BoatsSwan 55CC (Frers)

Swan 55CC (Frers)

Masthead Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · 1990–1997

A German Frers-designed center-cockpit cruiser built for offshore stability with a deep keel and heavy displacement

Designed by German Frers, built by Nautor.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin w/spade Rudder

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her heavy displacement on a narrow beam gives 43 — a heavy, notably soft motion offshore.

Comfort ratio 43
CoastalBluewater

1.71 — just under the 2.0 offshore line; her beam is modest for her weight.

Capsize screening 1.71
LightHeavy

295 — heavy for her waterline, built to carry stores and ride steadily.

Displacement / length 295
EasygoingPowered-up

13.2 — modest power for her weight; easygoing rather than lively, and happier with a breeze.

Sail area / displacement 13.2
TenderStiff

38% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 38%

Built heavy and sea-kindly — a boat made to cross oceans and forgive a rough night.

  • Heavier than ~91% of boats her size on file
  • Draws more than ~86% of boats her size on file
  • Beamier than ~86% of boats her size on file

Compared with 1138 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
38.3%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
13.2
Displacement / length
294.6
Comfort ratio
43.4
Capsize screening
1.71
Hull speed
8.8 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
2439
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1990–1997
Units built
22
Designer
German Frers
Builder
Nautor

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

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.

Bluewater 56 (Frers)16.48 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA former Hylas 56 design featuring a fin keel and skeg-hung rudder, built for stable, high-displacement offshore travel
Hylas 5616.48 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA 2011 masthead sloop with a 21.51 sail area to displacement ratio, engineered for spirited offshore performance
Oyster 53 (Humphreys)16.41 mSame hull family0.4 m shorterA Rob Humphreys-designed masthead sloop built for blue-water cruising with a high comfort ratio and stable hull form
Tayana 5516.76 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Peter Beeldsnijder-designed cutter with a skeg-hung rudder, built for heavy-displacement offshore cruising
Hylas 5416.48 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA German Frers-designed cutter with a high comfort ratio and bulb keel, built for stable, long-distance blue water cruising
Taswell 5617.02 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA Bill Dixon-designed cutter with a skeg-hung rudder and high comfort ratio, built for stable, long-range passage making

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 looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

Two ways to keep looking — both search what the fleet has actually recorded.

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