Strap eye? What purpose?

[Southern Appal]

Can someone tell me what this bracket or strap eye is for? There are two on the starboard side and one on the port side. All appear original, and it doesn't look as though port side had two and now has only one.

 

[muskiemike12]

Could be to stow your running lights.

 

[Ranchero50]

It was probably originally used for some purpose in the factory when they were building the hull. Maybe a sling point or something similar.

 

[BrazosDon]

Are they big enough for an oar?

 

[JMichael]

I've always used mine to attach a stringer or basket to. My current boat has one on each side, front and rear of the boat that run horizontal instead of vertical like yours.

 

[Southern Appal]

muskiemike12 » 21 Nov 2013, 17:27[/url]"]Could be to stow your running lights.

What do you mean by stow? Put the all around light pole through the eyes? Mine is not long enough. I have thought about stashing a fishing rod through them.

 

[Southern Appal]

Ranchero50 » 21 Nov 2013, 18:11[/url]"]It was probably originally used for some purpose in the factory when they were building the hull. Maybe a sling point or something similar.

I'm dubious about that idea, Ranchero. Two on one side and one on the other? Doesn't make sense to me that manufacturer would leave something of no use to consumer.

That reminds me that I should have mentioned the boat is 1969 Polar Kraft flat bottom.

 

[Southern Appal]

BrazosDon » 21 Nov 2013, 18:39[/url]"]Are they big enough for an oar?

No way to use to stow oars.

 

[Southern Appal]

JMichael » 21 Nov 2013, 20:51[/url]"]I've always used mine to attach a stringer or basket to. My current boat has one on each side, front and rear of the boat that run horizontal instead of vertical like yours.

A PO may have done that as the port side eye is torn. Sorry, no pic of that one.

 

[Southern Appal]

I really do not like the idea of running wire for lights and accessories along the bottom of the boat. The channels behind these eye straps is tempting. They are large enough to hold wires in some sort of loom or spiral wrap. But that doesn't quite fly as an explanation either.

Thanks for your input, everyone.

 

[bcbouy]

maybe for hanging a fender from?

 

[mtydg]

My guess is they were for anchor mate lines. My 72 Monarch has 4, 2 on each side with the anchor lines running through them.

 

[Captain Ahab]

Most likely holders for wiring or steering depending on how the boat was sold. - options you did not get same as you will find in cars - dead and wires and brackets for the various options

 

[Southern Appal]

I took another look and realized the straps over the channel provide plenty of space for stowing oars. Kinda puzzled about the assymetrical configuration, but I think BrazosDon is right

 

[JMichael]

Southern Appal » Today, 04:45[/url]"]I took another look and realized the straps over the channel provide plenty of space for stowing oars. Kinda puzzled about the assymetrical configuration, but I think BrazosDon is right

Not being able to find anywhere that a mfg has listed these "straps" as a "feature" gives me doubt that they are installed for the benefit of the fisherman. That and the fact that not all of the straps are installed in a similar fashion makes me thing it was something that was originally for the benefit of the mfg and they left them thinking they could be useful for the owner and it would be more work for them to remove them than to leave them after they had served their purpose. And even though yours may work as oar holders, some arrangements in other boats would make funny oar holders as you can see in this pic.

 

[oakback]

Mine has very similar "eyes". They're definitely not big enough for oars. 2 on starboard side, and not over those channels.