swan 46 sailboat data

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Swan 46 is a 47 ′ 0 ″ / 14.4 m monohull sailboat designed by German Frers and built by Nautor (Swan sailboats) between 1983 and 1997.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

Mk I(81 built)shown above. Shallow draft: 5.6’ Keel/CB: BU:5.5’ BD:9.0’

Rig dimensions varied significantly for this model.

(See SWAN 46 MKII.)

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Swan 46 MKII

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Bluewater Sailboat – Swan 46 (MKI and MKII)

Nautor’s Swan reinvents its blue-water cruising character with the  Swan 46 (MKI and MKII)  following a decade of focusing on fully crewed racing boats. One of Nautor’s most popular models was the Swan 46, was created by Germán Frers Jr. and released in 1983. It established a reputation as a cruiser/racer in numerous Swan Cup competitions.

With 109 boats constructed between 1983 and 1997, the Swan 46 is the second most produced boat model at the Finnish shipyard Nautor Swan. With these details, it can be said that the collaboration between shipyard and designer German Frers was a great success. In addition to being a great cruiser, the Swan 46 has won the coveted Rolex Swan European Regatta and Rolex Swan World Cup, the toughest competition for any Swan boat.

• Draft:2.50 (m)
• DSPL 36,800 lbs.
• SA (u/d) 1,201 sq. ft./ 2,854 sq. ft.
• Design German Frers
• Builder:Nautor Swan
• Yacht Model:Nautor Swan 46 MK I

Nautor’s Swan has been a household brand in high-end racer/cruisers ever since the business made its debut with the Swan 36 in 1967. Their designs have shifted more and more in recent years toward the racing end of the compromise, where they have amassed a number of noteworthy successes, not the least of which is the Bluewater Sailboat Swan 45 class’s popularity or their partnership with the New York Yacht Club for a 42-foot onedesign class. As devoted Swan sailors, however, get older, many of them broaden their racing campaigns by doing more doublehanded cruising.

Although most owners will choose bow thrusters, hull number eight Fierce Pride only used her 75-horsepower Volvo saildrive. And to watch Keith Yeoman of Nautor’s Swan USA’s Annapolis office skillfully manoeuvre her out of the busy marina was a welcome sight.

In order to avoid sweating when cruising, Fierce Pride has been modified with electric winches in place of the original manual ones. All lines are led to the cockpit, and sail handling was a breeze. The 107-percent genoa was unfolded, the main was raised with the push of a button, and sailed away.

Swan boats are known for their distinctive lines, which always ensure outstanding quality, thoughtful design, safety, and sailing enjoyment. The layout of the deck is well-proportioned, and the sail and hull are perfectly balanced, making the boat simple to sail with a small crew. Similar to previous Swan models, her design and workmanship are superior to those of other production boats, something you notice and value in rough seas.

The Bluewater Swan 46 is the 33rd rendition of Nautor’s Swan by Germán Frers. The 46 was created with shorthanded cruisers in mind, in contrast to the double cockpit Swans created for full racing crews. It may be comfortably and easily sailed either offshore or along the coast.

Although it is clear that performance was the main consideration in the design brief, provisions for difficulties with comfort and simplicity on deck were included. The Swan 46 has a roughly similar beam to Swan’s earlier cruisers but carries it farther forward for a roomier interior and cockpit. Tapping is made simple by the 15/16 fractional rig, non-overlapping headsail, and lack of a staysail. A code zero or similar device can likewise be used to rig the 46.

The hull is solid fibreglass, reinforced with isopolyester laminate with vinylester skincoat. In some applications, multiaxial or unidirectional fibres are employed. The deck is made of a sandwich of low density closed cell foam core and multiaxial fiber-reinforced isopolyester laminate.

The 46’s basic mast has two sets of swept spreaders and is built of IRC-friendly aluminium. When anchored stern to a dock, the cockpit’s two wheels make it simple to move from the companionway to the drop-down transom door, which also serves as a gangway.

