# "Old Gaffer"?
**URL:** https://forum.clcboats.com/t/old-gaffer/46560
**Category:** Builder's Forum
**Created:** [September 28, 2018, 11:56pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/old-gaffer/46560 "2018-09-28T23:56:09Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Chris\_Larsen](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Chris_Larsen)
#### Post date: [September 28, 2018, 11:56pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/old-gaffer/46560/1 "2018-09-28T23:56:09Z")
I'm seeing references to "Old Gaffer" everywhere from Lord of the Rings to various boat building/camp-cruising videos on YouTube. I'm 49 years old, with a completely gray (silver) beard, I've built a lug rigged EP and a gunter-sloop rigged PM, which John has conspicuously deemd not a "gaff rig". It's a yard, damnit! And I'm an award-winning sailing instructor, so I earned all that gray/silver. My question is, do I qualify as an "Old Gaffer"? I certainly feel like one. One reason I'm asking is I am looking to make a self-proclaiming t-shirt and all of the boats I'm looking at for my next build are pretty old-school. Please advise...
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### Author:  [@Michael\_Scheibeck](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Michael_Scheibeck)
#### Post date: [September 29, 2018, 8:44am UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/old-gaffer/46560/2 "2018-09-29T08:44:13Z")
Well, you could call youself an "old yarder," you think? \<;-)
Actually, if I'm readin' the online Oxford English Dictionary correctly, the term doesn't seem to have anything to do with sail rigs, see extract below. Sounds like you may already be a gaffer, never mind your rig.
.....Michael
gaffer, _n._
Brit. [/ˈɡafə/](https://public-oed-com.webproxy3.columbuslibrary.org/how-to-use-the-oed/key-to-pronunciation/),
U.S. [/ˈɡæfər/](https://public-oed-com.webproxy3.columbuslibrary.org/how-to-use-the-oed/key-to-pronunciation/)
**Forms:** Also 15, 17 **gaffar**.
**Etymology:** The analogy of the continental synonyms, French _compère_, _commère_, German _gevatter_, would suggest that _gaffer_, _gammer_ are contractions of _godfather_, _godmother_ rather than of _grandfather_, _-mother_; but the change of vowel may be due to association with these words.
**1.** A term applied originally by country people to an elderly man or one whose position entitled him to respect.
**a.** Prefixed by way of respect (sometimes with an affectation of rusticity) to a proper name, the designation of a calling, office, etc. In 17–18th centuries the usual prefix, in rustic speech, to the name of a man below the rank of those addressed as ‘Master’ (cf. [goodman _n._](http://www.oed.com.webproxy3.columbuslibrary.org/view/Entry/79966#eid2868967)).
**b.** Used simply as a title of address, often with no intimation of respect = [_my good fellow_](http://www.oed.com.webproxy3.columbuslibrary.org/view/Entry/69094#eid4595045).
**2.** An elderly rustic; an old fellow. Also simply, a fellow.
**3.**
**a.** A master, a ‘governor’. _Obsolete_ exc. _dialect_.
**b.** The foreman or overman of a gang of workmen; a headman.
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### Author:  [@Chris\_Larsen](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Chris_Larsen)
#### Post date: [September 29, 2018, 10:37am UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/old-gaffer/46560/3 "2018-09-29T10:37:51Z")
Ha! Thanks Michael. I didn't actually think of looking up the definition. That's good stuff! It'll give me something to ponder today at work...
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### Author:  [@Laszlo\_Morocz](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Laszlo_Morocz)
#### Post date: [September 29, 2018, 7:01pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/old-gaffer/46560/4 "2018-09-29T19:01:12Z")
It's your t-shirt, put whatever you want on it. It's not like someone's going to sue you.
But if you think that 49 is old, you are SO in for a shock when you pass 60! :-)
Laszlo
PS - my t-shirt says "Registered Sexegenarian"
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### Author:  [@Chris\_Larsen](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Chris_Larsen)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2018, 8:45pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/old-gaffer/46560/5 "2018-10-03T20:45:19Z")
Laszlo, it's SO funny that you mention t-shirts. I actually do make t-shirts like that.
Some of my best are:
14,610 Days Scurvy Free (you do the math)
The sunset is in my eyes, this beer is too cold and who are all these naked women?
Sailing Upwind Sucks, Sailing Downwind Blows...
I'm Why Roger is So Jolly (for the ladies)
And here's my graphic for the divers' charters I used to do in the BVI
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### Author:  [@Chris\_Larsen](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Chris_Larsen)
#### Post date: [October 5, 2018, 10:30am UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/old-gaffer/46560/6 "2018-10-05T10:30:16Z")
What do you think?
