1971 Nautor Swan 65 vs 2015 Oyster 72 — Comparison
1971 Nautor Swan 65
2015 Oyster 72
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | 1971 Nautor Swan 65 | 2015 Oyster 72 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Nautor Swan | Oyster |
| Year | 1971–1989 | 2015 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | Finland | United Kingdom |
| Designer | Sparkman & Stephens | Rob Humphreys |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 19.81 m (65.0 ft) | 21.95 m (72.0 ft) |
| LWL | 15.09 m (49.5 ft) | 18.50 m (60.7 ft) |
| Beam | 4.72 m (15.5 ft) | 5.60 m (18.4 ft) |
| Draft | 2.74 m (9.0 ft) | 2.80 m (9.2 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 27,216 kg (60,001 lbs) | 38,000 kg (83,776 lbs) |
| Ballast | 10,886 kg (23,999 lbs) | 14,000 kg (30,865 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 139.0 m² (1,496 ft²) | 195.0 m² (2,099 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 120 HP | 280 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 450 L (118.9 gal) | 1000 L (264.2 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 750 L (198.1 gal) | 1500 L (396.3 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 8 | 10 |
| Cabins | 4 | 5 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The 1971 Nautor Swan 65 and 2015 Oyster 72 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The 1971 Nautor Swan 65 is a 1970s design by Nautor Swan from Finland, while the 2015 Oyster 72 is a modern offering from Oyster from United Kingdom. The 1971 Nautor Swan 65 was penned by Sparkman & Stephens. The 2015 Oyster 72 was designed by Rob Humphreys.
In terms of size, the 1971 Nautor Swan 65 measures 19.81m (65.0ft) overall with a beam of 4.72m, compared to the 2015 Oyster 72 at 21.95m (72.0ft) with a 5.60m beam. The 2015 Oyster 72 is 2.14m longer than the 1971 Nautor Swan 65. The 2015 Oyster 72 displaces approximately 40% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the 1971 Nautor Swan 65 has moderate sail power suitable for relaxed cruising with an SA/D ratio of 15.60 and 139.0 m² of sail area. The 2015 Oyster 72, with an SA/D of 17.52 and 195.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The 2015 Oyster 72 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the 1971 Nautor Swan 65 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 19.4) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.63). The 2015 Oyster 72 has a comfort ratio of 15.4 and a capsize screening value of 0.67. The ballast ratios are 40.0% for the 1971 Nautor Swan 65 and 36.8% for the 2015 Oyster 72, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the 1971 Nautor Swan 65 provides 8 berths in 4 cabins with 750L of water capacity and 450L of fuel. The 2015 Oyster 72 offers 10 berths in 5 cabins with 1500L water and 1000L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 1971 Nautor Swan 65 is the better choice for comfortable cruising thanks to its higher comfort ratio, offering a gentler motion at sea that crews will appreciate on longer passages.
For racing: The 2015 Oyster 72 has the performance advantage with its superior SA/D ratio, meaning more sail power relative to its displacement for competitive sailing.
For liveaboard: The 2015 Oyster 72 offers more sleeping accommodation, making it better suited for extended living aboard. Consider water and fuel capacity for extended stays away from marinas.