A gas piston allows the helmsman’s seat to be readily raised out of the way. The lack of a traveler is another concession to comfort, but Swan has strengthened the boom and the vang, so vang-sheeting helps make up for the traveler’s absence. The main is reefed with a single-line system that leads to the cockpit in order to retain shorthanded skippers in the cockpit. The deckhouse is low and long, and it has the distinctive dark-blue stripe that the four portlights are set in.

The terrace of this Bluewater Sailboat is remarkably spacious, and every effort has been made to remove unnecessary fixtures and reduce clutter. The foredeck is kept free by the installation of the windlass and roller furler in recesses beneath the deck. The roller furler has its own compartment, whereas the windlass is accessible from the forepeak. Running backstays are not required when using sweptback spreaders. Between the twin wheels, the backstay splits to make it simple to go from the companionway to the swim platform.

Inner shrouds are absent, and instead of extending across the deck, chainplates extend all the way to the sheer. The only lines that cross the deck are the jib sheets. All lines at the mast are led under the cabin roof via a tidy collection of fair leads.  The German main system is rigged on the main sheet. The line travels through the boom end, splits at the mast, and then returns through the boom to a single block in the cockpit. The two bitter ends of the line are then run back to winches on either side of the cockpit.

She is a bluewater cruiser after all, thus there is no traveler on the main, forfeiting the capacity to windward sheet. However, the 46’s simple design is furthered by the lack of a traveller and the mainsheet coils in the cockpit’s middle. To completely expose the cockpit in port, the mainsheet block in the middle of the space can be relocated to a stanchion’s base. The 46 is equipped with an extra-large hydraulic vang that can be controlled from the helm to supplement the mainsheet system.

Fully battened with lazy jacks, the main has a considerably better sail form than would be achievable with a furling main and makes setting and striking a neat process. There is no need to think about a furling system when combined with the single line reefing system that runs back to the cockpit. The dodger may be folded down into a cabin top recess and zip closed when sailing in calm circumstances. According to the plans for the day, a series of fittings in the cockpit floor can accommodate a table, a foot brace, or they can be kept empty to maximise space and options.

Yeoman adds that the teak deck is vacuum-bagged before being cooked, which will make it last a lot longer than the “screw and glue” procedure and give the fibreglass underneath better security. In contrast to earlier Swans, the cabin top is devoid of teak for aesthetic purposes and to reduce weight. The deck is extremely wide and uncomplicated from stem to stern, and everything is controllable from the cockpit.

While the two-cabin version makes use of the space on the starboard side for more galley counters and lockers, an optional washer/dryer, an optional second freezer, and a sizable deck storage, the three-cabin version contains twin quarter berths.

The Bluewater Sailboat 46 has a nav station front of the galley, which is unique to this new generation of cruising Swans. It is a genuinely versatile navigation station that can show a DVD or communicate the most recent navigational information with the entire crew. It is located across from the dinette and equipped with a flat screen on the bulkhead. With benches on either side, the chart table is designed like a booth. The most up-to-date navigational package with a screen that can transition between useful displays was made possible by the Swan 46’s design.

The chart table is large enough to hold a chart kit and has lots of storage underneath, but it will likely be used as a breakfast or cocktail booth instead because the crucial navigational data will be shown on the screen above. There is space for a full complement of navigation and communications equipment on the bulkhead behind the flat screen.

On many yachts meals with a full crew require at least someone to do an uncivilised shimmy between a bulkhead and the corner of the table. With the movable dinette top that makes space to move in between the sofa and daggerboard trunk and then locks back into position, Swan has restored crew dignity.  Extra places at the table are supplied with free chairs that lock into place when underway with fast pins.

Burmese wood is used to attractively finish the interior. The grain is constant throughout, and Nautor keeps a reserve of the teak used on each boat so that future interior work will match. The lockers are all ventilated to encourage air flow and drying. If necessary, access to the hull is provided through false floors.

There are very few joints or corners to be found along the 46. To reduce creaking and shifting and maintain door operability, teak laminates are moulded into all of the corners of the structure.  Traditional handholds on the overhead are stylishly replaced by fiddles and laminate trim that are both tightly fastened and shaped for comfort.

