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.
Her moderate displacement on a narrow beam gives 38 — a sea-kindly motion in a seaway.
1.73 — just under the 2.0 offshore line; her beam is modest for her weight.
233 — moderately heavy for her waterline, a balanced cruising weight.
17.9 — moderate power for her weight; steady, all-round performance.
42% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.
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.
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.
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.
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.