Back to Search
Swan 42
Designer: Ron Holland  ·  Builder: Nautor  ·  First built: 1980
+ Add to Compare
About the Swan 42

Designed by Ron Holland during his prolific early 1980s period, this elegant Finnish-built yacht represents Nautor's commitment to combining racing performance with cruising comfort. Only 38 hulls were produced between 1980 and 1985, making this a relatively exclusive design that has maintained strong appeal among discerning sailors. The Swan 42's fin keel and spade rudder configuration delivers responsive handling and solid windward performance, while the masthead sloop rig provides versatility across various wind conditions. With a displacement of 22,000 pounds and 9,200 pounds of ballast, she strikes an excellent balance between stability and performance. The comfortable beam of nearly 13 feet creates spacious accommodations below while maintaining sleek lines above. Holland's design philosophy shines through in the boat's moderate comfort ratio of 30.91, indicating good seakeeping ability without sacrificing speed potential. The capsize screening value of 1.85 suggests strong offshore capability, making this yacht well-suited for coastal cruising and longer passages alike. Hull speed approaching 8 knots and a sail area-to-displacement ratio of 16.41 confirm this as a genuinely quick cruiser that won't disappoint performance-minded sailors. The fiberglass construction ensures durability and lower maintenance compared to earlier wooden Swans.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 42.00 ft / 12.80 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 33.83 ft / 10.31 m
Beam 12.96 ft / 3.95 m
Max Draft 7.80 ft / 2.38 m
Displacement 22,000.00 lb / 9,979 kg
Ballast 9,200.00 lb / 4,173 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 802.00 ft² / 74.51 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Ron Holland
Builder Nautor
First Built 1980
Last Built 1985
Number Built 38
Related Sailboats ["Tartan 42" · "Hinckley 42 Competition" · "Niagara 42" · "Passport 42" · "Omega 42"]
Owner Reviews

No owner reviews yet — be the first to share your experience with this boat.

Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
 78
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 16.41
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 41.82
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 253.67
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 30.91
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 1.85
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 7.79 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 2.08
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 1,566.58 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 16.42
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 54.90 ft / 16.73 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 16.70 ft / 5.09 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 48.80 ft / 14.87 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 14.10 ft / 4.30 m
SA Fore 458.42 ft² / 42.59 m²
SA Main 344.04 ft² / 31.96 m²
SA Total (100%) 802.46 ft² / 74.55 m²
Est. Forestay Length 57.38 ft / 17.49 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Perkins
Engine Model 4.108
Engine Type Diesel
Fuel Capacity 42 gals / 159 L
Water Capacity 79 gals / 299 L
How It Compares

vs. Hinckley 42 Competition, Niagara 42, Passport 42

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Swan 42 ★
42.0 ft
Hinckley 42 Competition
42.0 ft
Niagara 42
42.0 ft
Passport 42
42.0 ft
LWL
Swan 42 ★
33.8 ft
Hinckley 42 Competition
32.0 ft
Niagara 42
32.5 ft
Passport 42
34.8 ft
Beam
Swan 42 ★
13.0 ft
Hinckley 42 Competition
12.2 ft
Niagara 42
12.8 ft
Passport 42
12.8 ft
Displacement
Swan 42 ★
22 lbs
Hinckley 42 Competition
21 lbs
Niagara 42
19 lbs
Passport 42
25 lbs
Ballast
Swan 42 ★
9 lbs
Hinckley 42 Competition
—
Niagara 42
8 lbs
Passport 42
9 lbs
Sail Area
Swan 42 ★
802 sq ft
Hinckley 42 Competition
921 sq ft
Niagara 42
—
Passport 42
764 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Swan 42 ★
78 s/nm
Hinckley 42 Competition
—
Niagara 42
111 s/nm
Passport 42
132 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Swan 42 ★
16.4
Hinckley 42 Competition
19.1
Niagara 42
—
Passport 42
14.2
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Swan 42 ★
41.8 %
Hinckley 42 Competition
—
Niagara 42
40.9 %
Passport 42
35.3 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Swan 42 ★
30.9
Hinckley 42 Competition
33.9
Niagara 42
—
Passport 42
35.6
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Swan 42 ★
1.85
Hinckley 42 Competition
1.76
Niagara 42
—
Passport 42
1.75
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Swan 42 ★
253
Hinckley 42 Competition
292
Niagara 42
257
Passport 42
269
Hull Speed
Swan 42 ★
7.8 kts
Hinckley 42 Competition
7.6 kts
Niagara 42
—
Passport 42
7.9 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Swan 42 ★
2.1
Hinckley 42 Competition
2.0
Niagara 42
—
Passport 42
1.7
Find a Swan 42 For Sale
Y YachtWorld Brokerage listings S Sailboat Listings Sailboats only C Craigslist National search F Facebook Marketplace Local listings B boats.com Global marketplace