The Swan 59 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

Published Specification for the Swan 59

• Underwater Profile: Fin keel with spade rudder
• Hull Material: GRP (Fibreglass)
• Length Overall: 58'9" (17.9m)
• Waterline Length: 48'2" (14.7m)
• Beam: 16'5" (5.0m)
• Draft: 11'2" (3.4m)*
• Rig Type: Masthead Sloop
• Displacement: 62,400lb (28,305kg)
• Designer: German Frers
• Builder: Nautor Swan
• Year First Built: 1984
• Year Last Built: 1990
• Number Built: 21

*Centreboard option: Board down 9.9", board up 4'0"

Published Design Ratios for the Swan 59

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: Not published

• Less than 16 would be considered under-powered;
• 16 to 20 would indicate reasonably good performance;
• Over 20 suggests relatively high performance.

2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 36.5

• Under 40: less stiff, less powerful
• Over 40: stiffer, more powerful

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 250

• Under 100: Ultralight
• 100 to 200: Light
• 200 to 275: Moderate
• 275 to 350: Heavy
• Over 350: Ultraheavy

4. Comfort Ratio: 45.3

• Under 20 indicates a lightweight racing boat
• 20 to 30 indicates a coastal cruiser
• 30 to 40 indicates a moderate offshore cruising boat
• 40 to 50 indicates a heavy offshore boat
• Over 50 indicates an extremely heavy offshore boat

5. Capsize Screening Formula: 1.7

• Under 2.0 (the lower the better): Better suited for ocean passages
• Over 2.0: Less suited for ocean passages

Read more about these Key Performance Indicators...

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Swan 59

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1. The Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of the Swan 59 is not published, hence we are unable to comment on this aspect of the boat's predicted performance.

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 36.5 means that a sailboat like the Swan 59 (which doesn't have its ballast concentrated in a bulb at the foot of a deep keel), is likely to benefit from being reefed early to keep her sailing upright in a moderate breeze.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 250, tells us the Swan 59 is a moderate displacement cruiser, which means she'll carry all your cruising gear without it having a dramatic effect on her performance. Most of today's sailboats intended for offshore cruising fall into this displacement category.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 45.3 suggests that crew comfort of a Swan 59 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 59 would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0.