# Okay, what is it?  (undetermined marine hardware)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-what-is-it-undetermined-marine-hardware/762306>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 10, 2016, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-what-is-it-undetermined-marine-hardware/762306 "2016-08-10T02:56:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-what-is-it-undetermined-marine-hardware/762306/1 "2016-08-10T02:56:13Z")

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Pics at link:

> **[What is this used for?](https://forums.iboats.com/threads/what-is-this-used-for.680473/)**
>
> A friend of mine at our marina found this on their boat.No one can figure out what it goes to.I have searched the net and cant find anything like it or close to it .We took it apart and the whole black part is a battery with a contact point up in the...

“The whole black part is a battery with a contact point up in the center of the bottom and has a push button on the end of the handle…”

It was found on a houseboat.

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**Author:** ![Kedikat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kedikat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kedikat)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-what-is-it-undetermined-marine-hardware/762306/2 "2016-08-10T03:40:56Z")

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Sail winch power source and control?

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**Author:** ![Kedikat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kedikat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kedikat)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-what-is-it-undetermined-marine-hardware/762306/3 "2016-08-10T19:29:00Z")

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Saw the pictures of it opened up.  
Wondering if it is a battery pack for diving lighting equipment or camera.

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**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-what-is-it-undetermined-marine-hardware/762306/4 "2016-08-10T20:20:33Z")

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I’m thinking it’s the handle and battery pack for a spotlight or flashlight.