# Yet another "what is this thing?" thread **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 2, 2022, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-what-is-this-thing-thread/970815 "2022-09-02T12:41:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2022, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-what-is-this-thing-thread/970815/1 "2022-09-02T12:41:56Z")
Our back yard looks out over the Atlantic Ocean on the North Shore of Boston. We see sailboats, power boats, jet skiers, kayakers (but not, AFAIK, @kayaker) and fishing boats, including lobstermen who leave lobster pots and their distinctive float markers in our “back yard.” But we’ve never seen one of these before: [https://photos.app.goo.gl/pyE7L54GmE2Fg8FB9](https://photos.app.goo.gl/pyE7L54GmE2Fg8FB9) [https://photos.app.goo.gl/nHNHFCbMpLxHxCiQ6](https://photos.app.goo.gl/nHNHFCbMpLxHxCiQ6) (Sorry they’re fuzzy, but they were taken with my phone at max zoom.) It looks like a big inner tube you might use to float down a river, except it appears to be triangular, not circular. I’m guessing it’s about 3-4 feet across. It hasn’t moved since 8/30, so it’s anchored, not random flotsam. My first thought was a raft or floating platform a scuba diver might use, but there’s no red diver’s flag, and it’s been there more than two days. Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2022, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-what-is-this-thing-thread/970815/2 "2022-09-02T12:44:55Z")
Not really, but it looks somewhat like a coffin. It may have “crossed oceans of time to find you.” ---
**Author:** ![Kedikat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kedikat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kedikat)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2022, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-what-is-this-thing-thread/970815/3 "2022-09-02T12:49:38Z")
Possibly a bumper, with a line still attached. Free floated to the shallows, where the line is now hooked on something. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2022, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-what-is-this-thing-thread/970815/4 "2022-09-02T14:09:00Z")
Maybe an anchorage? I’ve seen people drop a chunk of concrete with chain attached to a float, creating an anchorage point. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2022, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-what-is-this-thing-thread/970815/5 "2022-09-02T14:26:40Z")
Could it just be a small inflatable dinghy? Something like this:[3D Tender 230 Superlight Twin Air Inflatable Dinghy Black 2.3m - Pirates Cave Chandlery](https://www.piratescave.co.uk/3d-tender-superlight-twin-air-inflatable-79063649.html) Edit: or a toy/leisure version of same, if it really is as small as OP estimates Or this: [Rapala FT 120 Float Tube Belly Boat + Foot Pump Flippers Repair Kit Carry Bag | eBay](https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/313575356365) ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2022, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-what-is-this-thing-thread/970815/6 "2022-09-02T14:53:11Z")
It’s the ocean’s version of a black helicopter. Tighten your foil hat! ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2022, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-what-is-this-thing-thread/970815/7 "2022-09-02T16:12:09Z")
If you’re concerned, contact the Coast Guard and ask them to check it out. ---
**Author:** ![EnolaStraight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@EnolaStraight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EnolaStraight)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2022, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-what-is-this-thing-thread/970815/8 "2022-09-07T23:13:09Z")
Maybe somebody’s tryin’ ta ketch hisself a SHARK! [​ ​ (1) JAWS - This is my wife’s holiday rrrroast! - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIHh9bhlFos)