Wing nuts have wing a shaped protrusion designed for speed and convenience that are tightened and loosened by hand. Wing nuts are ideal in speedy marine applications where it is harder to use tools in any kind of intricate work on the open sea.When you need to loosen and tighten fasteners frequently without the use of tools, wing nuts are the best solution. Named for their “wing” shaped protrusions, wing nuts allow for someone to tighten and loosen by hand.