: IN Australia, my advice would be as follows, I am guessing that it will apply
: where you are too...

: Look up "woodturning" in your local 'phone book. I would be amazed
: if their is not a club nearby. Ring the club and find out when they meet.
: You will find someone who will happily turn you a dowel with a centred
: hole, and then chat to you for the rest of the night.

: Be careful not to watch as the turning is done, or you will be finding space
: for a lathe of your own next to the boat.

: Cheers, Tony Bligh

Yep that would be the way of it here in Brisbane too. There would be competition between the woodturners (most of whom would be retirees, and anxious to demonstrate their skills) who would not only volunteer their services but would want to provide the most interesting grain pattern on the job. I'll bet you would find that there would be someone who would offer something exotic like gidgee or purpleheart or "this little piece of wenge I had left over from the last project" who would want to do the job for you.

Let someone chuck it in a lathe, and stick a drill through it - by far the quickest, simplest and easiest way to get a concentric hole in a dowel, or any other shaped stock for that matter.

Have fun, Regards, Ron