found weighted PVC in new to me boat

[fgraham]

Approx 3" pvc pipe; 18" long; caps on both ends; very heavy; carabiner on both ends. What could that be?

 

[Captn TJ]

Picture would be helpful

 

[Ted]

Too obvious to be additional ballast so here's my guess. It sounds like it could be a home made anchor weight. They are useful to reduce scope when anchoring in crowded harbors or to increase the holding power of an existing anchor. The manufactured/marketed product looks like this one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WswS3_yzNGY

 

[Johnb]

Overkill for the purpose but could be used for sounding depth?

 

[Chief RA]

Chain is the best approach for low scope and if that does not make you happy then hang some extra chain on the anchor chain upper end. Chief

 

[woodster]

you can also add a 15 lb mushroom anchor on the rope to chain connection about a foot or so down on the chain part and get good results

 

[Joe]

I agree with Ted... it's an anchor Kellet. Use a SS carabiner to clip the weight to nylon rode.... a messenger line controls position and retrieval. The intention is that the weight increases the scope of the rode by changing its angle to the anchor.

There is some controversy to the kellet's effectiveness in certain conditions..... but that's not the question that was asked.

It could also be used as a weight to hold a heavy weather drogue under water as it's towed behind boat.

 

[fgraham]

Thanks - I'll bet that is right.

 

[Dave602]

I too would go with anchor weight, I use a mushroom anchor on my line a lot

 

[All U Get]

It could also be used as a weight to hold a heavy weather drogue under water as it's towed behind boat.

I made one for our drogue by filling an old fire extinguisher with melted lead. It's been in the drogue bag ever since.

All U Get

 

[fgraham]

I made one for our drogue by filling an old fire extinguisher with melted lead. It's been in the drogue bag ever since.

All U Get

I'm not familiar with the word "drogue.

 

[All U Get]

Follow this link.

http://jordanseriesdrogue.com/

or

http://www.seriesdrogue.com/

All U Get

 

[fgraham]

Thanks - How exactly is it deployed?

 

[All U Get]

We have our in a bag we made from Sailrite. We plan to set up the bridle then fasten the drogue and a separate line to our primary winch (so we can retrieve it later). Follow the 1st link to launch and retrieve.

http://www.sailrite.com/Drogue-Kits#!Drogue-Kits

All U Get

 

[Joe]

Thanks - How exactly is it deployed?

A storm drogue is deployed from the back of the boat and is used to keep control of the boat by slowing it down in stormy conditions. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drogue