Swan 55-S&S-1970 Yawl Buyer's Guide
The Swan 55-S&S-1970 Yawl is a 16-hull Sparkman & Stephens design built by Nautor in Finland between 1970 and 1974, offered occasionally on the brokerage market as either a masthead sloop or yawl. With only 16 examples completed in both rigs combined, a buyer is shopping rarity as much as capability, and the solid-fiberglass hull with teak decks demands a surveyor who knows early Swan construction rather than later cored yachts.
Layouts on the Used Market
Surviving used Swan 55-S&S-1970 Yawls appear in either masthead sloop or yawl rig, with the yawl's mizzen extending sail-plan balance aft for easier shorthanded handling. The 14.21-foot beam and 38.48-foot waterline give these 55-foot hulls volume for extended living aboard, and the teak interior joinery typical of early Swans distinguishes them from later production cruisers.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
A Volvo Penta MD21 diesel provides propulsion, and a buyer should verify the engine's service history given the 1970-era installation. Rig dimensions follow S&S #2012.1 (I 63 ft, J 22 ft, P 57 ft, E 20.5 ft), so confirm any aftermarket spar or sail changes match those figures.
What to Inspect
The defining buyer concern on this model is the teak deck laid over robust fiberglass construction typical of early Swans anchor. Period teak decks of this era are prone to fastener fatigue and bedding failure, and on a 50-year-old hull the deck-to-hull interface should be probed for softness, discoloration, and staining down the interior liner. A musty smell in the forward cabins or around chainplate penetrations signals past leakage that may have reached the solid glass beneath. The skeg-mounted rudder and fin keel should be examined for grounding damage given the 8.0-foot draft, and the lead ballast keel joint checked for any history of impact separation. Each hull should be surveyed on its own merits given the tiny production count.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
- Probe teak deck for softness and check chainplate bedding for stains
- Inspect skeg rudder and fin keel for grounding or impact damage
- Confirm rig configuration is intact and spares match S&S #2012.1 dimensions
- Survey interior for musty odor indicating past deck leakage
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
7 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swan 46 | 47.08' | $ 147,199 | 24 | 6 |
| Swan 53 | 53' | $ 390,064 | 19 | 7 |
| Oyster 55 | 56.25' | $ 372,642 | 11 | 4 |
| Hallberg-Rassy 55 | 54.72' | $ 1,222,733 | 9 | 1 |
| Swan 65-S&S Ketch | 64.57' | $ 492,004 | 8 | 3 |
| Nautor Swan Swan 55 CC | 54.98' | $ 2,154,339 | 7 | 0 |
| Swan 47 S&S | 47.83' | $ 135,000 | 7 | 3 |