Design and Construction
The Swan 56 R's hull is a single uncored skin using Kevlar hybrid fibers in the laminate, while the deck is cored with Divinycell foam and also uses a hybrid laminate, with fiberglass-over-foam longitudinal stringers stiffening the hull anchor. Polyester resin is used throughout the structure. The cast lead keel is alloyed with antimony for hardening, with beefy stainless keel bolts cast into it, and the rudder is glassed-over foam with a tubular stock made up of E-glass composites. A composite maststep won't rust or corrode like a conventional metal step, a detail that underscores the builder's attention to long-term structural integrity below the rig.
Rig and Handling
Frers' specs call for an aluminum, triple-spreader mast, though many owners of the cruiser/racer model opt for carbon fiber. The cruiser/racer rig features both an inner forestay and a babystay, which clutters up the foredeck and makes close tacking a bit of a chore, while the regatta version has a fractional rig with a single forestay and a prebent spar with no extra stays forward anchor. The mast is supported with husky, discontinuous rod rigging running backstays and a Navtec backstay tensioner, and both the backstay and Navtec vang are hydraulic and controlled from a cockpit panel. All running rigging is Spectra. The steering is a chain-and-cable system that test sailors found light and the helm well-balanced, and a triple-bladed Max-Prop feathering propeller is standard to aid maneuvering in reverse.
Performance Profile
The cruiser-racer version carries a displacement of 47,400 pounds with all tanks topped and a ballast of 13,700 pounds, against the regatta version's 43,200 pounds and 14,600 pounds of ballast. The cruiser-racer's D/L ratio is 174 and the regatta's is 166, with the regatta version's rudder set farther forward than the standard version and its rig fractional with the mast slightly farther forward and an extended E dimension. Both versions have tall rigs; the cruiser-racer sail area is 1,491 square feet with an SA/D ratio of 18.21. The standard loaded draft is 9 feet, while the regatta's loaded draft is a shade more than 11 feet, which gives the racing variant a deeper bite to windward.
Accommodations
In the standard layout the aft owner's cabin pairs with its own head, and forward a guest cabin is served by a separate head and shower. By contrast, the regatta version eliminates accommodations in the ends in order to reduce weight and pitching moment, a trade that signals its priority on the racecourse over liveaboard comfort. A door folds down to form a spacious swim step, and the 56 carries 224 gallons of fresh water in four tanks and 105 gallons of fuel in two or three tanks, supported by a 24-volt electrical system that is more efficient than the 12-volt systems found on most American boats.
Equipment and Power
The standard power plant is a Yanmar 4JH2-UTBE diesel, turbo-charged and intercooled, rated at 96 horsepower, which period reviews described as plenty of power for the easily driven hull. The standard toerail is anodized aluminum, although a teak version is both more popular and requires more maintenance. The 56's LOA is 56'5" with a 49'6" waterline and 15'6" beam, yielding an L/B of 3.63.
The Verdict
The Swan 56 R is a serious Frers-designed cruiser-racer whose single-skin Kevlar hull and foam-cored deck deliver structural refinement without excess weight, and whose dual cruiser/racer and regatta configurations let an owner choose between comfortable two-stateroom cruising and a stripped, windward-hungry racer. Writing in a period review, the tester noted the cruiser/racer's extra forestays complicate tight tacking and found the helm well-balanced.
Pros
- Single-skin Kevlar-glass hull with foam-cored deck and composite maststep for corrosion-free longevity
- Well-balanced chain-and-cable steering with feathering prop for easy docking
- Deep regatta draft and tall rig deliver strong performance metrics
- Generous 224-gallon water and 105-gallon fuel capacity with efficient 24-volt system
Cons
- Cruiser/racer inner forestay and babystay clutter the foredeck and hinder close tacking
- Regatta version sacrifices end accommodations, limiting liveaboard appeal
- Teak toerail option demands more upkeep than standard anodized aluminum
