Swan 51
Masthead Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · 1980–1985
The inaugural German Frers design for Swan, this masthead sloop balances a powerful 17.85 SA/D ratio with offshore comfort
Designed by German Frers, built by Nautor.
- LOA
- Beam
- Draft (max)
- Displacement
- Ballast
- Hull type
- Fin w/spade Rudder
See her sail
The Swan 51, on the water
The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.
Footage from SEILmagasinet
Is it for you?
Character
Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.
LivelyComfort 38Sea-kindly
CoastalCapsize 1.73Bluewater
LightD/L 233Heavy
EasygoingSA/D 17.9Powered-up
TenderBallast 42%Stiff
A capable offshore cruiser with an easy motion when the sea gets up.
- Heavier than ~88% of boats her size on file
- Draws more than ~95% of boats her size on file
- Beamier than ~78% of boats her size on file
Compared with 1562 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.
The living fleet
Sailed by the fleet
Where the fleet has filmed this boat.
Seen once across one channel of the fleet.
On the water
The Swan 51 on video
The record
Full specifications
The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.
Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
41.7%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
17.9
Displacement / length
233.1
Comfort ratio
38.0
Capsize screening
1.73
Hull speed
8.7 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
2219
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1980–1985
Units built
36
Designer
German Frers
Builder
Nautor
Boats like this, on the water
More boats like her, on the water
Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.
Amel Super Maramu16.00 mSame hull family0.4 m longerA 16-metre masthead ketch replacing the Mango 52, featuring a wing keel and a versatile engine range for blue-water travel
Orion 5015.09 mSame hull family0.5 m shorterA Gary Mull-designed staysail ketch built for offshore stability with a heavy displacement and skeg-mounted rudder
Dufour Yachts 4815.29 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA 15.29-metre performance cruiser with a 4.85-metre beam and a 2.35-metre draft for offshore stability
Bavaria Yachts 5115.60 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 15.6-metre masthead sloop with a 2.4-metre draft, designed for high-volume cruising and steady offshore speed
Dufour Yachts 500 Grand Large15.10 mSame hull family0.5 m shorterA 15.1-meter fractional sloop with a 2.3-meter bulb keel, produced from 2011 to 2015 before the 512 update
Irwin Yachts 5215.85 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA Ted Irwin-designed staysail ketch built for long-range cruising with a stable, heavy-displacement hull
The family
Related models
The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.
Swan 53A German Frers-designed masthead sloop featuring a deep fin keel and available with a performance-oriented tall rigSwan 51-2A 2024 German Frers design featuring a versatile Solent rig and a modern dual-rudder configuration for high-performance cruisingSwan 61A 18.44-metre masthead sloop built between 1985 and 1990, balancing a 2.95-metre draft with a high comfort ratioSwan 651A 20-metre masthead sloop with a deep 3.51-metre draft and a heavy ballast ratio for offshore stabilitySwan 59A 17.88-metre fin-keeled cruiser featuring a deep 3.41-metre draft for stability and upwind performance
Keep asking
The fleet has more to say
Search what's been said about the Swan 51, or ask a specific question — the answer comes back written out, with links to the moments it draws on.
The newsletter
New boats, new stories, from everywhere.
One email from the fleet — boats newly added, videos newly analyzed. No noise.