One of mine had a small piece of plastic tubing on the extra length of the pintle and a hose clamp over it.
I am not near a boat but I don't recall any flexible tab.
It seems it would be better if it held it in place but did allow it to come off before the force is strong enough to break something (e.g. when backing up in shallow water)
Patrick

On Thu, Jun 18, 2026 at 8:58 AM Matt Wilson <mwhornblower at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hello everyone ,
>
> The flexible tab on my lower gudgeon has broken off. A few weeks ago, I was
> backing up the boat in shallow water, and the rudder got pushed up and
> Popped off the gudgeons.
>
> I am concerned that this could happen again as my son sails by himself and
> with his friends this summer. What is the best way to keep this from
> happening In case, either of us forget to raise the rudder in shallow
> water?
>
> I was thinking of putting a R clip or trailer pin  on the bottom pintle
> where there is a notch for something like that.
>
> Any suggestions?
> Matt Wilson
> Hornblower II
> White Bear Lake, Minnesota
>