what is it?

[martinchambers]

attached photo is of a stainless fitting on our Bavaria 47. As you can see it is near the halyard winch. It is about 10cm deep with a locating lug in the base, and hole is about 4cm across. I suspect it is for an external electric halyard winch but I am guessing. (it does look like an original fitting from 2002. So far Bavaria have not helped) Does anyone know, in particular a make of model as I cannot find anything with regular searches. Thanks.

Martin

[StuM]

With a locating lug in the base, my first guess would be it's the insertion point for an emergency steering tiller.

[JC Reefer]

Looks like an emergency tiller hole but the placement doesn’t make sense for that.

Does the boat have dual rudders?
Where is this in alignment to the helm?

[martinchambers]

I should have clarified the yacht is centre cockpit so this is not near helm or rudder. It is port side, next to main halyard winch, underneath dodger so it is not for light post.

[StuM]

Are there any electrical outlets near it?

[martinchambers]

No electric outlets nearby except for wind instrument console that has a 12 volt cigarette type plug that now has a USB input. So it could have been replaced some time in the past.
Good point though, an electric winch would draw quite a current. 2002 might pre date battery handheld electric winch handle? But to run an electric cable from the console it would cross the halyard. I envisage tangles.