Swan 411 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a Swan 411 means taking on a 40ft 9in Sparkman & Stephens sloop built through 1979 in a production run of 42 hulls, a boat whose period character is as much a constraint as a charm. These are not modern interior-led cruisers; they are offshore-minded yachts whose hull shape was allowed to come first and was not compromised by internal comfort, and any purchase decision should start from that premise.
Layouts on the Used Market
Owner three-cabin layouts are the more common on the used market, but both are available; ex-charter examples are common. Regardless of plan, the interior below is traditional: teak panelling, a holly and teak cabin sole, and teak bulkheads, shelving and cupboards give a warm, inviting and traditional feel, though she is darker than a modern yacht because when she was launched boatbuilders thought windows were for houses, not yachts. The deep bilge allows for generous standing headroom without the need for skyscraper topsides, and the upright surfaces are not at great lurch-distance from each other in a seaway with a good many handholds throughout. Accommodation is more than adequate for a modern crew of six to live aboard in harbour or cross an ocean in comfort.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
A chartplotter is commonly fitted to boats on the market. Beyond that, heating, spinnaker, hot water, radar, AIS, autopilot, and life raft appear as sometimes-or-owner-upgrade items rather than standard equipment. The original masthead sloop rig may have been modified by owners — a permanent babystay to make her a cutter is one documented refit, and original wire runners have been replaced with Dyneema on at least one boat. Main and headsail halyards were operated at the mast from new, though they could be led back to the cockpit to boost both safety and friction, a frequent owner improvement.
What to Inspect
The documented weaknesses of the 411 are concentrated in deck ergonomics and egress safety. A singlehanded helmsman has to leave the wheel and walk forward to trim the mainsail, and a retrofitted 48-inch wheel gets in the way of that forward movement. On passage the crew must clip on their harnesses before exiting the main hatch because they are high up and exposed when crossing the bridgedeck. The deck layout and huge headsails demand a full crew for cruising, and her draught rules her out as a creek crawler. You may want for ventilation in steamy tropical anchorages. Confirm the sump drains the bilges when laid up, as all Swans were built with one for that purpose.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Typical markets for the Swan 411 are the United Kingdom, Portugal, Germany, and Italy. For a buyer, the checklist is short and grounded in the record: verify rig modifications and halyard leading; check the wheel size for forward-access obstruction; confirm harness hardpoints at the main hatch; assess ventilation for tropical use; and accept the 7ft 6in draught as a non-negotiable limitation. A keen connoisseur can cruise her solo, but the boat was built to be sailed by a full crew.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Swan 411. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 5 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 25 | 1 | $ 114,451 | — |
| Jan 26 | 1 | $ 113,504 | -0.8% |
| Mar 26 | 1 | $ 97,189 | -14.4% |
| Apr 26 | 3 | $ 113,945 | +17.2% |
| May 26 | 1 | $ 137,341 | +20.5% |
Where they're listed
Swan 411 listings appear across 4 countries. United Kingdom has the most listings with 4 (57.1%), followed by Germany and Italy.
Country view
7 listings · 4 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | $ 105,346 | 4 | 1 | 57.1% |
| Germany | $ 137,341 | 1 | 1 | 14.3% |
| Italy | $ 201,080 | 1 | 0 | 14.3% |
| Portugal | $ 114,451 | 1 | 0 | 14.3% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
8 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beneteau 411 | 41' | $ 95,500 | 142 | 42 |
| Oceanic Oceanis 411 | 41' | $ 96,956 | 105 | 22 |
| Bristol 41.1 | 41.14' | $ 75,000 | 25 | 10 |
| Hanse 411 | 40.52' | $ 117,363 | 15 | 5 |
| Nautor Swan Swan 44 Mk II | 44.11' | $ 234,000 | 8 | 3 |
| Swan 411You are here | — | $ 113,766 | 7 | 2 |
| Najad 511 | 50.85' | $ 678,694 | 7 | 3 |
| Bianca 414 | 41.33' | $ 112,926 | 7 | 0 |