengthen them some. Hopefully he'll chime in and prove me right or wrong sooner than later LOL!

[choppedliver]

Dont toss them, i'll take a looky at them, if I can fix them I will, if not, I not I'd love to keep for parts. I'd find a use for them eventually. I build stuff out of scraps all the time. Might become a grappling hook or something lol. Never know what I might build out of it.

[Tim_G]

Thanks guys. I guess I'll bend the hook back on the AFTCO. If it works for Recess, that's enough of a testament for me. Thanks Gene.

Chopped, if you don't mind looking at the other that would be cool. If you can't fix it, it is yours for scrap. How can I get it to you? I work downtown and live in Gulf Breeze behind the highschool. It doesn't need to be anytime soon. I'm just doing a little housekeeping and these are spares. Thanks.

[choppedliver]

Thanks guys. I guess I'll bend the hook back on the AFTCO. If it works for Recess, that's enough of a testament for me. Thanks Gene.

Chopped, if you don't mind looking at the other that would be cool. If you can't fix it, it is yours for scrap. How can I get it to you? I work downtown and live in Gulf Breeze behind the highschool. It doesn't need to be anytime soon. I'm just doing a little housekeeping and these are spares. Thanks.

If you want to swing by shoot me a pm and I'll give you my address/phone number. Im between the two malls

[choppedliver]

The old gaff had an aluminum insert. That insert had a rivet through it, and the rivet went through the threads, allowing saltwater to get into the threads. That combined with dissimilar metals is a recipe for corrosion. The aluminum insert corroded and split in two pieces. Once that happened, all the force was on the tubing, causing the tubing to split as well. I cut the old tubing off above the split, and removed the old adapter and this is what I had left.



Had my machinist machine a new adapter:


Put a few more threads on the hook so we can use a lock nut/washer


Jam nut/lock washer installed, the complete assembly before insertion


Cleaned up the rust with some bar keepers friend, which has oxalic acid. Oxalic acid restores the chromium oxide layer, which is what makes stainless stain-less.

Drilled a hole in the end and put a 1/4" bolt/locknut. Better than new.

[Tim_G]

Thanks Chris! Maybe I'll get a chance to "load test" it this weekend.

[submariner]

nice looking work

[ShurKetch]

That's what I call an excellent job.........stronger than when new!! Ed