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Swan 65 Ss
Designer: Sparkman & Stephens  ·  Builder: Nautor  ·  First built: 1972
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About the Swan 65 Ss

Designed by the legendary Sparkman & Stephens partnership and built by Finland's prestigious Nautor yard, this classic represents the pinnacle of 1970s and 1980s luxury sailing yacht design. With only 41 hulls produced between 1972 and 1989, the Swan 65 Ss has earned an enviable reputation among serious offshore sailors seeking both performance and comfort in equal measure. The yacht's substantial 70,000-pound displacement and generous 30,600-pound ballast configuration create exceptional stability and seaworthiness for extended offshore passages. Her fin keel with rudder-on-skeg arrangement provides reliable directional control while maintaining the moderate draft characteristics favored by cruising sailors. The masthead sloop rig offers versatility across varying wind conditions, while the 1,854 square feet of sail area delivers respectable performance without becoming overwhelming for short-handed crews. Built with fiberglass construction to Nautor's exacting standards, these yachts are renowned for their robust build quality and longevity. The comfort ratio of 50.29 indicates excellent motion characteristics in seaways, while the low capsize screening value of 1.58 confirms her offshore capabilities. This Swan excels at serious blue-water cruising where comfort, safety, and reliability take precedence over pure racing performance, making her ideal for extended voyaging or comfortable coastal exploration.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 65.09 ft / 19.84 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 47.00 ft / 14.33 m
Beam 16.27 ft / 4.96 m
Max Draft 9.60 ft / 2.93 m
Displacement 70,000.00 lb / 31,751 kg
Ballast 30,600.00 lb / 13,880 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 1,854.00 ft² / 172.24 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Sparkman & Stephens
Builder Nautor
First Built 1972
Last Built 1989
Number Built 41
Related Sailboats ["Swan 651" · "Swan 65 Ss Ketch" · "Swan 68" · "Baltic 64" · "Little Harbor 63"]
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
 45
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
 17.55
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
 43.71
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
 300.99
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
 50.29
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
 1.58
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. 9.19 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
 1.78
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. 2,732.32 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. 17.55
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 80.00 ft / 24.38 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 25.36 ft / 7.73 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 73.00 ft / 22.25 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
SA Fore 1,014.40 ft² / 94.24 m²
SA Main 839.50 ft² / 77.99 m²
SA Total (100%) 1,853.90 ft² / 172.23 m²
Est. Forestay Length 83.92 ft / 25.58 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Volvo Penta
Engine Model MD 32
Engine Type Diesel
How It Compares

vs. Baltic 64, Swan 65 Ss Ketch, Swan 68

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Swan 65 Ss ★
65.1 ft
Baltic 64
64.2 ft
Swan 65 Ss Ketch
64.6 ft
Swan 68
67.7 ft
LWL
Swan 65 Ss ★
47.0 ft
Baltic 64
50.5 ft
Swan 65 Ss Ketch
47.0 ft
Swan 68
54.7 ft
Beam
Swan 65 Ss ★
16.3 ft
Baltic 64
17.3 ft
Swan 65 Ss Ketch
16.3 ft
Swan 68
17.8 ft
Displacement
Swan 65 Ss ★
70 lbs
Baltic 64
56 lbs
Swan 65 Ss Ketch
70 lbs
Swan 68
88 lbs
Ballast
Swan 65 Ss ★
30 lbs
Baltic 64
24 lbs
Swan 65 Ss Ketch
30 lbs
Swan 68
35 lbs
Sail Area
Swan 65 Ss ★
1 sq ft
Baltic 64
1 sq ft
Swan 65 Ss Ketch
1 sq ft
Swan 68
—
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Swan 65 Ss ★
17.6
Baltic 64
19.9
Swan 65 Ss Ketch
17.0
Swan 68
—
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Swan 65 Ss ★
43.7 %
Baltic 64
—
Swan 65 Ss Ketch
43.7 %
Swan 68
40.0 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Swan 65 Ss ★
50.3
Baltic 64
35.7
Swan 65 Ss Ketch
50.4
Swan 68
—
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Swan 65 Ss ★
1.58
Baltic 64
1.81
Swan 65 Ss Ketch
1.58
Swan 68
—
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Swan 65 Ss ★
300
Baltic 64
—
Swan 65 Ss Ketch
300
Swan 68
240
Hull Speed
Swan 65 Ss ★
9.2 kts
Baltic 64
9.5 kts
Swan 65 Ss Ketch
9.2 kts
Swan 68
—
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Swan 65 Ss ★
1.8
Baltic 64
3.1
Swan 65 Ss Ketch
1.5
Swan 68
—
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