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Swan 55 Ss 1970
Designer: Sparkman & Stephens  ·  Builder: Nautor  ·  First built: 1970
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About the Swan 55 Ss 1970

Built during a golden era of offshore racing and bluewater cruising, the Swan 55 Ss is a product of Nautor's Swan, the Finnish yard renowned for producing some of the most respected performance cruisers of the twentieth century. Designed with the craftsmanship and seakeeping ability that became synonymous with the Swan name, this vessel represents the yard's commitment to building boats capable of handling serious offshore passages while remaining elegant and refined at the dock. As with other Swans of this period, the 55 Ss was conceived for sailors who demand capability without compromise — equally at home on an ocean crossing as on a spirited coastal passage. Swan's collaboration with leading designers of the era resulted in hulls known for their balanced handling, strong upwind performance, and confidence-inspiring behavior in heavy weather. For prospective buyers, a Swan of this vintage carries considerable heritage value alongside its practical appeal. While detailed specifications for this particular model are limited, the Swan lineage alone speaks to build quality, longevity, and a loyal ownership community — all meaningful considerations for anyone researching a serious bluewater sailboat.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 54.63 ft / 16.65 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 38.48 ft / 11.73 m
Beam 14.21 ft / 4.33 m
Max Draft 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
Displacement 45,600.00 lb / 20,684 kg
Ballast 17,000.00 lb / 7,711 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Sparkman & Stephens
Builder Nautor
First Built 1970
Last Built 1974
Number Built 16
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Known Issues & What to Watch For

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Performance Ratios
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
37.28
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
357.28
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. 11.72 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 16.08
J (Foretriangle Base) 22.00 ft / 6.71 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 1,277.00 ft² / 118.64 m²
E (Mainsail Foot) Volvo Penta
Engine & Accommodations
Horsepower 61
Fuel Capacity 80 gals / 303 L
Water Capacity 125 gals / 473 L
How It Compares

vs. Ct 54, Islander 55, Morgan 54 Marauder

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Swan 55 Ss 1970 ★
54.6 ft
Ct 54
54.0 ft
Islander 55
54.7 ft
Morgan 54 Marauder
53.5 ft
LWL
Swan 55 Ss 1970 ★
38.5 ft
Ct 54
42.5 ft
Islander 55
36.0 ft
Morgan 54 Marauder
37.3 ft
Beam
Swan 55 Ss 1970 ★
14.2 ft
Ct 54
15.3 ft
Islander 55
14.0 ft
Morgan 54 Marauder
12.5 ft
Displacement
Swan 55 Ss 1970 ★
45 lbs
Ct 54
57 lbs
Islander 55
38 lbs
Morgan 54 Marauder
36 lbs
Ballast
Swan 55 Ss 1970 ★
17 lbs
Ct 54
16 lbs
Islander 55
6 lbs
Morgan 54 Marauder
16 lbs
Sail Area
Swan 55 Ss 1970 ★
Ct 54
1 sq ft
Islander 55
1 sq ft
Morgan 54 Marauder
1 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Swan 55 Ss 1970 ★
Ct 54
75 s/nm
Islander 55
98 s/nm
Morgan 54 Marauder
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Swan 55 Ss 1970 ★
Ct 54
13.5
Islander 55
16.8
Morgan 54 Marauder
17.3
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Swan 55 Ss 1970 ★
37.3 %
Ct 54
29.0 %
Islander 55
Morgan 54 Marauder
44.4 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Swan 55 Ss 1970 ★
Ct 54
50.9
Islander 55
42.0
Morgan 54 Marauder
45.7
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Swan 55 Ss 1970 ★
Ct 54
1.59
Islander 55
1.67
Morgan 54 Marauder
1.52
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Swan 55 Ss 1970 ★
357
Ct 54
331
Islander 55
Morgan 54 Marauder
310
Hull Speed
Swan 55 Ss 1970 ★
Ct 54
8.7 kts
Islander 55
8.0 kts
Morgan 54 Marauder
8.2 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Swan 55 Ss 1970 ★
Ct 54
1.3
Islander 55
1.3
Morgan 54 Marauder
1.7
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