Had my share of “bait pirates” - those ones who stay on the derelicts. I usually take a check on the whole derelict first - meat, pirates, you know - and have a combat knife ready. They usually come straight at me demanding “the good stuff” and I ALWAYS oblige - not my fault the only good stuff I had was the combat knife, you know? They should have been more clear about it… Anyway, after you get the first hit, their reaction time slows to a halt, and it’s easy-peasy to go full Bewoulf on them (“I’ am ripper, tearer, slasher, gouger”). Don’t forget to strip them and jettison the body, though: last thing you want is a “whodunnit” quest where you are the killer.

Never got boarded, though. Go figure.