TOPIC: What is this?

I was poking around aft on my 1959 Dorsett Catalina and found these mounted under the gunwale, one on each side of the motorwell:

This is the starboard side reel, picture looking aft. There's an identical one on the port side, both with rotten poly line. No springs, no ratchets, no brakes or anything to prevent it from moving. Here's a picture of the fitting on the gunwale where (I presume) the rope is supposed to come out:

Is this some sort of docking line reel? Meant to hold waterski rope? What are these?

If the reels are spring loaded (or once was) it is used to dock the boat