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from the H31 brochure on the Owner Resources page is the typical H31 chain plate construction details.

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This is the typical viewing/inspection opening for the H31 chain plate support rod as it enters into the metal chain plate. My 84 hull indicated surface rust only at this point. I had these professionally inspected by a rigging company but only to the extent we could see what was in the picture. further inspection would have meant cutting holes into the boat. In hindsight when I replaced the standing rigging, I should have replaced the chain plate angle iron and rods at that time. Six months later I had a port side rig failure which resulted in the loss of the mast.

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you can see the extent of the corrosion and the circular area is where the rod actually broke lose from the plate. in the construction details above, you will see there is a castle nut welded onto the plate from which the stainless steel support rod screws into. On my H31 the rod actually broke lose as this point. the plate did not fail but it appears corrosion and metal fatigue were the cause of failure.

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this is the rod where it broke lose from the photo abover

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this is the support rod bent after it broke lose and the mast went over the starboard side of the boat. The boat was under load in a regatta, with 20-22 knot winds sustained with gusts higher. Boat was under a reefed main and 139% genoa on an upwind leg. Sea state was 5-6 ft. nothing unusual for a coastal cruiser.

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damages to the deck when the chain plate broke lose.

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this is the original carbon steel angle iron Hunter used. it measures 30 long and is 1/4 thick carbon steel. the support rod is stainless steel. perhaps over time, dissimilar metals may have been a contributing factor for rig failure.

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overall depiction of what is inside the hull.

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inspection port cut into liner for future inspections. did this on both port and starboard sides for insertion of camera when inspecting in the future. rectangular opening is needed to remove 30 long angle iron and insert new angle material.

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new stainless steel angle iron with castle nut welded for screwing stainless steel support rod into. one thing to note is the stainless steel rod is welded onto the bottom of the chain plate that you see on deck. I had to cut this lose with a torch and weld the new rod onto the bottom of the plate.

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reglassed the cut out to seal