What’s this?

[DinghySailor]

After a light-air sail yesterday, with the asym on the reach home, my crew found what appears to be a bushing on the deck a foot to starboard of the mast boot. My first thought was it’s from a sheave somewhere in the rig, but the halyards and topping lift are all running smoothly. More than a little concerned, I thought I’d inquire on my favorite forums before I go spidering around the rig.
5/8 OD
1/2 ID
9/16 long

Riggers, what do you think?

 

[Tally Ho]

Check the gooseneck?

Greg

 

[Foswick]

I can't see the inside surface, but just based on available information, my assumption (as was yours) would be a bushing of some sort. Scoring on the inside (or outside) surface should give you a clue. Just, in general, I would look at the wear patterns - that will tell you its function. I can see what appears to be some scoring around the outer surface and maybe some where along one edge, but it's hard to see very clearly.

Deducing the function will narrow down the possible locations, but I will offer this:

Consider the possibility this has nothing to do with the rigging at all, and instead, comes from something else, especially since your rigging seems to be working fine. I tend to think more along the lines of it functioning purely as a spacer, but again, I can't really see the wear patterns very well.

If this had occurred on Apr. 1, I would suspect your crew straight away because that is EXACTLY the kind of thing I would pull, taking some random piece of hardware out of my pocket and saying, "Hey, is this important? I just found it laying here."

 

[DinghySailor]

Tally Ho, I’ll check the gooseneck today. Good call.
Foswick, I wouldn’t put it past the mate who found it

 

[ggrizzard]

Crew member pranking Captain... Keelhaul Offense.
US Navy agrees for crewmate who threw MOB light overboard at night!
(Hanging from the mast was outlawed some years ago)
It wasn't a pretty site.

 

[DinghySailor]

Tally Ho, you called it. It’s a spacer that dropped off the gooseneck pin, which had been missing a clevis pin since the PO. Somehow the spacer hung on this long. All replaced and good. Thanks.

 

[Tally Ho]

Tally Ho, you called it. It’s a spacer that dropped off the gooseneck pin, which had been missing a clevis pin since the PO. Somehow the spacer hung on this long. All replaced and good. Thanks.

I was really thinking it was a prank by your crew, but glad you found where it came from.

Cheers,

Greg

 

[Will Gilmore]

(Hanging from the mast was outlawed some years ago)

There are still places to hang from. The mast is simply the easiest.

-Chill Will