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Bill makes “Mal’s Tramps”
By Bill Cavanagh, SC Jungai than the rope. I had various cross overs before swaging.
prices around $1. I eventually If you don't have an electric
I recently replaced my old got them for 55c each through hot knife you will spend another
sagging ripped nets. I was going Malcolm’s mate. I got 250 two days, so borrow, buy or
to buy the same cod end trawl swages ($137.50). The cost of steal one. I borrowed Mal's hot
net, until I met Malcolm each net approx $120, with 90 knife, and his home made swage
Salisbury (Coconut Airlines). He metres of rope left over. tool - a pair of vice grips with a
showed me the nets he made. I They are time consuming, but nut cut in half, welded to the
was impressed (Mal informed me worth the effort. I swaged one grips and drilled out to suit the
that he wasn't just good end to each side allowing swage.
looking!). 450mm extra for the weave and I suppose you can buy the
They are made of 8mm black raw ends. At 24c per metre, you correct tool. I round off the cut
polyethylene (good in sun). I can afford to waste it. I made end with pliers to make the
bought a 330metre roll from Net mine on the shed floor using swage slide easy. I melted the
and Tackle Sales in Sydney, for spacers to keep the shape of the cut ends after the swage to
$77. Postage to Boonooroo, QLD aluminium frame. It is probably ensure they cannot pull apart.
was extra. My nets are 2.3 x 1.3 best to do the final swaging on The second net will take a lot
each. the boat. less time then the first.
The copper swages you will Keep the cut end underneath They will hold their shape and
need for a neat job cost more and double check the weave last a long time.
www.bundabergboatrepairs.com
bundabergboatrepairs@gmail.com
www.bundabergboatrepairs.com
www.nqsolar.com.au
These become tight when woven
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