Bamboo push pole

[wingtime]

After having the 170 in some skinny water I decided a push pole might be a good idea to have. But I didn't want to spend $100-200 for a fancy pole I wont use that much.  Fernando and I discussed a piece of bamboo that he picked up to use a pole for his boat.   I had my buddy that has some bamboo on his property cut me a suitable piece for a pole and we started to let it dry.  Well I didn't want to wait a few months for it to dry and I started to do some research on curing bamboo.  It turns out bamboo can be heat treated or tempered to make it considerable stronger.  It has to do with heating the sugars in the bamboo makes them liquify and harden like a resin.  So this weekend my buddy and I cut down a fresh length of green bamboo and started to experiment with flame hardening the bamboo.  We had a learning curve but  I'm very happy with end result.

[pzart]

Very nice, great ingenuity...... now I want one.....let me know how it works.

[Circle Hooked]

Great idea Bruce  

[gran398]

Sweet

Good thinking on the hardening aspect. Bamboo has always been a part of boats and fishing. On the West Coast...bamboo is  the preferred shaft material for gaffs on long range tuna charters.

[seabob4]

Excellent Bruce!  Looks good too!

I remember that piece of bamboo laying in the yard next to Nando's house...

[Blue Agave]

Look forward to standing on the bow while you pole me around.

[wingtime]

Look forward to standing on the bow while you pole me around.

Keep it G rated Fernando!  

[John Jones]

I guess I learned something today.  I always wondered why an old cane fishing pole had flame marks on it.

[pigbike]

Isn't that a torch for roofing, I have one in the shed.

[Capt. Bob]

Isn't that a torch for roofing, I have one in the shed.

Asphalt repair in a street.

[RickK]

I guess I learned something today.  I always wondered why an old cane fishing pole had flame marks on it.

Just keep hanging with us JJ, you'll be full of knowledge soon    (or full of something   )