What on earth is this?

[GrahamO]

Dumb question #2.....

Does anyone know what I am supposed to do with this thingy found on our new boat? It is too alluring to dispose of with the two truckloads of trash we have already shifted but I have NO idea what it is for (and Google image search is useless).



Thanks a lot,

[SHNOOL]

Looks like a pre-feeder to me. For a large headsail, or boltrope main?

[GrahamO]

Google liked that better.... Not clear if it is useful with the current sail configuration but at least I know what it is.

Thanks a lot

[captainbr]

It is a pre-feeder for a Hood furling system. It should be tied to the furling drum and positioned about 2' below the foil feeder. Some versions the pre-feeder is fastened to the deck.

The luff tape on your headsail is fed into the pre-feeder and then into the foil. The pre-feeder's function is to align the luff with the feeder on the furling system foil.

[GrahamO]

Thanks Bruce,
That might be useful but generally our sail plan is to securely furl the headsail and move to a hanked-on staysail for weather so headsail changes at sea are unlikely. I'll put it on the ornamental hardware shelf for now.