If the gaff is sliding along the wood without digging, what does this indicate?

When the gaff is sliding along the wood without digging in, it suggests that the cutting edge is not effective in penetrating the material. This can occur if the gaff is improperly sharpened or has a small angle. A properly sharpened gaff has a specific angle that allows it to dig into the material securely, providing better grip and leverage. If the angle is too blunt or the sharpening is inadequate, it will not catch effectively and will instead slide along the surface without penetrating, indicating an issue with the gaff's readiness for use.

In this context, the choice regarding the wood being too soft would imply that the material should have offered less resistance, which isn't aligned with the observation of the gaff's performance. Similarly, if the gaff were too large, it might lead to issues of size rather than sharpening quality. A well-shaped gaff typically would not have this problem, as a well-segmented edge would effectively anchor into the wood.