Does anyone know what this is?

[JJATS]

Hello Everyone,

Looking for information about a piece of rigging gear that I was told came from the boating world. Does anyone have a clue as to what this piece of gear is called?

[transmitterdan]

Looks like a non-self tailing winch. The cleat holds the line from slipping. It needs a handle to crank it. Probably the handle inserts into the shaft somehow. Don't recognize the particular model as being on a sail boat. Maybe long time ago it was used.

[JPA Cate]

To me, the line looks like Dyneema, which is very slippery. The whole bit may be for hoisting trawls. I understand many fishermen are shifting from using s/s or galv. cable to using Dyneema. I think transmitterdan is right about how it works. Sorry, not to be more help.

Ann

[StuM]

Definitely a portable winch. But to me it looks as though it could just as easily come with from an off-road vehicle as a boat.

[Adelie]

There does not appear to be a winch handle socket as far as I could see.

It looks like a friction generating device so a load could be dropped from a height in a controlled manner. Same principal as a Walder boom brake. Boom Brake Walder

[svHyLyte]

Known as a "snubbing winch". Fitted with a tinsel cleat. Very old school, but effective.

[robwilk37]

snubbing bit - some say snubbing bollard. controlled decent/holding friction point

[Sailuke]

looks like some kind of belaying device for climbing. maybe for repelling through the rigging?

[Lloydh]

Looks a lot like a friction drum/lowering device used for taking down trees. Not sure how you would use it on a boat though.