No the guy who chose to put aluminum backing plates for steel bolts is the retard!
One of my front beam bolts stripped and ever since the boat has not felt as stiff. It stripped because the threads were somehow damaged on the bolt, I barely tightened the bolt but I didnt notice the threads were damaged until it was too late. I was able to upsize the bolt and it holds at the factory torque setting (but I do tighten it a bit tighter, part of the issue) but I'm not sure whats up.
Since they are laminated in it seems like it'd be a huge nightmare / impossbile to get them out... but if I could I would replace them with stainless steel backing plates in a heartbeat. AHPC boats have stainless steel backing plates, I think Tornados do too, not sure about Hobie.... but it just doesn't seem like a good idea to me to put aluminum ones in there!