A pelican hook is a piece of nautical rigging hardware
It is composed of a hinged link held closed by a circumferential link capable of being released under load. Small examples are held closed by hand while the retaining link is displaced while larger examples are hit with a hammer or sledge hammer to release.
The asymmetric appearance of the two hinged pieces is similar in appearance to a pelican's beak. It is frequently used to secure ships' anchors and life raft canisters but has many other applications.
References
- Buoy Tender Duty In The South Pacific, 1943-1946, US Coast Guard
- USNS Salvor MILDET OIC releases old shipmate, ex-USS Coronado, for SINKEX
External links
- "Shiploading: A Picture-Dictionary of Shiploading Terms". The Navy Department Library. Retrieved 25 November 2016. Includes illustration of Pelican hook, under "Hooks".
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