We have an elderly Sport-Yak dinghy (I think also made by Bic?) with plastic rowlocks and sockets, and they have broken in the past - I haven't tried this yet, but would it be possible to fit a pair of bronze rowlocks and sockets, or perhaps the integral ones where the rowlock folds down?
Classic Marine do them - more info at http://www.classicmarine.co.uk/product.a...y&PT_ID=all
bought some allu rollocks at foxes in walton on naze for the same thing, captive for the oars and sockets as well.
they fit very well in the plastic sockes if you are willing to drill out the notch of the plastic sockets. then they are not captive any more of course.
i bought the sockets too, however i can't see the bic one breaking, famous last words /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif