Please identify this piece of hardware

[adhocbc]

Howdy,

I keep finding new stuff on my new to me Alberg 30. Today while cleaning the decks I noticed the hardware in the attached image. It is located on the bow about a foot back from the forestay. Below decks there is a piece of 1/2 inch stainless tubing of approximately 10 inches long attached to this fitting.

Any ideas what this is for?

[Don C L]

Well I was thinking it might be an old deck plate (that was abandoned) that fed the chain down to the locker below through the ss tube you mention, but now I am not so sure. Does that tube aim down at the chain locker? Any more pictures from the inside? I'm stumped.

[carlosproa]

Could be a chain pipe to the locker that is now sealed.
Have you joined the Alberg30 owners website?

[adhocbc]

Thank you both for the replies. I've attached a couple of other photos below. The fitting is in the anchor locker so my guess is either chain pipe or something to do with a windlass. I also wondered is it could be for a second forestay (which would be ideal). As can be seen the metal tube below decks is closed at bottom and has two sets of holes on the side.

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by adhocbc

Thank you both for the replies. I've attached a couple of other photos below. The fitting is in the anchor locker so my guess is either chain pipe or something to do with a windlass. I also wondered is it could be for a second forestay (which would be ideal). As can be seen the metal tube below decks is closed at bottom and has two sets of holes on the side.

I believe that the second forestay guess is the most likely. The "tube" that you describe looks like solid rod to me and I would assume that somewhere lower in the hull is an anchor point roughly in line with the rod.

[Don C L]

Originally Posted by Uncle Bob

I believe that the second forestay guess is the most likely. The "tube" that you describe looks like solid rod to me and I would assume that somewhere lower in the hull is an anchor point roughly in line with the rod.

That would be my guess now too. Got a shot of what is below the rod?

[Nightsky]

Originally Posted by adhocbc

Below decks there is a piece of 1/2 inch stainless tubing of approximately 10 inches long attached to this fitting.

Any ideas what this is for?

Appears to be a rod or shaft of some sort, not a tube. No idea what it's intended use was other than the location indicates something to do with anchor gear?

[adhocbc]

There doesn't appear to be anything, other than a wood shelf, below. Possibly there's something beneath all the rode, but any anchor would then be at an angle towards the stern. The tube is solid with two holes drilled through. The steel rod has been chamfered flat around the holes.

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by Uncle Bob

I believe that the second forestay guess is the most likely. The "tube" that you describe looks like solid rod to me and I would assume that somewhere lower in the hull is an anchor point roughly in line with the rod.

Ronstan and schaefer both do a removable pad eye, do a quick google search and see if you have a similar fitting onboard.

[Lodesman]

That doesn't look beefy enough to take an inner forestay. Does turning the centre screw rotate the stainless rod? Or is that just a cap?

[toddster8]

Something like this, but upside down for long-term storage?

[Jim Cate]

Perhaps some drunken shipwright started to install a rudder, t hinking it was a double ender???

Archaeological studies of older boats are often a source of puzzlement, that's for sure!

Jim

Actually, Todster's idea looks promising to me.

[psk125]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Perhaps some drunken shipwright started to install a rudder, t hinking it was a double ender???

Archaeological studies of older boats are often a source of puzzlement, that's for sure!

Jim

Actually, Todster's idea looks promising to me.

But what would it attach to down to the stem, then? We need Adhoc to move the chain and see if there is a fitting there that got disconnected when the shelf was put in. The flat washer/bolt head on the outside (on deck) isn’t substantial enough if reversed to spread the load out for a second forestay, though it does look to be several inches across.

Could it be for attaching the bitter end of the anchor line? Doesn’t really seem solid enough for that, either. Where’s the previous owner? Maybe it’s for hanging up fishing rods where the hooks won’t snag people.

[mlydon]

My first thought was a swivel for a job boom, but then checking the sailplan for the Alberg 30 shows a staysail anchored there

Matt

[Don C L]

Originally Posted by mlydon

My first thought was a swivel for a job boom, but then checking the sailplan for the Alberg 30 shows a staysail anchored there

Matt

I think you got it. Now if it were me, and the fitting was NOT there, I'd be thinking of a super stout plate on the inside thru-bolted to a beefy fitting on the bow outside that had an eye for a snubber, down close to the waterline, and kill two birds with one big stone....