Swan 53
Masthead Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · 1987–1995
A German Frers-designed masthead sloop featuring a deep fin keel and available with a performance-oriented tall rig
Designed by German Frers, built by Nautor.
- LOA
- Beam
- Draft (max)
- Displacement
- Ballast
- Hull type
- Fin w/spade Rudder
See her sail
The Swan 53, on the water
The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.
Footage from Be The Captain
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 1.76Bluewater
LightD/L 246Heavy
EasygoingSA/D 17.3Powered-up
TenderBallast 42%Stiff
A capable cruiser that sits just inside the offshore line — coastal work with real passages in her.
- Heavier than ~89% of boats her size on file
- Draws more than ~99% of boats her size on file
- Beamier than ~85% of boats her size on file
Compared with 1364 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.
The record
Full specifications
The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.
Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
42.1%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
17.3
Displacement / length
246.0
Comfort ratio
38.4
Capsize screening
1.76
Hull speed
8.8 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
2386
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1987–1995
Units built
50
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.
Swan 5115.62 mSame hull family0.5 m shorterThe inaugural German Frers design for Swan, this masthead sloop balances a powerful 17.85 SA/D ratio with offshore comfort
Pearson Yachts 53016.15 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthThe largest yacht ever built by Pearson, this William Shaw-designed staysail ketch balances heavy-displacement comfort
Hylas 5616.48 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA 2011 masthead sloop with a 21.51 sail area to displacement ratio, engineered for spirited offshore performance
Bluewater 56 (Frers)16.48 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA former Hylas 56 design featuring a fin keel and skeg-hung rudder, built for stable, high-displacement offshore travel
Oyster Marine 54 (Humphreys)16.43 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA Rob Humphreys-designed bluewater cutter featuring a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio and versatile keel options
Amel Super Maramu16.00 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 16-metre masthead ketch replacing the Mango 52, featuring a wing keel and a versatile engine range for blue-water travel
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 53-2A German Frers-designed masthead sloop featuring a performance-oriented daggerboard keel and twin ruddersSwan 51The inaugural German Frers design for Swan, this masthead sloop balances a powerful 17.85 SA/D ratio with offshore comfortSwan 59A 17.88-metre fin-keeled cruiser featuring a deep 3.41-metre draft for stability and upwind performanceSwan 56A German Frers-designed masthead sloop built for performance, with a dedicated racing variant available.Swan 54A German Frers-designed performance cruiser featuring a fractional rig and a refined interior by Heini Gustafsson
Keep asking
The fleet has more to say
Search what's been said about the Swan 53, 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.