The Swan 48, an aft-cockpit sloop, was designed by Sparkman & Stephens and built in Finland by Nautor Swan.
Underwater Configuration: Fin keel & skeg-hung rudder
Hull Material: GRP (Fibreglass)
Length Overall: 47'11" (14.6m)
Waterline Length: 37'3" (11.4m)
Beam: 13'7" (4.2m)
Draft: 7'9" (2.4m)
Rig Type: Masthead sloop
Displacement: 36,000lb (16,330kg)
Designer: Sparkman & Stephens
Builder: Nautor (Finland)
Year First Built: 1971
Year Last Built: 1975
Number Built: 46
Owners Association: S&S Swan Owners Association
1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 15.2
2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 39.2
3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 310
4. Comfort Ratio: 42.5
5. Capsize Screening Formula: 1.7
1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 15.2 suggests that the Swan 48 will need a stiff breeze to get her going. In light conditions, unless you've got plenty of time on your hands, motor-sailing may be the way to go.
2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 39.2 means that the Swan 48 will have a tendency to heel excessively in a gust, and she'll need to be reefed early to keep her sailing upright in a moderate breeze.
3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 310, tells us the Swan 48 is clearly a heavy displacement cruising boat. You can load her down with all your cruising gear and equipment and it will hardly affect her waterline. Not an ideal choice for coastal sailing, but she'll come into her own on an offshore passage in testing conditions.
4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 42.5 suggests that crew comfort of a Swan 48 in a seaway is similar to what you would associate with the motion of a heavy bluewater cruising boat. Pitching and rolling will be well damped - your cup of coffee on the salon table stands a reasonable chance of staying there in most conditions.
5. The Capsize Screening Formula (CSF) of 1.7 tells us that a Swan 48 would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0.
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