BoatsSwan 51

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 practicalboatowner

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 narrow beam gives 38 — a sea-kindly motion in a seaway.

Comfort ratio 38
CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 1.73
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 233
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 17.9
TenderStiff

42% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 42%

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.

What the fleet has seen

The Swan 51, as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The Swan 51 is a 15.6-meter masthead sloop designed by German Frers, built by Nautor from 1980 to 1985, and was the first Swan model designed by Frers. It features a fin keel with a spade rudder and displaces 17,962 kg. The Swan 51 has a three-cabin, two-head layout, similar to the Swan 48, and emphasizes high-quality materials like solid wood. Its galley includes an induction stove, refrigerator, freezer, and double sink.1:55 A carbon mast is a central structural element in the salon.2:49 On deck, the boat has a hidden sprayhood, and all lines route under the deck to the helm for a clear cockpit.3:34 The rig includes a removable cutter stay and carbon rollers for the Code Zero and gennaker.3:54 Electric winches are present but not reversible.2:43 The cockpit features two tables that convert into a double berth, and teak decking is standard in the cockpit.4:12 The mainsheet system uses a boom vang for leech tension instead of a traveler.4:14 Aboard *Godspeed*, a refitted Swan 51, the Skeletor Crew Sailing team competed in the 2023-24 Ocean Globe Race, having rebuilt the vessel after it sank in Hurricane Irma.2:31 Their modifications prioritized crew comfort, including a custom canopy for shade and solar power.3:49 The team uses a three-watch system and, in heavy weather, runs downwind to preserve the boat.8:24 They rely on celestial navigation and a used 1.5-ounce spinnaker for downwind sailing.5:21

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen 2 times across 2 channels of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

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.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
41.7%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
17.9
Displacement / length
233.1
Comfort ratio
38.0
Capsize screening
1.73
Hull speed
8.7 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
2219
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1980–1985
Units built
36
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.

Najad Yachts 51115.50 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA masthead sloop with a 2.4-metre draft and skeg-hung rudder, rebranded as part of the Aphrodite series in 2008
Valiant Yachts 5015.44 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterAn evolution of the 47 hull featuring a bowsprit and a forward-shifted mast for improved balance on offshore passages
Baltic Yachts 5115.52 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 15.5-metre cruiser produced through the 1980s, offering a powerful sail-area-to-displacement ratio for its size
Moody 48 DS15.42 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA modern deck saloon cruiser from Bill Dixon featuring a powerful 150hp engine and a versatile shallow draft option
Bavaria Yachts 5115.60 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 15.6-metre masthead sloop with a 2.4-metre draft, designed for high-volume cruising and steady offshore speed
Irwin Yachts 5215.85 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA Ted Irwin-designed staysail ketch built for long-range cruising with a stable, heavy-displacement hull

The family

Boats like this

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

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. Every week, everywhere.

One email from the fleet — boats newly added, videos newly analysed. No noise.

Report an issue