What is this / found on boat?

[Ketchgould]

This has been on our 1964 Rhodes Chesapeake for the last ten years that I have owned her. Clips read "3 Italy". One clip is at mid point of two line segments that are 18" long.

Thanks a lot.

[Magnawake]

Dont know for sure, but it could be a bridle used for towing a dinghy.

[SkiprJohn]

That's the very old style harness tether. I've got one or two of them around here.

It has 3 clips. One to the harness and the other two are so you can unclip one and clip the other without ever being totally unclipped.

[Stu Jackson]

A people bridle.

[Jim Cate]

While it could be an old tether, surely no one would ever use those cheap brass snap hooks for such a purpose... would they? They are really crap!

Actually, it looks very much like part of my lifting apparatus for hoisting our RIB alongside: one two legged strop going to strong points on the transom, and an additional single-legged one going to the bow. Snap onto the spinny halyard and up she comes.

Cheers,

Jim

[SaltyMonkey]

agree dingy hoist bridle

[Ketchgould]

The snaps appear to be bronze.