What is this tool?

[Xthewater]

It's a grissenfaufer wrench used to adjust thingamajigs in tight spaces.

[Capt_Flrp]

pcmm, what a mundane answer. With all of the great answers, why insert the real thing?

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by zeehag

as soon as ye ditch it you will learn what it did...... and you wont be able to find another..

THIS^ is the winner for sure.

[akprb]

I'm in the windlass camp, was my first guess :-)

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by ryon

It's the key for a Model 100 Lewdmar chastity belt. Universal fit, designed for all common wenches.

Looks unused and rusty...I suggest this, if you're looking to replace or upgrade:

[lordgeoff]

Emergency tiller?

[jr_spyder]

This gives me an idea. I can fabricate a corkscrew attachment to the three pins and never be defeated by a bottle.

I'm sure once down this path there are many attachments that could be useful. Ideas? I need at least two good uses.

For the record I have a Lewmar windless that takes a normal winch handle for manual ops. It's not as old as the boat however, so the original may have been a Maxwell. Also, I'd never get this tool on the front of the crankshaft on my auxiliary or genset. Would never get in there, let alone turn much.

[jr_spyder]

Emergency tiller? No - wrong fitting and the handle way too short for enough torque.

[Quintessa41]

Clearly the previous owner left it on board to mess with your head , probably an Aussie !!

[seabreez]

Originally Posted by jr_spyder

I bought my boat over 4 years ago and this tool has been knocking around below one of the deck boards forever. No one I ask seems to know what it is. It doesn't fit on anything I can find on board.

Any ideas?

Humorous suggestions accepted.

JR

You are right, it is a winch handle for the winch at the end of the boom. That winch is used mainly to winch aboard people who fall overboard... usually women... that is why the end is so rusted. Women do not fall overboard and do not even dare to get rid of it. Leave it on the boat and do not even tell you wife. She might throw you over and try it on you! Don't go looking for the winch... your neighbors might be looking...

[Mike Banks]

Not a starter crank--no way it would disengage before smashing your hand to pieces. Probably a lock key as the man said--

We used to call these things pin keys--but this one has three lugs and most have only two.

[svinvictus2]

It looks to me to be a tool that is used to open and close Groco filters. These filters have a three point cap which can be very difficult to open or close without one.

[Rampart]

Definitely a handle for manual operation of a Nilsson anchor winch. I have an identical item.

[grumpyboyz]

Yip!!

[takeabow40]

Originally Posted by Nicholson58

Looks like for: (list) In-mast roller furler; Windlass; Deck fitting for water or diesel; Hand crank for the engine; Centerboard lift. I dunno

looks like handle off old washing machine to squeeze the water out