Folks,

I think there is some other influence outside normal use to cause the failure.

On the prototype I have my saddle inside the pole as the finish is a bit cleaner once assembled. I always move my boat around with the wheels beneath the hull at the rear beam and the end of the pole as a handle.
I have also given the boat a bit of a hiding on the water with some pretty severe nose dives looking for its limits.
For a while the pole has had a bend in it where I hit in one capsize.
Take a look at the holes in my pole. They have not caused any poblem.

Regards,
Phill