What is this black thing on my mast and what is it good for?

[JohnnyP]

I humbly ask for your wisdom.

Thank you!

 

[shemandr]

"Absolutely nuthin'..." Credit to Edwin Starr. And the Temptations.
Really I don't know. Maybe a step?

 

[dlochner]

It is part from the cabal of prior owners who leave bits and pieces on their boats in order to drive traffic to internet forums. Someday you too will be entitled to join the cabal.

Or it could have been a mount for an instrument, but there are no holes to attach the instrument.

Stumped me.

 

[JohnnyP]

LOL - thanks for the humorous explanations.

 

[FastOlson]

Might be a base for an optional winch. Thus the angled tilt to it to prevent overrides.

 

[Tally Ho]

At first I thought it was a bottle opener…

But no hole….

So I have no idea

Greg

 

[Tally Ho]

I humbly ask for your wisdom.

Thank you!

Is your boom below this hunk of metal? Could it be a stop for the sail when lowered? Is there another gate stop ?

Greg

 

[Justin_NSA]

6 fasteners. Must have had high expectations for it back in the day.

 

[WayneH]

WAG here. TackTick mount?

 

[JohnnyP]

Is your boom below this hunk of metal? Could it be a stop for the sail when lowered? Is there another gate stop ?

Greg

The hunk of metal is below the boom.

 

[Michael Davis]

Might be a base for an optional winch. Thus the angled tilt to it to prevent overrides.

I have a winch mounted in that position. Really handy for reefing.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

I must say, your photography is superb, a view from every angle.

Given this information, I'm going to say it's the first mast step for ascending the mast. Unfortunately, the previous owner ran out of money and that's as far as he got.

Meh ............................. no better, no worse.