If on-water practice you notice loose hardware or damaged pins, what should you do?

• A. Stop practice and address the issue before continuing.
• B. Tighten with a tool while moving.
• C. Ignore the issue and finish the session.
• D. Switch to another boat.

Answer: (A)

Safety comes first: when you see loose hardware or damaged pins on the boat or rigging, you must stop and fix the issue before continuing. Loose pins or compromised hardware can fail under load, leading to loss of control, gear detachment, or a capsize, which puts everyone at risk. Bringing the boat to a safe stop allows you to inspect and secure or replace the damaged parts, ensure pins are properly seated, and confirm everything is safe to use again. If the repair can’t be completed quickly, it’s best to head to shore and have the gear repaired or inspected by a coach or technician rather than continuing. Trying to tighten things while moving is unsafe, ignoring the problem is dangerous, and just switching boats doesn’t solve the underlying risk unless the new boat is fully safe and ready to use.