Ed, The fixes I have used for the problems with the as supplied system:
1. Take a 1/4" piece of "ship board" (high density plastic) and cut to the same size as the foot of the righting pole. Hold a piece of 180 grit over the main cross beam grit side up and sand the plastic to the shape of the beam. This will make a shaped shim to go under the foot of the pole distributing the loads better.
2. Use 1/4-20 bolts and nuts to mount to beam.
Good luck, Mark L.