All of the tanks have hooks and straps built into their construction so they can be taken out and fitted into the companionway.

Performance

Given her moderate displacement and considerable wetted surface area, the sailboat made four through the water while travelling at five knots of real wind, which is an outstanding number. Swan’s 46 can be ordered with either a daggerboard or the regular 7.5-foot draught. The daggerboard option, which has two rudders, draws 4.3 feet when the board is up and 11.1 feet when it is down. A hydraulic pump and electric motor are used to lower the board. There is a manual backup in the event of a failure. She was given Fierce Pride through her paces after taking the board down. The Swan 46 is unquestionably a heavy boat.

She weighs in at 39,000 pounds with the normal hull and 41,900 pounds with the daggerboard option when fully loaded. The 46 has a displacement/length of 221 on the basic hull and is built to Nautor’s Swan’s seaworthy standards. It is intended to feel sturdy underfoot and maintain directional stability in severe seas. However, the 46 seemed nimble and sensitive in the modest zephyrs given by the afternoon. Even Yeoman was taken aback by how expertly she handled the slender breeze.

She got sailed from a close reach to a broad reach at a pace of more than 4.5 knots despite the wind’s pitiful 5.5 knots. She didn’t slow down as gybed and tacked deftly. The genuine test was then observed.

To lessen the impact of the wind shadow, the boat was passed in front of her and positioned well to windward. It was shocking that how rapidly she moved ahead, perhaps too quickly as after a few hundred yards the Bluewater Sailboat Morgan 44 furled her sails and turned on the iron genny.

A 53-horsepower Volvo Penta with saildrive and a Flex-O-Fold three-blade folding propeller is standard equipment on the Swan 46.  Once more, Fierce Pride was fitted with the improved Volvo that produced 75 horsepower. She worked the way up to 2,400 rpms of power and made 7.75 through the water. When she made each turn within a sailboat length while still maintaining better than five knots, it was full speed and a hard turn to port followed by a hard turn to starboard that had me grabbing for the compass pedestal. It took 15 to 20 seconds and fewer than five boat lengths to go from full-ahead to full-stop.

Even when listening in the quarter berth, the well-insulated engine room confined the noise in the cockpit to a hum and was better than tolerable. There was easy access to the engine from every angle. The 240-amp/hour, 24-volt house battery bank is powered by a 110-amp alternator in the usual configuration. The starter battery has its own 115-amp alternator fitted. The metal mast serves as the vent for the common gelcell batteries. A generator, air conditioning and watermaker are possibilities that make life on Fierce Pride a little more luxurious.

Quick Notes

Frers and Swan are aware of how navigation has mostly transitioned to the digital age and transformed a largely useless area into a marvel of dual functionality.

It’s clear that the most recent Swan isn’t a pure racer; in fact, it’s rather opulent. However, for those that straddle the cruiser/racer line, it’s a boat that will expertly meet both needs. The Swan 46 will get you there with style and speed, whether it’s a doublehanded race to Bermuda or just a friendly sprint to the finest mooring after a day of ocean cruising.

Now you can also precisely calculate the expenses related to boat ownership so that you can make smart choices based on your budget and sailing needs. Use this bluewater Sailboat Calculator to explore different options and make the best decision.

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The Swan 46, A True Performance Cruiser

