Design and Construction
The Swan 59 measures 48 feet 2 inches on the waterline and carries a 16-foot-4-inch beam. Displacement is 62,400 pounds, balanced by 22,800 pounds of lead ballast for a ballast-displacement ratio of 36.5 percent. A capsize screening value of 1.65 and a comfort ratio near 45 further describe a hull intended for passage-making rather than all-out racing.
Frers offered the boat in two distinct underwater configurations. The standard fin-keel version draws 11.18 feet. The optional stub-keel and retractable-centreboard version draws 9.75 feet with the board down and 4.0 feet with it raised. The centreboard model also has a shorter mast than its fin-keel sister, a necessary trade for the shoaler profile. The centreboard option broadens the boat’s range into shoal waters without surrendering the Frers sea-keeping profile.
The hull and deck are solid fiberglass, with lead ballast—construction rooted in traditional Nautor practice during the early Frers years.
Rig and Deck Layout
The Swan 59 is a masthead sloop with two cockpits, separating the work of sailing from the crew’s leisure space. The forward cockpit is the main working area, with the wheel, winches, jammers, cleats, and instruments. This arrangement keeps sailing operations clear of guests and gives the helmsman a dedicated command post forward.
The aft cockpit is intended for relaxing, socializing, and enjoying the view. It has a table and a bimini for shade. An optional aft companionway gives the aft cabin direct access to this leisure cockpit.
Accommodations
The Swan 59 sleeps six. Two forward cabins each have a pair of bunk beds. In the main cabin, L-shaped and U-shaped settees provide seating, while the aft cabin centers on an island double berth. The optional aft companionway connects that cabin directly to the cockpit.
The C-shaped galley is to port, just abeam of the companionway ladder. It includes a three-burner stove, an ice box, and a double sink. The navigation station faces it to starboard.
Two heads serve the interior: one in the forepeak and another on the port side of the aft cabin.
Verdict
The Swan 59 is a thoughtfully divided cruiser for a couple or family who want direct sailing control forward and a quieter place to relax aft. Its separate cockpits are a genuine asset both at anchor and under way. With only 21 built, the Swan 59 is a rare find, but its layout and construction reflect a considered bluewater brief.
Pros
- Two-cockpit arrangement separates sailing operations from guest space
- Centreboard version draws just 4.0 feet with the board raised, opening up shoal-water cruising
- Sleeps six in distinct forward cabins and an island-berth aft stateroom
- Solid-fiberglass hull and deck with lead ballast, in the Frers-Nautor lineage
Cons
- Fin-keel draft of 11.18 feet limits access to some anchorages
- Only 21 were built, so available examples are scarce
- Centreboard version has a shorter mast than the fin-keel model
