i sail quite a bit in the ocean and harbor, the boat and i really get bounced around. should i just replace aluminum rudder pins on a regaular basis, like every other month (sheared two in this month) or get some stainless steel pins?

The stainless pins are hollow, and if you are shearing pins now, these will probably deform. I've tried the fiberglass pins and the stainless, gave up and went back to the aluminum. The fiberglass ones will fail on their own in any kind of wind or stress. The stainless ones deformed, making them almost impossible to get them out. All this without hitting anything.

you should be able to pick up some stainless rod somewhere, cut and drill, for not much $$$. I replaced the pins on my TheMightyHobie18 with solid stainless rod - I'm fortunate enough to work at a machine manufacturing facility where we build with stainless. Hmmm...perhaps a business opportunity?