VTurboWay 4 Pcs Quick Release Pin 1/4" Diameter w/ Drop Cam & Spring, Usable Length 0.9", Full 316 Stainless Steel, Bimini Top Pins, Marine Hardware

Why I swapped my old cotter pins for these quick-release pins

After too many seasons fiddling with bent cotter pins and seized clips on my bimini hardware, I finally moved to a set of VTurboWay quick-release pins. The difference in day-to-day use is immediate: cleaner fit, faster setup, and less worry about something working loose when the water gets rough.

I tested the 1/4-inch diameter version with a 0.9-inch usable length on a bowrider’s bimini top (standard deck hinges and eye ends), a couple of support poles, and a few stainless rail fittings. They’ve since become my default pins for anything on deck that needs to be secure but removable.

Build quality and corrosion resistance

The pins are 316 stainless stem to stern—pin, cam, spring components, and ring. That matters. On gear that lives in spray and salt air, 304 stainless will eventually tea-stain or pit, especially around crevices. After repeated dunkings and a few weeks in a slip, these have stayed bright with no frozen spring action or surface rust. I still rinse gear after a salty day, but these have handled neglect better than most small marine hardware I’ve used.

Edges are cleanly deburred, the key ring is stout enough not to deform, and the cam surfaces are smooth. I weighed a couple of them and the mass suggests solid stock, not thin-walled shortcuts.

How the mechanism works on the water

Instead of the typical ball-detent style, this design uses a slidable spring collar and a drop cam. You pull the spring-loaded sleeve back, insert the pin through the hinge stack, and release. The cam swings and nests against the back side of the fitting, locking the pin in place. To remove, pull the sleeve again and the cam retracts.

In practice, it’s one-handed, quick, and confidence-inspiring. Importantly, the spring pressure keeps the cam positively engaged, so vibration doesn’t back it out. I’ve had cotter-style pins gradually walk out of thin hinges over time; these don’t. The action is smooth even after exposure to grit—though a freshwater rinse after sandy days is still smart.

Fitment and sizing notes

• Diameter: 1/4 inch (6.3 mm). That’s the de facto standard for a lot of recreational bimini hardware. In 1/4-inch holes, these slide without slop but aren’t tight to the point of binding. If your boat uses 5/16-inch hardware, this size won’t work; measure before you order.
• Usable length: 0.9 inch. That’s the maximum stack thickness (the combined thickness of the two hinge ears plus the eye end or bracket) the cam will capture. On my setup, decks hinges and eye ends combine to about 3/8 to 5/8 inch, leaving plenty of room. If you use spacers, thicker backing plates, or add shims, double-check. Too much thread and the cam won’t fully engage; too little and you’ll struggle to clear the far side.

As a quick check: measure the distance from the face of the outer hinge ear to the far exit of the hole through the inner ear. If that dimension is under 0.9 inches, you’re good.

On-water performance

The first thing I noticed was how much more secure the bimini felt underway. There’s no rattle, and the pins don’t try to rotate themselves free. I’ve taken a short chop at 25–30 knots with the top up, and everything stayed tight. Dockside, I’ve used one pin as a temporary anchor point for a fender line when I needed a quick clip-in—no drama. I wouldn’t use them as primary load-bearing anchors for heavy, dynamic loads, but they’re more than stout enough for daily boat tasks and day-cruising forces.

The key ring gives a positive grip even with wet hands. I keep a short lanyard tethered to each ring so an accidental drop doesn’t become a lost pin overboard. The rings aren’t oversized, which I prefer; larger rings can snag sheets or bimini straps more easily.

Durability after salt and sun

After repeated saltwater runs and a couple of lazy rinses, the spring sleeve still snaps crisply and the cam pivots without stickiness. 316 stainless does well against chloride attack, and these pins show it. If you store the boat on a mooring, I’d still recommend an occasional spritz of a dry-film protectant on the cam pivot—something like Boeshield T-9 or a silicone-based spray—to keep the action slick without attracting grit. But they haven’t demanded maintenance to stay functional.

The only minor wear I can see is a faint burnish on the cam face where it bears against the hinge; that’s normal and purely cosmetic.

Ergonomics and safety

One-hand operation is a big upgrade when you’re balancing on a swim step or adjusting the bimini in a crosswind. The spring collar is easy to pull without pinching your fingers against the fitting. The cam’s geometry gives clear feedback—you feel it “home” into place. Orientation matters: set the cam to sit behind solid material, not a thin lip, and keep the ring pointed away from straps so nothing snags and pulls the sleeve unintentionally. I tried to force a failure by catching the ring on a strap and yanking; with normal tension it didn’t release, but it’s a good habit to keep rings oriented away from moving lines.

Value

Marine hardware prices can get out of hand, particularly in brick-and-mortar shops. This set of four covers both front hinges with spares, or an entire bimini and a couple of rail attachments. Having extras in the glove box has already saved me a dockside headache. For the materials quality and the convenience of the cam mechanism, the price feels fair.

Where these shine—and where they don’t

Strengths:
- Fast, one-handed quick release with a positive lock
- True 316 stainless construction for saltwater durability
- Clean fit in standard 1/4-inch marine hardware
- Low-profile ring that’s easy to tether
- Set of four is practical for common bimini layouts with spares

Limitations:
- Only fits 1/4-inch hardware; if your setup is 5/16-inch or metric, you’ll need a different size
- 0.9-inch usable length covers most bimini stacks but not unusually thick assemblies
- No published shear/tensile rating; fine for tops, poles, and hinges, but I wouldn’t rely on them for critical lifting or heavy shock loads
- The small moving parts will appreciate an occasional freshwater rinse if you boat in fine sand or silty water

Tips for getting the most out of them

• Measure first. Confirm your hole diameter and the total stack thickness. If you’re close to the 0.9-inch limit, consider thinner washers or a longer pin.
• Orient thoughtfully. Aim the cam to bear against solid, flat material. Keep the ring away from straps and running rigging.
• Add tethers. Short lanyards tied to the ring can prevent overboard losses and make retrieval easy.
• Rinse and forget. A quick rinse after salty or sandy outings keeps the spring and cam happy. A dab of dry-film lube on the cam pivot once in a while is nice but not necessary.

The bottom line

Switching to these VTurboWay pins made my bimini top faster to set, quieter underway, and more secure in chop. The 316 stainless construction is doing exactly what you want on the water—resisting corrosion without fuss—and the cam-and-sleeve mechanism locks with a confidence I never had from simple cotter pins. They’ve slotted into other jobs around the boat as well, from support poles to rail fittings, and the set-of-four packaging means I always have a spare on hand.

I recommend these for boaters running standard 1/4-inch bimini hardware who want a reliable, corrosion-resistant quick-release solution. They’re strong, easy to use with one hand, and sized for the most common deck-hinge setups. Just check your stack thickness and diameter before you buy. If you need a different size or have unusually thick hinge stacks, look for the same mechanism in a longer or larger-diameter variant. For most small to mid-size boats, though, these pins hit the sweet spot of simplicity, durability, and value.