Check your pins

This happened a few months ago. First sail of the season around the end of April. 3 of us on the boat. Me and 2 that had never been sailing before. It was blowing about 20-25. Took off the beach and made it about 300 yds out moving really well. Windward hull started lifting up with all 3 of us sitting on the rail when it popped. I've since replaced these and been out many times with the new ones with no problems. Just thought I would show some pictures.

I went through all of the rigging the previous season and replaced shrouds, bridles, forestay, but the pins looked fine so I didn't do anything with them. I thought most anchor pin failures were because it bends at the top of the threads. Has anyone ever seen a break like this?




These are the pins that came on the boat when I got it. The surface rust doesn't look as bad in person as it does in the pictures. I know this isn't what the newer pins look like. Was this an old style pin or was it something the old user found that just worked.

Bummer. Thanks for posting why changing the anchor pins is just as crucial as the rest of the standing rigging.

Good pic, thanks. Not sure the surface rust has anything to do with the issue and also not sure if you can examine the steel inside to expose weakness (cheaply). A visual is still important as you may get lucky and catch it. I personally don't change mine out regularly if they are working.

Its one of those things.

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H18, H17 & Various motor boats

Those pins fail more often than you think. Change them.

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Rich Vilvens
F-18 5150
[email protected]
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/f-185150sailing/

I check the bow tangs on my 16 very often. The bends in them make them suspectible to cracking.