Let's talk Swans...

[mitiempo]

Here's a pic of the 66FD

[killarney_sailor]

Cheesecake is good. I am sure it is remarkable boat to sail, although I don't think something like that would be my first choice if I fell into a large container of money.

Was on one of these at Annapolis a few years ago for about half an hour with the sales manager - not for me, a friend was looking at boats in this price range ($1.5 million) and wanted my take on a few he was considering. I can't imagine a better boat for extended cruising - although it is pretty big. Discovery make a 50' catamaran. I could imagine my wife getting pretty excited about that one.

[tommays]

They always get mt attention

[JimMcGee]

ASKED

Originally Posted by casey1999

Speaking of Swans, how come the reviews on these boats never come up on SN? My understanding are Swan's are among the best blue water boats ever made.

ANSWERED

Originally Posted by jameso

in last months Sailing they do a piece on a Swan 66FD ... the price was $4,650,000.

Next question?

[CBinRI]

We LOVE our S&S Swan 41. Built like a tank. Stiff. Plows upwind. Beautiful woodwork. Competitive PHRF racer. Negatives? Smaller down below than "modern" 41 footers. And a big headsail. She's a wonderful blue water boat that moves right along.

[SloopJonB]

Originally Posted by CBinRI

We LOVE our S&S Swan 41.

We all do too! We're just jealous.

[casey1999]

Originally Posted by mitiempo

Here's a pic of the 66FD

I think that is the difference between Euro and American design. Look how clean and functional the boat looks, and think of all the ladies you could fit on that deck. ... or men (for the women skippers).

[SloopJonB]

Originally Posted by casey1999

I think that is the difference between Euro and American design. Look how clean and functional the boat looks, and think of all the ladies you could fit on that deck. ... or men (for the women skippers).

To my eye they have gotten TOO clean in recent years - they have started to look like Wally's. It almost has an unfinished look to it, like they haven't mounted all the hardware yet.

If I was going to spend $millions on a boat I'd want at least a couple of coffee grinders on deck.

[casey1999]

Originally Posted by SloopJonB

To my eye they have gotten TOO clean in recent years - they have started to look like Wally's. It almost has an unfinished look to it, like they haven't mounted all the hardware yet.

If I was going to spend $millions on a boat I'd want at least a couple of coffee grinders on deck.

Would you really want to look at the deck mounted coffee grinders or some scantly dressed women lounging on the deck?

[tdw]

Whenever I've looked at used Swans (new ones being simply way out of my league $$ wise) the main concerns have been ...

Access to below deck ... (coupled with difficulty in mounting an effective dodger)
Pokeyness of galley and head ...
Draft ...
General cruising comfort ....

not all these points necessarily relate to the same boats. The earlier S&S Swans have more than adequate access but tend to have pokey galleys, something I've noticed with a lot of older S&S designs. While some Swans had optional shoal draft keels you don't tend to see many of them and the standard keels on the Holland and Frers boats are a tadge to deep from my cruising needs.

I guess that in reality most Swans are bought predominantly for racing with short term cruising comfort being an option rather than a prerequisite.
(Emphasis on "most" as I personally know/knew two Swans that have gone round the world cruising.)