Hardware Mystery

[Sandero]

We returned to Northport from a cruise top Newport and as I was cleaning up and getting ready to leave the boat I discovered a 4 or 5" x 1/4"Ø stainless steel bolt on the deck port side just aft of the mast and partially under a the leading edge of one of the solar panels which live on the deck.

I didn't recognize the bolt.. and for the life of me could not figure out what it was from or how it got there. Of course I did a cursory inspection but found nothing.. not part of the down wind pole or any thing at deck level... I sent someone aloft to examine the radar and its mounting and he saw nothing either.

It's not as if I don't know the boat well... I have owned it for 28 years...

Where could it have come from???? And how did it get there?

Any thoughts?

[Jesse]

Someone playing a prank by tossing a bolt or nut on your deck?

[onestepcsy37]

Is it long enough to go through the mast and secured with a nut on the other side? Any empty 1/4" holes in the mast?

Sent from my GT-P3113 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[S/V Alchemy]

I don't mean to alarm you, but that is the size of bolt that usually secures a pair of shroud tangs to the mast by through-bolting. If you haven't noticed YOUR shrouds down, how about the boats to either side?

[SkiprJohn]

Originally Posted by Jesse

Someone playing a prank by tossing a bolt or nut on your deck?

That's a pretty mean trick. I'll have to keep that one in mind.

[Sandero]

I probably have to go aloft myself for a look see.. I sent someone smart up... but not a sailor at all... we have different eyes... I'll try to get up there this week...

[Scott Berg]

Laughing... it's an old trick from overnight racing; take a slingshot and shoot a clevis pin off someone's sail. It will hit the deck, they will panic and round up quickly and send someone up the mast... rumor has it an America's cup was won with such chicanery!

[Sandero]

Originally Posted by Scott Berg

Laughing... it's an old trick from overnight racing; take a slingshot and shoot a clevis pin off someone's sail. It will hit the deck, they will panic and round up quickly and send someone up the mast... rumor has it an America's cup was won with such chicanery!

It occurred to me it was a joke... but the bolt is not inexpensive... hahahaha

[Snowpetrel]

Originally Posted by Scott Berg

Laughing... it's an old trick from overnight racing; take a slingshot and shoot a clevis pin off someone's sail. It will hit the deck, they will panic and round up quickly and send someone up the mast... rumor has it an America's cup was won with such chicanery!

Ha, had a shackle pin do that 200 miles offshore. But no boats anywhere nearby... We never did find out where it came from. But it caused a fair bit of worry.