Grapple (tool)

A grapple is a hook or claw used to catch or hold something. A ship's anchor is a type of grapple, especially the "grapnel" anchor.

A throwing grapple is a multi-pronged hook that is tied to a rope and thrown to catch a grip, as on a parapet or branch of a tree. It may also be used in a boat to "drag" the bottom of a waterway to hook debris or to find missing objects.

In logging, a grapple is a hydraulically powered claw with two or more opposing levers that pinch a log or other materials, usually to lift or drag them. A grapple can be mounted to a tractor with a movable arm that may lift, extend/retract, and move side-to-side. Some machines also have a separate control for rotating the grapple. Simpler grapple machines consist of a hydraulically liftable fork or bucket and a movable, opposing "thumb" (one or more hooks or levers) that enclose and grip materials for lifting or dragging.

See also

Skidder