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Swan 43 Ss
Designer: Sparkman & Stephens  ·  Builder: Nautor  ·  First built: 1967
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About the Swan 43 Ss

Crafted by the prestigious Finnish shipyard Nautor's Swan, the Swan 43 Ss represents the kind of refined sailing machine that has made the Swan name synonymous with quality, performance, and enduring elegance. As with other vessels in the Swan lineage, this model is built to appeal to sailors who refuse to compromise between spirited performance and genuine offshore capability. Nautor's Swan has long maintained a reputation for producing yachts that are equally at home racing around the buoys or crossing an ocean in comfort, and the 43 Ss fits squarely within that tradition. The "Ss" designation suggests a performance-oriented variant within the Swan 43 family, likely featuring enhancements tailored toward competitive sailing without sacrificing the build quality and sea-keeping ability that Swan owners expect. For the serious sailor considering a bluewater passage, a Mediterranean season, or weekend racing, the Swan 43 Ss warrants close attention. Its pedigree alone speaks to exceptional construction standards, careful engineering, and long-term value retention — qualities that make Swan yachts perennial favorites on the secondhand market and trusted companions on demanding passages worldwide.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 42.78 ft / 13.04 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 31.00 ft / 9.45 m
Beam 11.67 ft / 3.56 m
Max Draft 7.16 ft / 2.18 m
Displacement 19,850.00 lb / 9,004 kg
Ballast 10,400.00 lb / 4,717 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 825.00 ft² / 76.65 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Sparkman & Stephens
Builder Nautor
First Built 1967
Last Built 1982
Related Sailboats Swan 432 · Nautor 43 · Hinckley 43 Hood · Contest 43 · Cal 43
Owner Reviews

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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
 102
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
 18.07
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
 33.68
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
 1.73
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. 7.46
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
 1.84
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. 1.0
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 51.54
J (Foretriangle Base) 17.54
P (Mainsail Luff) 46.04
E (Mainsail Foot) 16.04
SA Fore 452.01
SA Main 369.24
How It Compares

vs. Cal 43, Contest 43, Hinckley 43 Hood, Nautor 43, Swan 432

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Swan 43 Ss ★
42.8 ft
Cal 43
42.7 ft
Contest 43
42.7 ft
Hinckley 43 Hood
42.8 ft
Nautor 43
42.8 ft
Swan 432
43.0 ft
LWL
Swan 43 Ss ★
31.0 ft
Cal 43
32.5 ft
Contest 43
36.3 ft
Hinckley 43 Hood
33.8 ft
Nautor 43
31.4 ft
Swan 432
34.1 ft
Beam
Swan 43 Ss ★
11.7 ft
Cal 43
11.5 ft
Contest 43
13.1 ft
Hinckley 43 Hood
12.3 ft
Nautor 43
13.8 ft
Swan 432
13.1 ft
Displacement
Swan 43 Ss ★
19 lbs
Cal 43
20 lbs
Contest 43
26 lbs
Hinckley 43 Hood
25 lbs
Nautor 43
31 lbs
Swan 432
19 lbs
Ballast
Swan 43 Ss ★
10 lbs
Cal 43
8 lbs
Contest 43
10 lbs
Hinckley 43 Hood
11 lbs
Nautor 43
9 lbs
Swan 432
9 lbs
Sail Area
Swan 43 Ss ★
825 sq ft
Cal 43
832 sq ft
Contest 43
880 sq ft
Hinckley 43 Hood
886 sq ft
Nautor 43
832 sq ft
Swan 432
—
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Swan 43 Ss ★
102 s/nm
Cal 43
108 s/nm
Contest 43
—
Hinckley 43 Hood
105 s/nm
Nautor 43
—
Swan 432
99 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Swan 43 Ss ★
18.1
Cal 43
18.1
Contest 43
16.1
Hinckley 43 Hood
16.4
Nautor 43
13.3
Swan 432
—
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Swan 43 Ss ★
—
Cal 43
40.0 %
Contest 43
40.0 %
Hinckley 43 Hood
45.1 %
Nautor 43
28.3 %
Swan 432
46.4 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Swan 43 Ss ★
33.7
Cal 43
33.6
Contest 43
34.2
Hinckley 43 Hood
38.0
Nautor 43
43.1
Swan 432
26.6
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Swan 43 Ss ★
1.73
Cal 43
1.70
Contest 43
1.78
Hinckley 43 Hood
1.68
Nautor 43
1.74
Swan 432
1.95
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Swan 43 Ss ★
—
Cal 43
260
Contest 43
243
Hinckley 43 Hood
294
Nautor 43
460
Swan 432
219
Hull Speed
Swan 43 Ss ★
7.5 kts
Cal 43
7.6 kts
Contest 43
8.1 kts
Hinckley 43 Hood
7.8 kts
Nautor 43
7.5 kts
Swan 432
7.8 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Swan 43 Ss ★
1.8
Cal 43
2.2
Contest 43
—
Hinckley 43 Hood
1.8
Nautor 43
0.6
Swan 432
—
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