Hello all, as we heat up to a yacht purchase, we came across this. The broker did not know what it is. My theory is that it is an "old school" rail or car for a self tacking jib. But maybe it's a tender stand or for picking the boat up with one hand if you are Chuck Norris. Any ideas?
You've got turning blocks on the deck next to it, so yes maybe a self tacker. Is there any evidence of a goose neck fitting at the stem head?
Looks like a traveller bar for staysail boom on as cutter rig.
Common some time ago.
Sounds like you need a different broker though.
a stay sail track Id say maybe there is a U bolt near the bow and a exit plate or block up the mast
U bolts on the bow spit your boat may have just a u bolt near the bow or it might have been set up with a furller when first rigged and a number of forsail could be selected
stay sail track 
you can see the halyard near the spreaders for the optional stay sail
Select to expand quotelydia said..
Looks like a traveller bar for staysail boom on as cutter rig.
Common some time ago.
Sounds like you need a different broker though.
you could have told me that a couple of years ago Lydia
Ah thanks all, this is making sense. The mast and rig were replaced at some time so there is no halyard for the staysail - I think that they just left the stay sail car on the boat. There is no evidence of a goose neck at the stem head, but this may well have gone at the re-rig.
If we end up with this one, I'm sure I can think of another use - you'd get 12 stubby holders along there easily. 
Maybe we could start another thread for alternative uses for bits of kit that are now redundant on our boats, but we can't be bothered to remove and make good.
Select to expand quoteHG02 said..lydia said..
Looks like a traveller bar for staysail boom on as cutter rig.
Common some time ago.
Sounds like you need a different broker though.
you could have told me that a couple of years ago Lydia
But I did not know you a couple years ago sweetie!
Select to expand quoteBristolfashion said..
Hello all, as we heat up to a yacht purchase, we came across this. The broker did not know what it is. My theory is that it is an "old school" rail or car for a self tacking jib. But maybe it's a tender stand or for picking the boat up with one hand if you are Chuck Norris. Any ideas?
Another used boat salesman calling himself a 'broker' because it just sounds so much more posh and upmarket than just being a plain used boat salesman.
Well, one has to think laterally, and l think the contraption is a so called 'granny bar'.
Lots of older sailors might remember the taller type of same, to hang on to while one is working at the mast.
Hiscock and Moitessier are both mentioning it in their books.
Foolish is mentioning one similar in his book but his is running parallel with the gunwales on both sides, further forward in 'no mans land' between the mast and the bow.
This one is a low profile one for people who do the mast work on their knees, like me. IMO.
A tube would be a bad choice for a self tacker track. For any track.
All self tacker tracks are bolted down like traveller tracks, which they are, at every four or five inches as the pull of the sail would be huge and the force would bend the tube, and or rip the base out of the deck unless it has a considerable backing plate.
The storm sail, which is usually carried on the cutter stay transfers huge forces upon the sheet in high winds! No tube of this size would withstand those forces.
The "stoppers" on the tube indicate that it's for a self tacking jib. The jib is only under tension when the jib traveler is out at the extreme position which is close to the attachment point.
