Any ideas what this is?

[geoid96]

This bent stainless pin was found on the deck after sailing today. It's 4.5mm diameter and about 90mm long.
Does anyone have any ideas what it might have come from?

 

[PhillM]

Through mast to hold kicking strap? I have 2x m8 bars to hold mine. Last weekend I bent one 90 degrees in a heavy gust. Now upgrading to m10 instead.

 

[geoid96]

Thanks for the idea, but my kicker is from the mast foot (deck stepped Selden on 37 footer).

I'm pretty sure the bend in this rod is part of the design and not result of failure. It's exactly in the middle and 45 degrees.

 

[savageseadog]

Someone put it there to worry you...............

or........

A seagull pulled it out.

 

[nigelmercier]

I've got a small box of bits I found on my deck. I'm pretty sure none of them are mine.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Could it be something that maintains the angle of a pair of swept-back spreaders?

 

[geoid96]

At only 4.5mm diameter, it's not beefy enough to take any direct rig loads on a 37 footer. However it could be some sort of retaining pin. I'm just not sure what from. When I showed it to a colleague at work, he suggested it might come from a lifejacket / harness. As they are still on the boat, checking that idea will have to wait.

Of course, as savageseadog has suggested, it may be nothing to do with my boat.

 

[ianat182]

I had a similar pin on my boat to act as a locking pin for the CQR anchor in the bow roller,once inserted the other end is bent like a spring to prevent it loosening;imagine a garden gate bolt where the bolt handle is used like a spring clip.

ianat182

 

[Brightwork]

I'm fairly certain that it's a tape measure.

 

[ronsurf]

I found half a boat hook on my deck once that wasn't mine. Oh, and a bent stanchion that was mine.

Where did you find it? It would have either fallen from somewhere above (but not too high or it would have bounced overboard), or it could have landed there after being pinged out of somewhere under load. Which also means it could have come from another boat.

I had a lever like that on my outboard - is it possible it's fallen from one as you've lugged it about the boat?

 

[Simondjuk]

If you really want to know what it is, sling it overboard. Within half an hour you'll find the space it would have occupied... and served a vital function.

 

[Pleiades]

Its a British Seagull outboard bracket security bar for models 40 Featherweight or 40 Plus. I dropped one overboard on the Fal in January and am still grumpy so if you need a home for it.....
Robin
Pleiades of Birdham
MXWQ5

 

[geoid96]

I had a lever like that on my outboard - is it possible it's fallen from one as you've lugged it about the boat?

Its a British Seagull outboard bracket security bar for models 40 Featherweight or 40 Plus.

Thanks; That's interesting. It was found near the stern not and too far from where the outboard is mounted. However my outboard is a Tohatsu 3.5. I'll give it a once over when I'm next aboard.

 

[Sinnot]

Wait for a force 8 and go out at night. I find that's the time when it becomes very clear where all those bits that are in my chart table come from.

 

[Dave100456]

Pound to a penny it's a protective piece from a louvred vent to hide the sharp edge of the stainless steel , they're usually spot welded in place and you may see witness marks of this.
Let me know if I win the prize for the correct answer!
Dave

 

[geoid96]

I'm 99.9% sure you are correct. I've just dug out photo below showing part of my engine air intake vent:



I'm pretty sure when I'm back on the boat I'll find one of those protective bars missing. Next task will be to find best way to reattach before it acts as a cheese grater on someone’s foot.

Thanks for your perception. Please accept a virtual raki.