Hunter 450 vs 1993 Nautor Swan 46 — Comparison
Hunter 450
1993 Nautor Swan 46
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Hunter 450 | 1993 Nautor Swan 46 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Hunter | Nautor Swan |
| Year | 2001–2006 | 1993–2001 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | USA | Finland |
| Designer | Glenn Henderson | German Frers |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 13.72 m (45.0 ft) | 14.05 m (46.1 ft) |
| LWL | 11.89 m (39.0 ft) | 11.28 m (37.0 ft) |
| Beam | 4.27 m (14.0 ft) | 4.09 m (13.4 ft) |
| Draft | 2.06 m (6.8 ft) | 2.35 m (7.7 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 10,886 kg (23,999 lbs) | 12,247 kg (27,000 lbs) |
| Ballast | 4,082 kg (8,999 lbs) | 4,990 kg (11,001 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 86.0 m² (926 ft²) | 92.0 m² (990 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 75 HP | 75 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 189 L (49.9 gal) | 220 L (58.1 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 341 L (90.1 gal) | 400 L (105.7 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 8 | 7 |
| Cabins | 3 | 3 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Hunter 450 and 1993 Nautor Swan 46 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Hunter 450 is a 2000s design by Hunter from USA, while the 1993 Nautor Swan 46 is a 1990s offering from Nautor Swan from Finland. The Hunter 450 was penned by Glenn Henderson. The 1993 Nautor Swan 46 was designed by German Frers.
In terms of size, the Hunter 450 measures 13.72m (45.0ft) overall with a beam of 4.27m, compared to the 1993 Nautor Swan 46 at 14.05m (46.1ft) with a 4.09m beam. The 1993 Nautor Swan 46 is 0.33m longer than the Hunter 450. The 1993 Nautor Swan 46 displaces approximately 13% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the Hunter 450 has good sail power for versatile performance with an SA/D ratio of 17.79 and 86.0 m² of sail area. The 1993 Nautor Swan 46, with an SA/D of 17.59 and 92.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The Hunter 450 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the Hunter 450 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 15.6) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.77). The 1993 Nautor Swan 46 has a comfort ratio of 19.7 and a capsize screening value of 0.71. The ballast ratios are 37.5% for the Hunter 450 and 40.7% for the 1993 Nautor Swan 46, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Hunter 450 provides 8 berths in 3 cabins with 341L of water capacity and 189L of fuel. The 1993 Nautor Swan 46 offers 7 berths in 3 cabins with 400L water and 220L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 1993 Nautor Swan 46 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 Hunter 450 has the performance advantage with its superior SA/D ratio, meaning more sail power relative to its displacement for competitive sailing.
For liveaboard: The Hunter 450 offers more sleeping accommodation, making it better suited for extended living aboard. Consider water and fuel capacity for extended stays away from marinas.