Broken cotter pin on boom goose neck pin

[Wally XL05]

I have a 1989 30' tall rig. I bought it 4 years ago from the original owner who maintained it well. My problem is twice this year I have had the cotter pin (which holds the goose-neck pin into the cast metal keeper in the forward end of the boom) break. There is about 3/8 of an inch travel for the pin before the cotter pin hits the cast metal keeper. Before I install another one, can anyone explain why this is happening or suggest a way to prevent this from happening in the future. The boat is on a mooring and I did install a rigid boom vang 4 years ago.

 

[Dean5735]

Mine too

I had the circular pin in mine and it works it way out for some reason. I switched it to a bolt and nut and no problems now. My reefing line would hang up on the pin too sometimes, making snaggs in the line.