1977 Nautor Swan 47 vs Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 50 DS — Comparison
1977 Nautor Swan 47
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 50 DS
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | 1977 Nautor Swan 47 | Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 50 DS |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Nautor Swan | Jeanneau |
| Year | 1977–1985 | 2005–2010 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | Finland | France |
| Designer | Sparkman & Stephens | Philippe Briand |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 14.33 m (47.0 ft) | 15.38 m (50.5 ft) |
| LWL | 10.67 m (35.0 ft) | 13.45 m (44.1 ft) |
| Beam | 4.09 m (13.4 ft) | 4.58 m (15.0 ft) |
| Draft | 2.29 m (7.5 ft) | 2.05 m (6.7 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 14,969 kg (33,001 lbs) | 14,500 kg (31,967 lbs) |
| Ballast | 6,350 kg (13,999 lbs) | 4,200 kg (9,259 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 89.2 m² (960 ft²) | 104.0 m² (1,119 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 55 HP | 75 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 227 L (60.0 gal) | 250 L (66.0 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 454 L (119.9 gal) | 500 L (132.1 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 7 | 8 |
| Cabins | 3 | 3 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The 1977 Nautor Swan 47 and Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 50 DS represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The 1977 Nautor Swan 47 is a 1970s design by Nautor Swan from Finland, while the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 50 DS is a 2000s offering from Jeanneau from France. The 1977 Nautor Swan 47 was penned by Sparkman & Stephens. The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 50 DS was designed by Philippe Briand.
In terms of size, the 1977 Nautor Swan 47 measures 14.33m (47.0ft) overall with a beam of 4.09m, compared to the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 50 DS at 15.38m (50.5ft) with a 4.58m beam. The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 50 DS is 1.05m longer than the 1977 Nautor Swan 47. The 1977 Nautor Swan 47 displaces approximately 3% 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 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 50 DS, with an SA/D of 17.77 and 104.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 50 DS 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 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 50 DS has a comfort ratio of 14.9 and a capsize screening value of 0.75. The ballast ratios are 42.4% for the 1977 Nautor Swan 47 and 29.0% for the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 50 DS, 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 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 50 DS offers 8 berths in 3 cabins with 500L water and 250L 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 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 50 DS has the performance advantage with its superior SA/D ratio, meaning more sail power relative to its displacement for competitive sailing.
For liveaboard: The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 50 DS offers more sleeping accommodation, making it better suited for extended living aboard. Consider water and fuel capacity for extended stays away from marinas.