Correct name for these in my standing rigging?

[Tatheelrod22]

Could one of you more knowledgeable skippers take a look at the pic below and share with me the proper name and intended purpose of this particular piece of wood? I suspect they are there for increased tension and stability. I took them off to refinish and have been meaning to learn more about them. The one in the attached photo is located just above my port side running light box.
Thanks in advance!

[DDabs]

They do not provide any increased tension or stability to the rigging- they are shroud boards for the navigation lights. Normally seen on trawlers or older sailboats, they help aim the nav light beam.

[Shrew]

Originally Posted by DDabs

They do not provide any increased tension or stability to the rigging- they are shroud boards for the navigation lights. Normally seen on trawlers or older sailboats, they help aim the nav light beam.

They also serve to prevent the light from being seen beyond the appropriate angle, so if your boat is travelling at 0 degrees, the light (red) can't be observed from a boat at 10 or 20 degrees off your bow.

You might have been saying that all along. If so, I apologize.

[Calif.Ted]

Used to be small pieces of line between the shrouds to allow seaman to use as a ladder called "ratlines" (you probably already knew that). The lower ones were often made from wood battens and called rat boards. So my best guess would be to call it a rat board.
I'm referring to the object between shrouds above the shroud board in the photo.

[Dsanduril]

Originally that was a little shelf on which you could place your kerosene lanterns for running lights. The side/back then prevented that light from being seen except where it should be. With the advent of electric lights and fixtures that are designed for a specific angle of view they are less necessary, but they still allow the light to mounted a bit higher. Downside with lights there, the jib/genoa may block the light from view depending on set of the sail.

[DDabs]

Originally Posted by Calif.Ted

Used to be small pieces of line between the shrouds to allow seaman to use as a ladder called "ratlines" (you probably already knew that). The lower ones were often made from wood battens and called rat boards. So my best guess would be to call it a rat board.
I'm referring to the object between shrouds above the shroud board in the photo.

I re-read the OP's question and Calif.Ted- you're right, he's asking about the ratlines/ratboards, not the nav light box. My bad

[Macblaze]

Apparently it's hyphenated

Lower courses in a ratline are often made of slats of wood (battens) for support where the distance between shrouds is greatest. These wooden boards are called rat-boards. In some instances holes in these slats guide and organise low-tension lines between the deck and the rig.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratlines

[Manateeman]

Rat boards? Maybe. Seen them in metal on old boat models. Seen them in heavy wood with pins for small flag halyards...yacht stuff. Too bad Brian Toss is over the bar, he’d know for sure.
Happy trails to you.
Mark and his pizza &beer manatees

[Tatheelrod22]

Thanks to all of you and I probably could have worded it better so as not to confuse some into thinking I was talking about the actual red box, but the piece above it. The "Ratboards" makes sense, but at 61 years old, 6' 2", and 230 lbs, this character is just going to consider them "character boards"!

[DDabs]

Do you have a photo of the entire boat? Would love to see her

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by Tatheelrod22

Thanks to all of you and I probably could have worded it better so as not to confuse some into thinking I was talking about the actual red box, but the piece above it. The "Ratboards" makes sense, but at 61 years old, 6' 2", and 230 lbs, this character is just going to consider them "character boards"!

Haha. Good one. Wait another 10 years and ya can call 'em handholds!

[Tatheelrod22]

One of the posts asked that I post a pic so here you go.

[dfelsent]

Sweet. I learned to sail on a schooner.
You can go wing on wing on wing on wing!
Main, fore staysail, jib, flying jib!

We used to call the fore staysail “bad boy “ ‘cause it was gaff rigged and loved to slam side to side in rolly seas going downwind.

[Hardhead]

Beautiful boat

[Dougtiff]

Beautiful Schooner, would love to know about Her, length, material,designer, location ?