• By Tony Bessinger
• Updated: June 21, 2006

There are few name brands in the world of sailing as well-known as Nautor’s Swan. The racey good looks, teak decks, and high level of craftsmanship have imprinted themselves on the psyche of a generation of sailors. Under the influence of Leonardo Ferragamo, who purchased the Finnish company with a group of investors in 1998, Nautor has been updating its product line with both raceboats and performance cruisers. We had the opportunity to sail the latest design, the Swan 46, last fall in Annapolis, and while it’s marketing target is cruising sailors, we found it to be a responsive, great-sailing boat with the chops to get the job done on the racecourse, too. The standard mast on the 46 is made of IRC-friendly aluminum, with two sets of swept spreaders. A carbon rig is a $75,000 option. The cockpit has two wheels, which allows for easy passage from the companionway to the drop-down transom door-which doubles as a gangway when moored stern to a dock. The helmsman’s seat lifts out of the way easily, courtesy of a gas piston. Another concession to comfort is the absence of a traveler, but Swan has reinforced the boom and the vang, so vang-sheeting helps compensate for the loss of the traveler. To keep shorthanded skippers in the cockpit, the main is reefed with a single-line system, which leads to the cockpit The deckhouse is long and low, and sports the trademark dark-blue stripe, in which the four portlights seem to disappear. A lot was done to free the deck area of obstructions; the turning blocks for the halyards at the base of the mast are sunk into the deck, as are the halyards, which don’t re-appear until they exit the coaming surrounding the companionway. The mainsheet, which is rigged grand-prix style, also runs under the deck to a spot just forward of the helmsman. The roller-furler drum for the headsail is rigged below the deck as well. The only protrusion on the deckhouse is the dorade vent forward of the mast, and it’s well protected by a cage of metal tubing. The Swan 46 motors at 8 knots with the 53-horsepower Volvo saildrive at 2,800 rpm., powering a three-blade folding prop. An option for those who wish to make it home to the marina faster is a 75-horsepower engine driving a four-blade folding prop. Our backdown test showed a slight tendency to pull to the left, but the twin rudders manage that tendency nicely. Two turns is all it takes for the helms to go lock-to-lock, which means handling is crisp and tight. The 46 we sailed is equipped with a fiberglass daggerboard and twin rudders, an optional package for shallow waters which gives the boat a draft of 4’4″ with the board up, 11’1″ board down. Being racing sailors, one of the first tests we did while sailing downwind was to raise the board to see how much faster the 46 would go without it; we went from 9.5 to 10 knots with an asymmetric spinnaker up in 16 to 18 knots of wind. We also figured out when the daggerboard is up, having both rudders in the water was better than having only one; when we pressed the 46 and the weather rudder came clear of the water, we could feel the leeward rudder start to cavitate. The daggerboard is ballasted, driven by hydraulics, and can go from up to full depth in 4 seconds, and up again in 12. If the electric motor that drives the hydraulics isn’t working, the daggerboard can be manually pumped up or down, or lifted by a halyard through a hatch located directly over the daggerboard housing in the salon. The daggerboard is “somewhat sacrificial,” according to Nautor, and will break before it damages the structure of the boat. There’s a panic switch, which, if you feel the keel strike something, pulls the board up, very quickly. The full batten mainsail attaches to the mast with an Antal batten-car system, which, when combined with the power winch on the cabin top, makes for a sail that’s a cinch to set. We sailed upwind with a full main and 543 square foot headsail, and enjoyed every minute. The 46 is almost, but not quite a masthead rig (31/32), so the non-overlapping jib is tall, and has plenty of grunt. It’s the small details in the interior that add up and make a Swan a Swan: the floorboards are all labeled, so if the floorboards have to come out, putting them back in is easy. If a floorboard is damaged or lost, the factory can replace it from the same lot of teak; they keep each boat’s details on file. When one of the floorboards is lifted with the Swan suction-cup handles, deep bilges and an aluminum framework are visible. When there’s plumbing, every tube, pipe, through-hull fitting, and hose is labeled. All fuel tanks are designed to be removed through the companionway if necessary. The two chairs found below can be moved anywhere in the cabin, but when the weather gets rough, they lock down into fittings built into the floorboards. At first glance, there appears to be no nav station. In its place are two bench seats and a small table just forward of the galley to starboard, and across from the settee and its table. But when it’s time to navigate, a flat screen monitor that doubles as an entertainment system is pulled out from the bulkhead on an articulating arm and the area turns into a nav station. Frers and Swan understand how navigation has become mostly digital, and has turned a semi-wasted space into a dual-purpose masterpiece. It’s obvious this latest Swan isn’t a flat-out racer, in fact, it’s downright luxurious. But for those who walk both sides of the cruiser/racer divide, it’s a boat that will satisfy both needs with aplomb. Whether it be a doublehanded race to Bermuda, or simply a friendly race to the best mooring after a day of cruising, the Swan 46 will get you there with style and speed. Swan 46 Specs LOA 46′ Beam 14′ DSPL 36,800 lbs. SA (u/d) 1,201 sq. ft./ 2,854 sq. ft. Design German Frers Price $770,000 www.nautorsswan.com

