1977 Nautor Swan 47 vs 1983 Nautor Swan 44 — Comparison

1977 Nautor Swan 47 1977 Nautor Swan 47
VS
1983 Nautor Swan 44 1983 Nautor Swan 44

Specifications Side by Side

Specification 1977 Nautor Swan 47 1983 Nautor Swan 44
General
Manufacturer Nautor Swan Nautor Swan
Year 1977–1985 1983–1991
Type Sloop Sloop
Country Finland Finland
Designer Sparkman & Stephens Sparkman & Stephens
Dimensions
LOA 14.33 m (47.0 ft) 13.41 m (44.0 ft)
LWL 10.67 m (35.0 ft) 10.36 m (34.0 ft)
Beam 4.09 m (13.4 ft) 3.86 m (12.7 ft)
Draft 2.29 m (7.5 ft) 2.29 m (7.5 ft)
Weight
Displacement 14,969 kg (33,001 lbs) 11,340 kg (25,000 lbs)
Ballast 6,350 kg (13,999 lbs) 4,536 kg (10,000 lbs)
Sailing
Sail Area 89.2 m² (960 ft²) 82.0 m² (883 ft²)
Hull Material Fiberglass Fiberglass
Keel Type Fin Fin
Engine & Tanks
Engine 55 HP 55 HP
Fuel Capacity 227 L (60.0 gal) 200 L (52.8 gal)
Water Capacity 454 L (119.9 gal) 350 L (92.5 gal)
Accommodation
Berths 7 7
Cabins 3 3

Performance Comparison

SA/D Ratio (Higher = more sail power per displacement)
1977 Nautor Swan 47
14.92
1983 Nautor Swan 44
16.50
Ballast Ratio (Higher = more stability)
1977 Nautor Swan 47
42.42
1983 Nautor Swan 44
40.00
Capsize Ratio (Lower = safer offshore)
1977 Nautor Swan 47
0.67
1983 Nautor Swan 44
0.69
Comfort Ratio (Higher = gentler motion)
1977 Nautor Swan 47
25.44
1983 Nautor Swan 44
22.67

Detailed Comparison

The 1977 Nautor Swan 47 and 1983 Nautor Swan 44 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The 1977 Nautor Swan 47 is a 1970s design by Nautor Swan from Finland, while the 1983 Nautor Swan 44 is a 1980s offering from Nautor Swan from Finland. The 1977 Nautor Swan 47 was penned by Sparkman & Stephens. The 1983 Nautor Swan 44 was designed by Sparkman & Stephens.

In terms of size, the 1977 Nautor Swan 47 measures 14.33m (47.0ft) overall with a beam of 4.09m, compared to the 1983 Nautor Swan 44 at 13.41m (44.0ft) with a 3.86m beam. The 1977 Nautor Swan 47 is 0.92m longer than the 1983 Nautor Swan 44. The 1977 Nautor Swan 47 displaces approximately 32% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.

Looking at performance, the 1977 Nautor Swan 47 has modest sail power for its displacement with an SA/D ratio of 14.92 and 89.2 m² of sail area. The 1983 Nautor Swan 44, with an SA/D of 16.50 and 82.0 m² of canvas, offers moderate sail power suitable for relaxed cruising. The 1983 Nautor Swan 44 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.

For comfort and safety, the 1977 Nautor Swan 47 offers a moderate motion comfort level (comfort ratio: 25.4) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.67). The 1983 Nautor Swan 44 has a comfort ratio of 22.7 and a capsize screening value of 0.69. The ballast ratios are 42.4% for the 1977 Nautor Swan 47 and 40.0% for the 1983 Nautor Swan 44, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.

Below deck, the 1977 Nautor Swan 47 provides 7 berths in 3 cabins with 454L of water capacity and 227L of fuel. The 1983 Nautor Swan 44 offers 7 berths in 3 cabins with 350L water and 200L fuel capacity.

Verdict

For cruising: The 1977 Nautor Swan 47 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 1983 Nautor Swan 44 has the performance advantage with its superior SA/D ratio, meaning more sail power relative to its displacement for competitive sailing.

For liveaboard: Both boats provide similar accommodation, making either a viable choice for living aboard. Consider water and fuel capacity for extended stays away from marinas.

Compare Different Boats

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