1997 Nautor Swan 40 vs 2007 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 39 DS — Comparison
1997 Nautor Swan 40
2007 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 39 DS
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | 1997 Nautor Swan 40 | 2007 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 39 DS |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Nautor Swan | Jeanneau |
| Year | 1997–2002 | 2007–2012 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | Finland | France |
| Designer | German Frers | Philippe Briand |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 12.30 m (40.4 ft) | 11.86 m (38.9 ft) |
| LWL | 10.36 m (34.0 ft) | 10.30 m (33.8 ft) |
| Beam | 3.85 m (12.6 ft) | 3.76 m (12.3 ft) |
| Draft | 2.20 m (7.2 ft) | 1.85 m (6.1 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 8,500 kg (18,739 lbs) | 7,600 kg (16,755 lbs) |
| Ballast | 3,600 kg (7,937 lbs) | 2,400 kg (5,291 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 73.5 m² (791 ft²) | 62.0 m² (667 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 40 HP | 29 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 150 L (39.6 gal) | 120 L (31.7 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 250 L (66.0 gal) | 250 L (66.0 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 6 | 7 |
| Cabins | 2 | 2 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The 1997 Nautor Swan 40 and 2007 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 39 DS represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The 1997 Nautor Swan 40 is a 1990s design by Nautor Swan from Finland, while the 2007 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 39 DS is a 2000s offering from Jeanneau from France. The 1997 Nautor Swan 40 was penned by German Frers. The 2007 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 39 DS was designed by Philippe Briand.
In terms of size, the 1997 Nautor Swan 40 measures 12.30m (40.4ft) overall with a beam of 3.85m, compared to the 2007 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 39 DS at 11.86m (38.9ft) with a 3.76m beam. The 1997 Nautor Swan 40 is 0.44m longer than the 2007 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 39 DS. The 1997 Nautor Swan 40 displaces approximately 12% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the 1997 Nautor Swan 40 has good sail power for versatile performance with an SA/D ratio of 17.93 and 73.5 m² of sail area. The 2007 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 39 DS, with an SA/D of 16.30 and 62.0 m² of canvas, offers moderate sail power suitable for relaxed cruising. The 1997 Nautor Swan 40 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the 1997 Nautor Swan 40 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 18.1) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.76). The 2007 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 39 DS has a comfort ratio of 17.3 and a capsize screening value of 0.77. The ballast ratios are 42.4% for the 1997 Nautor Swan 40 and 31.6% for the 2007 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 39 DS, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the 1997 Nautor Swan 40 provides 6 berths in 2 cabins with 250L of water capacity and 150L of fuel. The 2007 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 39 DS offers 7 berths in 2 cabins with 250L water and 120L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 1997 Nautor Swan 40 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 1997 Nautor Swan 40 has the performance advantage with its superior SA/D ratio, meaning more sail power relative to its displacement for competitive sailing.
For liveaboard: The 2007 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 39 DS offers more sleeping accommodation, making it better suited for extended living aboard. Consider water and fuel capacity for extended stays away from marinas.