BoatsSwan 39

Swan 39

Masthead Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · 1978–1980

A Ron Holland-designed masthead sloop derived from the legendary IOR racer IMP, offered in both racing and cruising layouts

Designed by Ron Holland, 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 moderate displacement on a moderate beam gives 28 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 28
CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 1.91
LightHeavy

257 — moderately heavy for her waterline, a balanced cruising weight.

Displacement / length 257
EasygoingPowered-up

17.8 — moderate power for her weight; steady, all-round performance.

Sail area / displacement 17.8
TenderStiff

44% of her weight is ballast — stiff, standing up well to her sails.

Ballast 44%

A capable cruiser that sits just inside the offshore line — coastal work with real passages in her.

  • Draws more than ~87% of boats her size on file

Compared with 2888 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
43.9%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
17.8
Displacement / length
257.1
Comfort ratio
28.4
Capsize screening
1.91
Hull speed
7.5 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1407
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1978–1980
Units built
33
Designer
Ron Holland
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.

RM Yachts 118011.80 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA Marc Lombard-designed performance cruiser featuring a wide beam, dual rudders, and a powerful cutter rig
Warrior 4012.00 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA cutter-rigged cruiser with a skeg-hung rudder and a 1.52m draft, built for steady offshore passages
C&C Yachts 3911.96 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 1971-1974 production masthead sloop with a moderate displacement-to-length ratio, balanced for coastal cruising
Puma 38-K12.00 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA masthead ketch featuring a fin keel and spade rudder, offering a spirited sail area-to-displacement ratio
Beneteau 4012.14 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA 2007 Berret-Racoupeau design with a 1.9m draft, also marketed internationally as the Oceanis 40 and Moorings 41.3
Beneteau Oceanis 4012.15 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA spacious fractional sloop from Berret-Racoupeau featuring a versatile optional shallow draft keel

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

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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