What is this used for?

It is the one item that you must keep on board as a conversation piece. This would be the single item in every boat that has no real purpose, but to encourage people to ask about it, and provide hours of conversation. I have an item like that. It is a winch handle that has embossed on it "Made In Alviso By Hippies". Who cares if it fits my winches, it makes a great conversation piece
Aside from that I also vote for the backstay tensioner.

[Lancerbye]

I guess we have pretty much identified the original uses of MP's pictured object of concern, however ingenuity is what cruising and owning/maintaining a boat is about. The possibilities of what this could be used for are almost endless. For example, with the tang sharpened it could be used as: a weapon, punching holes in evaporated milk cans, a marlin spike or as previously mentioned a conversational piece. If we collectively suggest uses for this item MP could find this to be the most valuable item on his vessel. Worthy of being bronzed and mounted on a plaque.

[Ex-Calif]

There is a clear witness mark on the "handle" piece that shows something was assembled to it and it "rotated." The link part does not have the mark.

To me it could possibly be a chain wrench with the chain missing.

[Morgan Paul]

A differnt angle

[cal40john]

Originally Posted by Morgan Paul

A differnt angle

Here's that link again, forestay release lever:
7/16 or 1/2 Forestay Release Lever - Forestay Levers - SailorSams.com

You're missing the separate pieces, a toggle, and the eye swage that is connected to a piece of wire that is either on your mast, stowed away, or in a dump.

John

[Lancerbye]

There is usually a hook and eye attached to one side with a pin and a turnbuckle attached to the other side, or it can connect to a chain directly with a pin. On a fishing boat it used a hook so a trolling pole stay could be temporarily unstayed to allow loading/unloading of large objects on the deck. The stays would normally be in the way. When the poles were in the cross trees it was safe to do this, otherwise not.

[Morgan Paul]

Thanks John for the link and thankyou to everone for the info.

I am now thinking it probably was used on a baby stay. I have a small stay that is attached at the same height as the lower shrouds. It is not being used now (it is hanging from the mast and it does not quite reach the deck). I have sailed the boat for one season and the previous owner did not have it attached to the deck. Would it be a good idea to get the stay attached ?

Thanks again
Paul

[LtBrett]

Geez, that new angle took all the mystery out of it. More fun guessing with a picture that made it look alien.

Brett

[Celestialsailor]

It is either a Henweigh or a Piecost

[cal40john]

Originally Posted by Morgan Paul

Thanks John for the link and thankyou to everone for the info.

I am now thinking it probably was used on a baby stay. I have a small stay that is attached at the same height as the lower shrouds. It is not being used now (it is hanging from the mast and it does not quite reach the deck). I have sailed the boat for one season and the previous owner did not have it attached to the deck. Would it be a good idea to get the stay attached ?

Thanks again
Paul

I'm not familiar with your boat, but it is typically used for one or both of the purposes below.

Mast bend. Mast head rigs just tighten the forestay when the backstay is tightened, and won't affect mast bend. The babystay will pull the middle of the mast forward bending it and flattening the mainsail to depower.

Stabilize mast. Forward lowers get in the way of squaring away the spinnaker pole for running DDW. So a removeable stay steadies the mast while pounding upwind, then can be removed for jibing.

Stoutness of the mast and wind and wave conditions determine when the stay should be attached. Masts aren't supposed to pump (much).

John

[TaoJones]

Originally Posted by Celestialsailor

It is either a Henweigh or a Piecost

So that your effort won't have been wasted, CS, I'll play the straight man:

What's a Henweigh?

What's a Piecost?

TaoJones

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by TaoJones

So that your effort won't have been wasted, CS, I'll play the straight man:

What's a Henweigh?

What's a Piecost?

TaoJones

A Hen weighs about 7 pounds and a Pie costs $5.99
...ba da bump!

[yachtrodney]

[SkiprJohn]

Thanks Morgan Paul. Your last photo cleared up the whole mystery. I have three of them on my boat and a spare that is exactly like the one you have. One is used for the staysail stay and two are used for the running backstays. They are ABI Forestay Quick Release Levers. Had you posted the second photo first it would have been no fun at all.

Kind Regards,
JohnL