On REBECCA (Swan 43, 1970), under the middle water tank is what appears to be a very heavy steel lifting eye or attachment point. Was this used in originally attaching the lead keel or what was its purpose? Any idea?
Also, where did you obtain the polished brass Swan hull number plate in your photo? I wrote Swan asking about replacing the hull number placard on REBECCA but received no reply.
the eye is attached to the keel, an it's to lift the boat with a single cable. Rod Stephens wanted all of his boats with one single point for lifting. If you are in a country where there is not a travelift and you absolutely need to lift the boat, you can be suresomewhere there is a single point crane for cargo ships or anyway for heavy items.
The brass plate (it's Nautor original) was introduced in the seventies, so, as hull no. 039 she's been build in the Sixties, and it's really unlikely to have it. You should instead have the alluminum plate with hull number, don't you?
Anyway at Nautor in Pietarsaari should still have a couple of brass plates (they did last year when I visited the shipyard), try to give them a call (I know they don't answer emails), give them your boat's details and ask if they can sell you one with 43/039 carved on it
Thanks you for the information and suggestion. Yes, I do have the aluminum Swan tag but not in very good condition. I will call Swan to see about obtaining a new one.