Boat anchor (metaphor)

In this context boat anchors are often prized by their owners and their strengths (e.g. immunity to EMP) emphasised, even if newer equipment is more capable.

The magazine published a letter from a reader seeking "schematics or conversion data" for a war surplus Wireless Set No.

The editor added this reply: "The only conversion we seem to have on the files here at CQ calls for 100 feet of 1 inch Manila line, one end of which is to be tied securely around the MK II Transceiver.

"The editor's use of the term generated some reader interest, and in February 1957, CQ published a follow-up story that included photos.

[5] The term boat anchor has been extended to software code[6] that is left in a system's codebase, typically in case it is needed later.