Does anyone have an idea what this is?

[MV Wanderlust]

Originally Posted by IslandHopper

Don't think the OP would have much use for a spinnaker pole

Yeah, not so much.

[MV Wanderlust]

Originally Posted by HopCar

Not sure what it is but I bet it's a good one!
I thought quick release of some sort also.

It definitely looks like top quality and heavy duty. Probably not a cheap one. ...whatever it is.

[MV Wanderlust]

Originally Posted by Clipper4730

If you don't want it I'll take it��

$50 plus shipping.

[MV Wanderlust]

Originally Posted by jongleur

Does it come apart?

The shackles come off easily. (doesn't look like it has ever been used) It may come apart more than that but I haven't tried.

[PappysSailing]

May be one of those deals you use to lower a kettle bell / some weight down your anchor chain to add tension to chain to ease tugging caused by swells. Big shackle for the weight,, small one for the line to retrieve it ??
If I'm right,, do I win something here ... like maybe one free month on CF ?
Cheers,, Pappy

[Alastair A]

The mystery continues. I have seen this used as a "Mermaid Hook" but I thought it was a re-adapt use. Maybe it was just user situation witnessed? I don't know the design purpose of this linkage. Cheers all.

[Matsubob]

Looks like a swivel/quick release for a racing dinghy's jib or spinnaker

[SailRedemption]

It's a davit quick release for a dinghy, or it looks very close to one. Do you have a davit crane or mast with boom?

[John_Trusty]

Like twenty questions ... Does it swivel? Who makes it, because it looks pretty new and might still be in the Lewmar, or whoever, catalog.
I'm thinking a remote release for the topping lift.

[Shrew]

It looks like a quick release crane hook, like one you would use to hoist the dinghy.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by JohnEasley

Yes, although I don't know why or for what.

Geez guys, its a bomb release

[Chuck Hawley]

I think this is used to release an anchor and to allow it to be hauled up backwards. I seem to have seen this many years ago, perhaps at the METS show, but I can't remember the vendor or how it worked. Perhaps a trip line allows it to release the shank of the anchor so that it can be hauled up by the crown?

Chuck

[Lambretta]

Lots of intrigue
Maybe the OP should ask the previous owner
He/she might have been the one who dusted off their wallet to buy it

[Rackline]

Try running a good profile picture through a Google image search. You might get lucky with a hit from a hardware catalogue or manufacturer.

[MV Wanderlust]

Originally Posted by Lambretta

Lots of intrigue
Maybe the OP should ask the previous owner
He/she might have been the one who dusted off their wallet to buy it

Some great... and entertaining... guesses!

Mystery solved, sort of. I contacted the previous owner. (good suggestion) He said it's a quick release for a mooring ball. The line from the bow cleat or snubber is attached to the large shackle. A release line is attached to the smaller shackle and then the end is clamped onto the mooring ball. Pull the quick release line and it pops off of the mooring ball. At least, that's what he recalls. I've been looking around the internet and can find a bunch of similar products but not this one. Was hoping to find a video on it. We'll just have to play with it and see if we can get it to work.