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• Boat Reviews

Since the company’s 1967 debut with the Swan 36, Nautor’s Swan has been a leading name in top-end racer/ cruisers. In recent years their designs have moved increasingly toward the racing end of the compromise, where they have racked up notable achievements, not least of which is the success of the Swan 45 class or the collaboration with the New York Yacht Club for a 42-foot onedesign class. However, as loyal Swan sailors mature, many diversify their racing campaigns with more doublehanded cruising. While Nautor’s Swan continues to push the leading edge of onedesign Corinthian racing, they have simultaneously reinvented their cruising line, this time incorporating all of the performance and panache that Swan sailors have come to expect. After proving her mettle in European waters, the Swan 46 debuted in the U.S., and BWS had the opportunity to go for a spin in a recent light air test sail in Annapolis.

The flags had been drooping all morning, but the leaves started to rustle after lunch, and we decided to give it a try. Though bow thrusters are an option most owners will opt for, Fierce Pride, hull number eight, relied solely on her 75-horsepower Volvo saildrive. And it was refreshing to see Keith Yeoman of Nautor’s Swan USA’s Annapolis office deftly maneuver her out of the crowded marina.

Sweat is uncivilized when cruising, and thus Fierce Pride has been upgraded with electric winches instead of the standard manual ones. All lines are led to the cockpit, and sail handling was a breeze. With the simple press of a button the main was up, the 107- percent genoa was unfurled and we were off.

UNDER SAIL In five knots of true wind we made four through the water, close on the wind, impressive numbers given her moderate displacement and large wetted surface area. The 46 can come with a standard draft of 7.5 feet or a daggerboard, a first for Swan. The daggerboard option draws 4.3 feet when the board is up and 11.1 feet with the board down, and has twin rudders. The board is lowered with an electric motor and hydraulic pump. In case of failure, there is a manual backup.

With the board down we took Fierce Pride through her paces. Without question, the Swan 46 is a heavy boat. Fully loaded, she tips the scales at 39,000 pounds in the standard hull and 41,900 pounds in the daggerboard option. Built to Nautor’s Swan’s seaworthy standards, the 46 has a Displacement/ Length of 221 on the standard hull and is designed to feel solid underfoot and maintain directional stability in rough conditions. However, the 46 felt nimble and responsive in the mere zephyrs offered by the afternoon. Even Yeoman was surprised at how well she performed in the barelybreeze conditions.

With the wind speed at a measly 5.5 knots we made better than 4.5 knots of speed from a close reach to a broad reach. She maintained her speed as we nimbly tacked and gybed. Then we spied the real test. A Morgan 44 was making for the Naval Academy. We crossed ahead of her and lined up well to windward to minimize the effect of our wind shadow. Everyone involved was surprised by how quickly we pulled ahead, perhaps too quickly as after a few hundred yards the Morgan 44 furled her sails and turned on the iron genny.

INFLUENCED BY POWER So as not to be too spoiled of a winner (did they even know they were racing?), we started up our engine as well, to “see what she’s got.” While no Volvo Open 70 racer I still found myself reaching for something to hold on to.

The Swan 46 comes standard with a 53-horsepower Volvo Penta with saildrive and Flex-O-Fold three-blade folding propeller. Again, Fierce Pride was outfitted with the upgraded version with a 75- horsepower Volvo. We powered up to a cruising speed of 2,400 rpms and made 7.75 through the water. Then it was full speed and a hard turn to port followed by a hard turn to starboard that had me reaching for the compass pedestal as she made each turn within a boat length, maintaining better than five knots. Full-ahead to full-stop took 15 to 20 seconds and ate up less than five boat lengths.

