We have the same problem, I suspect the problem is mostly seen with salt water use. The problem is the carbon steel, (not stainless) used on the molded in inserts. Of course the stand offs allow salt water to reach the steel, which in turn rusts away. The simplest solution is when you install the replacement handles fill all the standoff holes and the area around the rope with silicone to prevent salt water entry into the molded in steel insert. This is likely not required if the boat is only used in fresh water. Of course if I had designed the things I would have designed the insert from gf pp, (eliminating the steel alltogether), then overmolding with TPE via two shot molding, which would signifigantly reduce the manufacturing cost, (all really simple stuff). I worked for the company that invented 2 shot molding and held all the patents until the 80's).
If you don't want to bother with all that stuff, once your stock handles rust away, just replace them with another brand of handle (pretty much any brand), or do like I did and just cut a short length of 3/8 pvc water pipe, run some paracord thru the pipe and thru the eyelet, then just tie in a knot. On the heavier boats like the TI it's pretty easy to add two handles to both the front and back to make lifting a fully loaded boat a little easier. Like always, all just my opinions, everyone else can do as they please. FE
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