BoatsSwan 46

Swan 46

Masthead Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · 1983–1997

A long-running 14-metre production cruiser with 81 hulls built between 1983 and 1997

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 moderate displacement on a moderate beam gives 34 — a sea-kindly motion in a seaway.

Comfort ratio 34
CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 1.83
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 258
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 15.8
TenderStiff

36% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 36%

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

  • Heavier than ~85% of boats her size on file
  • Draws more than ~92% of boats her size on file
  • Beamier than ~84% of boats her size on file

Compared with 2099 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
36.4%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
15.8
Displacement / length
258.1
Comfort ratio
34.1
Capsize screening
1.83
Hull speed
8.2 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1949
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1983–1997
Units built
109
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.

Malo Yachts 45/4614.20 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA 14-metre blue-water cruiser that evolved from the M45 to the M46, featuring a 39% ballast ratio for offshore stability
Morgan Yachts 461/46214.17 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA Scheel-designed center-cockpit ketch built for The Moorings, offering a stable, high-comfort platform for blue water
Tayana 47 CC14.33 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Robert Perry-designed center cockpit cutter built for offshore comfort with a high sail area to displacement ratio
Nicholson 4814.53 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA heavy-displacement masthead ketch designed by Raymond Wall for comfortable, stable offshore passage making
Hallberg-Rassy 4414.45 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA German Frers-designed performance cruiser featuring a modern fractional rig and dual rudders for balanced handling
Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 4614.27 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 14.27-metre cruiser from 2014 featuring a high-volume hull and a 2.1-metre draft for offshore stability

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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