Thanx..as I suspected, I would think the load would be at the end of the pole as well..there were some threads on this forum a while ago eluding to rivets being pulled out of the beam due to the shape of the mtg plate where it fits the beam impling that there is a load of some sort there.
I would imagine that a bungee cord would help keep the pole from swinging toward the back of the boat but you woundnt want to use it in shallow water