The well-insulated engine room kept the noise in the cockpit to a hum and was better than tolerable even when listening in the quarter berth. Access to the engine was ample on all sides. The standard arrangement comes with a 110-amp alternator for the 240-amp/hour, 24-volt house battery bank. A separate 115-amp alternator is installed for the starter battery. The standard gelcell batteries vent through the aluminum mast. A generator, air conditioning and watermaker are options that make life on Fierce Pride a little more luxurious.

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION The Swan 46 is Germán Frers’ 33rd design for Nautor’s Swan. In a departure from the double cockpit Swans designed for full racing crews, the 46 was designed with shorthanded cruisers in mind. It can be sailed with ease and comfort whether headed offshore or down the coast.

While it is obvious that performance was paramount in the design brief, accommodations were made to issues of comfort and simplicity on deck. Compared to Swan’s earlier cruisers, the 46 has proportionally the same beam but carries it farther aft for a more voluminous interior and spacious cockpit. The 15/16 fractional rig, non-overlapping headsail and absence of a staysail make tacking easy. The 46 can also be rigged with a code zero, or the like. The deck is strikingly open and every effort has been made to eliminate superfluous fittings and minimize clutter. The roller furler and windlass are both installed recessed under the deck, keeping the foredeck clear.

The windlass is accessible through the forepeak while the roller furler has its own compartment. Sweptback spreaders remove the need for running backstays. The backstay splits for easy access from the companionway to the swim platform, between the twin wheels.

There are no inner shrouds, and chainplates go all the way to the sheer rather than across the deck. The jib sheets are the only lines that run over the deck. All lines at the mast are led under the cabin top via a tidy collection of fair leads. The main sheet is rigged with the German main system. The line runs through the end of the boom to a single block in the cockpit and back through the boom to the mast where it splits and the two bitter ends are run back to winches on either side of the cockpit.

There is no traveler on the main, forfeiting the ability to windward sheet, she is a cruiser after all. However, the absence of a traveler and coils of mainsheet in the center of the cockpit further the 46’s minimalist theme. In port, the mainsheet block at the center of the cockpit can be moved to the base of a stanchion to fully open up the cockpit. To complement the mainsheet system, the 46 is equipped with an oversized hydraulic vang that is operable from the helm.

The main is fully battened with lazy jacks that make setting and striking a tidy affair, and allow for a much better sail shape than would be possible with a furling main. Combined with the single line reefing system that runs back to the cockpit, there is no need to consider a furling system. When sailing in pleasant conditions the dodger folds down into a recess in the cabin top that can zip closed. To maximize space and options in the cockpit, a series of fittings in the cockpit floor can receive a table, foot brace, or be left vacant depending on the day’s agenda.

The teak deck is vacuumbagged, then cooked, which, Yeoman explains, will last substantially longer than the “screw and glue” method and provide better security for the fiberglass underneath. In a departure from earlier Swans, the teak is absent from the cabin top for styling and saved weight. From stem to stern the deck is remarkably open and simple, with everything operable from the cockpit.

The hull is solid fiberglass, reinforced with isopolyester laminate with vinylester skincoat. Multiaxial or unidirectional fibers are used in selected areas. The deck is of sandwich construction, using multiaxial fiber-reinforced isopolyester laminate, with lowdensity closed cell foam core.

The Swan 46 is available in a three-cabin or two-cabin layout. In either option the forward cabin will be the owner’s stateroom with private head, vanity and ample storage space. The head is all the way forward, keeping the double berth farther aft to minimize motion. The threecabin version has double quarter berths, while the twocabin version uses the space on the starboard side for more galley counters and lockers, optional washer/ dryer, optional second freezer and large deck locker.

Unique to this new generation of cruising Swans, the 46 has the nav station forward of the galley. Situated across from the dinette and outfitted with a flat screen on the bulkhead, it is truly a multifunctional nav station with the ability to show a DVD or share the latest nav information with the whole crew. The chart table is boothstyle with benches on either side.

The Swan 46 was designed to accommodate the most modern navigational suite with a screen that can switch between functional displays. While the chart table is sized for a chart kit with plenty of storage underneath, it will more likely serve as a breakfast or cocktail booth with the important nav information displayed on the screen above. On the bulkhead aft of the flat screen there is room for a full complement of navigation and communications gear.

