Sainte.mere.eglise Posted November 14, 2012 Share #1 Posted November 14, 2012 Hi This kind of grapnelwas found abord the wreck of a ship in the Normandy coast. Do you know exactly what is it ? Thank you for your help Best regards Bob from France Link to post Share on other sites
manayunkman Posted November 14, 2012 Share #2 Posted November 14, 2012 Looks like it went on the end of a pole. Link to post Share on other sites
Bob Hudson Posted November 14, 2012 Share #3 Posted November 14, 2012 That doesn't look like a grapnel, more like a boat hook, which fits on the end of a pole. Typically a boat hook has one curved arm and one straight one, but both are curved on this. Here's the standard style: Link to post Share on other sites
RustyCanteen Posted November 14, 2012 Share #4 Posted November 14, 2012 I concur with FS, it would have been used with 'whaleboats" and other small craft. RC Link to post Share on other sites
Sainte.mere.eglise Posted November 14, 2012 Author Share #5 Posted November 14, 2012 Thank you very much for your replies Link to post Share on other sites
Salvage Sailor Posted November 22, 2012 Share #6 Posted November 22, 2012 Yep, boat hook, but not U.S. I've got a USN boat hook & a grappling hook in my warehouse. When I dig them out I'll post some photos for reference. Link to post Share on other sites
Salvage Sailor Posted January 20, 2013 Share #7 Posted January 20, 2013 Here's a USN Boathook that came off of a YTB (Yard Tug Boat) at Pearl Harbor. As Rusty said, it is also commonly used on Whaleboats, gigs, and other small craft throughout the fleet. Link to post Share on other sites
Salvage Sailor Posted January 20, 2013 Share #8 Posted January 20, 2013 The shaft 9 feet long, is made of solid oak & has a groove cut into one side. It's finished with a heavy coat of boat varnish. Link to post Share on other sites
uplandmod Posted January 20, 2013 Share #9 Posted January 20, 2013 That's a cool hook! Link to post Share on other sites
Salvage Sailor Posted August 5, 2018 Share #10 Posted August 5, 2018 Yep, boat hook, but not U.S. I've got a USN boat hook & a grappling hook in my warehouse. When I dig them out I'll post some photos for reference. USN 15 FATHOM GRAPNEL i.e. Grappling Hook - Standard USN galvanized Grapnel with one fathom case hardened chain and fourteen fathoms of Manila line (for you landlubbers, 1 Fathom = 6 feet) Link to post Share on other sites
Salvage Sailor Posted August 5, 2018 Share #11 Posted August 5, 2018 USN 15 FATHOM GRAPNEL - One Fathom case hardened chain Link to post Share on other sites
Salvage Sailor Posted August 5, 2018 Share #12 Posted August 5, 2018 USN GRAPNEL Link to post Share on other sites
Salvage Sailor Posted August 5, 2018 Share #13 Posted August 5, 2018 There ya go......That's a USN 15 Fathom Grapnel, prepare to board! Link to post Share on other sites
mikie Posted August 5, 2018 Share #14 Posted August 5, 2018 All neat and unusual items, at least to this landlubber. But I did know what a fathom is. Mikie Link to post Share on other sites
MastersMate Posted August 6, 2018 Share #15 Posted August 6, 2018 Minor bit of trivia concerning the groove in the handle of the boathook. It was attached to the hook with the groove aligned with the direction of the hook. In the dark you could tell by feeling the groove, which way the hook was oriented.. Concerning the fathom. When I went to the USN Signalman school at Newport, RI, the Chief Signalman explained to us that the fathom was a measurement of 6 feet, the required height to be to enlist in the CG, and was the length of the tack line used to separate flag signal hoists. He noted to us Coasties, the signal bridge 'slang' term for tack line was ENSIGN, meaning 6 feet of nothing.. Link to post Share on other sites
Salvage Sailor Posted August 6, 2018 Share #16 Posted August 6, 2018 I'm sure he also let you know that 6' was the minimum height for Coasties so they could walk to shore if their boat sank..... Link to post Share on other sites
MastersMate Posted August 6, 2018 Share #17 Posted August 6, 2018 Knee Deep Sailors !!!!! We've been keeping an eye on that 12 mile limit since 1790 Link to post Share on other sites
wanderingwillys Posted June 2, 2020 Share #18 Posted June 2, 2020 On 8/5/2018 at 11:36 AM, Salvage Sailor said: USN GRAPNEL Any background on where this grapple came from - been looking for one for the WWII 83 footer we are restoring Thanks Matt Link to post Share on other sites
Salvage Sailor Posted June 5, 2020 Share #19 Posted June 5, 2020 Aloha Matt, The grapple came from a Natick class YTB after they were decommissioned at Pearl Harbor (Ford Island). It was either from the Nashua before she was scuttled off of Ewa as a training hulk or the Waxahachie before she went to MDSU-1 as IX-545 Link to post Share on other sites
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