[Brian Duff]

The rule I was taught by Brad Storm, a rigger I learned a whole lot from - applies to nuts, cotter pins, etc is thus:

Inboard, aft or down.

In other words, first choice is inboard, second is aft (chain plates on deck for instance) or down ( spreader pins for example) and the reason for this is that a casual inspection form the cockpit might or a tour of the deck can see all is in place....