On many boats meals with a full crew require at least someone to perform an uncivilized shimmy between a bulkhead and the corner of the table. Swan has restored crew dignity with the sliding dinette top that creates room to slide in between the settee and daggerboard trunk, and then locks back into place. Extra places at the table are accommodated with free chairs that lock into place when underway with fast pins.

The interior is finished with Burma teak and is beautifully done. The grain is consistent throughout, and Nautor keeps a reserve of the teak used on each boat so that future interior work will match. All of the lockers are vented to promote air circulation and drying action. False floors allow access to the hull, should the need arise.

You will be hard-pressed to find a joint or corner anywhere on the 46. All corners are molded with teak laminates to minimize creaking and shifting and keep doors operable underway. The fiddles and laminate trim on the overhead are securely fastened and feature an ergonomic shape, thus serving as a stylish replacement to traditional handholds.

An aluminum grid supports the floorboards, all of which can be removed for access to the bilge. All of the tanks are designed with hooks and straps so they can be removed and fit out the companionway.

In a time when many boats try to be everything to everyone, Swan must be commended for not conceding to compromise. The Swan 46 is a high performance cruiser that will be easily managed by a couple offshore and is simple enough for impromptu afternoon sails. It is the perfect boat for a couple looking to trade in their racing campaigns for a cruiser that is going to give them just as much of a thrill when the wind kicks up.

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Author: Blue Water Sailing

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Swan 46 mkii

The swan 46 mkii is a 47.08ft masthead sloop designed by german frers and built in fiberglass by nautor (swan sailboats) between 1989 and 1997., 28 units have been built..

The Swan 46 mkii is a moderate weight sailboat which is slightly under powered. It is stable / stiff and has a good righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a bluewater cruising boat.

Swan 46 mkii for sale elsewhere on the web:

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Nautor Swan Swan 46

General Data

Shipbuilder:, see also: boats for sale.

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Overall length:

Maximum beam:, displacement:, straightening:, sail details mq, transmission:.

SWAN 46 Detailed Review

If you are a boat enthusiast looking to get more information on specs, built, make, etc. of different boats, then here is a complete review of SWAN 46. Built by Nautor (Swan sailboats) and designed by German Frers, the boat was first built in 1983. It has a hull type of Fin w/spade rudder and LOA is 14.35. Its sail area/displacement ratio 15.82. Its auxiliary power tank, manufactured by Perkins, runs on Diesel.

SWAN 46 has retained its value as a result of superior building, a solid reputation, and a devoted owner base. Read on to find out more about SWAN 46 and decide if it is a fit for your boating needs.

Boat Information

Boat specifications, sail boat calculation, rig and sail specs, auxillary power tank, accomodations, contributions, who designed the swan 46.

SWAN 46 was designed by German Frers.

Who builds SWAN 46?

SWAN 46 is built by Nautor (Swan sailboats).

When was SWAN 46 first built?

SWAN 46 was first built in 1983.

How long is SWAN 46?

SWAN 46 is 11.53 m in length.

What is mast height on SWAN 46?

SWAN 46 has a mast height of 15.7 m.

Member Boats at HarborMoor

Fin w/bulb & spade rudder

Specifications SWAN 46 MKIII

2004 - 46.00 ft / 14.02 m - German Frers - Nautor

SWAN 46 MKIII Sailboat Data

Hull Type: Fin w/bulb & spade rudder Rigging Type: Masthead Sloop LOA: 46.00 ft / 14.02 m LWL: 39.57 ft / 12.06 m S.A. (reported): 1,178.65 ft² / 109.50 m² Beam: 13.98 ft / 4.26 m Displacement: 32,408.00 lb / 14,700 kg Ballast: 12,125.00 lb / 5,500 kg Max Draft: 7.22 ft / 2.20 m Construction: FG First Built: 2004 Last Built: 2007 # Built: 25 Builder: Nautor Designer: Germán Frers

Information from  sailboatdata.com .

Type Engine: Diesel HP: 72 Fuel: 92 gals / 350 L Water: 119 gals / 450 L Hull Speed: 8.43 kn