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Swan 50 Ms
Designer: Sparkman & Stephens  ·  Builder: Nautor  ·  First built: 1976
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About the Swan 50 Ms

Designed by the legendary Sparkman & Stephens and built by Finland's prestigious Nautor yard, this rare masthead ketch represents Swan's commitment to combining elegant performance with serious offshore capability. With only nine hulls produced starting in 1976, the Swan 50 Ms stands as an exclusive entry in the manufacturer's distinguished lineup. The 49.58-foot design showcases classic proportions with a moderate beam of 15.08 feet and a fin keel configuration that provides excellent sailing performance while maintaining reasonable draft at 5.58 feet. The substantial displacement of 51,000 pounds, supported by 14,500 pounds of ballast, creates the stability and sea-kindly motion that Swan owners expect for extended offshore passages. Her masthead ketch rig offers versatility in sail handling and the ability to balance the boat effectively in varying conditions, making her particularly well-suited for serious cruising couples or small crews tackling long-distance voyages. The comfort ratio of 51.68 indicates excellent motion at sea, while the capsize screening value of 1.63 confirms her blue-water credentials. Built with Nautor's renowned fiberglass construction standards, this Swan combines the timeless aesthetics of Sparkman & Stephens design with Finnish build quality that has earned respect among discerning sailors worldwide.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 49.58 ft / 15.11 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 37.50 ft / 11.43 m
Beam 15.08 ft / 4.60 m
Max Draft 5.58 ft / 1.70 m
Displacement 51,000.00 lb / 23,133 kg
Ballast 14,500.00 lb / 6,577 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 1,112.00 ft² / 103.31 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Ketch
Construction FG
Designer Sparkman & Stephens
Builder Nautor
First Built 1976
Number Built 9
Related Sailboats ["Nautor 50" · "Swan 48 2 Frers" · "Cc 50" · "Sweden Yachts 50" · "Passport 50"]
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Performance Ratios
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
 13
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
 28.43
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
 431.75
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
 51.68
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
 1.63
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. 8.21 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
 0.69
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. 2,020.59 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. 11.21
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 59.00 ft / 17.98 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 19.92 ft / 6.07 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 51.25 ft / 15.62 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 14.50 ft / 4.42 m
SA Fore 587.64 ft² / 54.59 m²
SA Main 371.56 ft² / 34.52 m²
SA Total (100%) 959.20 ft² / 89.11 m²
Est. Forestay Length 62.27 ft / 18.98 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Perkins
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 115
Fuel Capacity 480 gals / 1,817 L
Water Capacity 530 gals / 2,006 L
How It Compares

vs. Cc 50, Swan 48 2 Frers, Sweden Yachts 50

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Swan 50 Ms ★
49.6 ft
Cc 50
49.8 ft
Swan 48 2 Frers
49.5 ft
Sweden Yachts 50
50.0 ft
LWL
Swan 50 Ms ★
37.5 ft
Cc 50
39.0 ft
Swan 48 2 Frers
41.0 ft
Sweden Yachts 50
41.3 ft
Beam
Swan 50 Ms ★
15.1 ft
Cc 50
14.5 ft
Swan 48 2 Frers
14.2 ft
Sweden Yachts 50
14.3 ft
Displacement
Swan 50 Ms ★
51 lbs
Cc 50
31 lbs
Swan 48 2 Frers
31 lbs
Sweden Yachts 50
31 lbs
Ballast
Swan 50 Ms ★
14 lbs
Cc 50
15 lbs
Swan 48 2 Frers
12 lbs
Sweden Yachts 50
12 lbs
Sail Area
Swan 50 Ms ★
1 sq ft
Cc 50
1 sq ft
Swan 48 2 Frers
—
Sweden Yachts 50
1 sq ft
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Swan 50 Ms ★
13.0
Cc 50
20.7
Swan 48 2 Frers
—
Sweden Yachts 50
19.1
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Swan 50 Ms ★
28.4 %
Cc 50
—
Swan 48 2 Frers
38.4 %
Sweden Yachts 50
—
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Swan 50 Ms ★
51.7
Cc 50
32.3
Swan 48 2 Frers
—
Sweden Yachts 50
32.2
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Swan 50 Ms ★
1.63
Cc 50
1.85
Swan 48 2 Frers
—
Sweden Yachts 50
1.81
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Swan 50 Ms ★
431
Cc 50
—
Swan 48 2 Frers
203
Sweden Yachts 50
—
Hull Speed
Swan 50 Ms ★
8.2 kts
Cc 50
8.4 kts
Swan 48 2 Frers
—
Sweden Yachts 50
8.6 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Swan 50 Ms ★
0.7
Cc 50
2.7
Swan 48 2 Frers
—
Sweden Yachts 50
3.0
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