Design and Lineage
Sparkman & Stephens drew the 55-foot yawl or masthead sloop with classic S&S lines and a moderate sheer. The New York firm was Nautor's original design partner, and this model sits squarely in that early collaboration, preceding the later Ron Holland and Germán Frers eras at the Finnish yard. At 54.63 feet overall with a 38.48-foot waterline and 14.21-foot beam, the hull carries 45,600 pounds of displacement against 17,000 pounds of lead ballast on a fin keel with a skeg-mounted rudder. Those proportions, paired with a sail area of 1,344 square feet, place the design firmly in the bluewater-capable performance cruiser class rather than the lightweight racer category.
Construction
The Swan 55-S&S-1970 shows robust fiberglass construction with teak decks and interior joinery typical of early Swans. Nautor Swan, from its founding in 1966, pioneered fiber-reinforced plastic for serial production hulls over 10 meters, and this 55-foot model reflects that early GRP discipline with solid glass. The teak deck and interior woodwork are period-consistent with the yard's first generation of yachts, where the finish level was part of what set the brand apart from more utilitarian production fiberglass of the era.
Rig and Handling
Available as a masthead sloop or yawl, the Swan 55-S&S-1970 carries a standard rig with a 63-foot foretriangle height (I), 22-foot base (J), 57-foot mainsail hoist (P), and 20.5-foot foot (E). The yawl configuration extends the sail plan aft for easier shorthanded balance and downwind control. With a displacement-to-length ratio near 357 and a ballast-displacement ratio of 37 percent, the hull offers a balanced, seakindly motion and strong bluewater pedigree anchor. The fin keel and skeg-hung rudder combination gives the boat directional control suited to both the race course and an ocean passage, though the 8.0-foot draft demands considered anchorage planning.
Accommodations and Intended Use
Good Old Boat describes the Swan 55-S&S-1970 as a dual-purpose offshore and cruising design, a brief that explains the teak-finished interior and the seakindly motion noted above. The 14.21-foot beam provides the volume needed for extended living aboard without compromising the moderate sheer that keeps the S&S profile elegant rather than bloated.
The Verdict
The Swan 55-S&S-1970 Yawl is a foundational Nautor Swan: a Sparkman & Stephens design built in tiny numbers that helped define the marque's performance-cruiser identity. Its robust solid-fiberglass hull, lead-ballasted fin keel, and seakindly motion make it a credible bluewater yacht, while the 16-hull rarity means any example carries collector weight alongside practical passage-making ability.
Pros
- S&S/Nautor design that established the Swan reputation for high-quality performance yachts
- Robust solid fiberglass construction with period-teak finish
- Balanced, seakindly motion with strong bluewater pedigree
- Lead ballast fin keel with skeg rudder for offshore control
Cons
- Only 16 hulls built, limiting availability and spares commonality
- 8.0-foot draft restricts shallow cruising grounds
- Early-1970s teak decks require ongoing maintenance vigilance
