ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Belaying pin

A belaying pin is like a special stick that is used to help keep a boat's ropes and lines in place. Imagine you have a really big rope that you use to tie up your boat. When you're not using this rope, you don't want it to fall all over the place or get tangled up. This is where the belaying pin comes in handy!

The pin has a special shape that lets you loop the rope around it. Then, you stick the pin into a special hole on the side of the boat. This way, the rope is held in place and won't move around.

Think of the belaying pin as a helpful friend who helps you keep things organized on your boat. It's a simple tool, but it can make a big difference in making sure everything is safe and secure.