What is this? What's it for?

May 24, 2004
7,173
CC 30 South Florida
Looks like a PO added bracket. What the purpose could be your guess is probably as good as mine.
 
Nov 6, 2006
10,093
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
Looks like a bracket to hold a bag with a small "bolt rope" in the top opening.. probably to hold the tail of the mainsheet and/or genny sheets. but yes, a PO addition. Look around for a bag with a lip that would fit into the slot in the bracket.
 
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Jun 2, 2004
1,944
Oday Day Sailer Wareham, MA
I was going to say a track to hold a cushion, but that didn't really make sense in that location. I'll second the idea that is was for a bag to hold the coil of the mainsheet and/or other lines/items. The top of the bag would have a "boltrope" like the luff of a roller-furling jib. Any good canvas shop can make a new bag, or a kit to make your own can be purchased from Sail-rite kits (www.sailrite.com) If you want to use the track for something else, that "bolt-rope" material is available from Sail-Rite, sold by the foot. Or you could just remove the track?
 

Kermit

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Jul 31, 2010
5,673
AquaCat 12.5 17342 Wateree Lake, SC
You could also hang framed pictures from it. Nothing like a homey cockpit!
 
Mar 20, 2012
3,983
Cal 34-III, MacGregor 25 Salem, Oregon
it definitely IS a rail to hold a bolt rope, like an awning on a travel trailer.... i would agree it probably is for a sheet bag, or utility bag for holding glasses, binocs, sunscreen, ect, that was custom built with a bolt rope sewn in.

we have utility bags on both of our boats, but they connect with snaps..
 
Aug 3, 2012
2,542
Performance Cruising Telstar 28 302 Watkins Glen
How about the lower rail to hold a cover for the companionway? Are there snaps or some connector above the crib boards on the slider?
My feeling is remove it. Those ends are gonna cut someone's ankle in a moment of emergency.