Swan 77 Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

The most commonly encountered arrangement on the brokerage market is the four-cabin layout, which lends itself to charter operations, and ex-charter examples do circulate. This configuration typically provides sleeping accommodation for eight or more, with dedicated cabins forward and aft, multiple heads, and a generous main saloon with U-shaped settees. A navigation station sits to starboard of the companionway, and the galley — an open L-shape fitted with a multi-burner stove and ample refrigeration — sits forward of the saloon on the starboard side. The aft cabin in the port quarter typically takes the owner's double berth.

Buyer-use layouts, configured with a larger owner's cabin and fewer guest cabins, are less common but do appear on the market. Both arrangements share the same deck, rig, and mechanical package; the distinction is entirely below decks. Ex-charter boats warrant additional scrutiny of soft furnishings, joinery wear, and through-hull fittings, all of which see heavier service in a professional charter context.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Swan 77s arriving at the brokerage market arrive well-equipped as a baseline. Teak decks are a near-universal feature of the production run and are worth examining carefully during any survey, as their condition varies significantly with age and maintenance history. Radar, AIS, chartplotter, and autopilot are routinely fitted, and the electronics suites across available examples reflect successive generations of hardware; expect to budget for refreshing any systems that predate current standards.

Watermakers, inverters, and air conditioning are commonly fitted — appropriate to both the Mediterranean and long-passage bluewater contexts in which these boats typically operate. Bow thrusters appear on most examples encountered, as does a full suite of offshore safety equipment including EPIRB and life raft. Electric winches are standard rather than optional at this scale.

Sailplan upgrades are common: gennakers and asymmetric spinnakers are frequently carried alongside the primary inventory, and a furling mainsail is often seen as an owner upgrade or refit addition. Spinnakers in the traditional sense appear on some boats but are less universal. Dodgers, biminis, and swim platforms are owner-preference upgrades that appear selectively. Satellite internet connectivity — including Starlink installations — is beginning to appear on more recently refreshed examples, as owners prioritise bluewater communications. A washing machine and cockpit shower are commonly fitted, reflecting the long-passage and liveaboard use profiles of these boats.

What to Inspect

The Swan 77's fiberglass construction is generally robust, but at this age and scale several areas demand systematic attention. Nautor's Swan has consistently invested in hull stiffness and structural discipline, and the core structure of these hulls tends to hold up well, but osmotic blistering in the topsides and below the waterline should be assessed by a qualified surveyor with moisture meter readings taken across the full underwater surface.

The teak decks, almost universally present, represent a significant maintenance liability. Check the fastening systems beneath the teak planking and probe the underlying glassfibre for any delamination or water ingress at bungs and seams. Redecking a boat of this size is a substantial undertaking and should be reflected in any price negotiation where the teak is at end of life.

The 220-horsepower Perkins diesel, carrying a 459-gallon fuel tank, is a workhorse engine that has proven reliable in service, but any used example should be surveyed with a full engine inspection, compression test, and review of service records. Examine the stern gear — shaft, cutlass bearing, prop, and seacocks — as well as the transmission. Given the size and weight of this boat, an engine that starts hard or runs rough is not a minor inconvenience.

Standing rigging on a boat of this age should be treated as a major survey focus. The mast is substantial — nearly 90 feet of luff — and the loads involved are correspondingly large. Any rigging of unknown age or service history should be replaced before offshore passages, and the chainplates, mast step, and deck penetrations should be inspected for signs of movement or water ingress. Running rigging condition varies widely; inspect all blocks, clutches, and winch internals.

Below decks, examine the bilge for standing water and inspect all through-hull fittings and seacocks for freedom of movement and signs of corrosion. On ex-charter examples, look closely at the head systems, pump-out fittings, and any seacocks associated with air conditioning circuits.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

Swan 77s circulate primarily in the Mediterranean, with Italy and France representing the most active brokerage markets; examples also appear in the United States. Because the production run was small, buyers should expect to search broadly and be prepared to travel for surveys. The Nautor's Swan dealer network can assist with both locating examples and post-purchase support, which is a meaningful consideration for a boat of this complexity.

Pre-purchase checklist:

• Full in-water and haulout survey by a surveyor with Swan or large-yacht bluewater experience
• Moisture meter readings across the entire underwater surface
• Teak deck condition assessment and underlying substrate inspection
• Engine compression test, service history review, and full mechanical inspection
• Standing rigging age and service documentation; chainplate and deck-penetration inspection
• Running rigging, winch, and block inspection
• All seacocks and through-hulls operated and inspected for corrosion
• Navigation and safety electronics audit against current offshore standards
• Full sail inventory inspection, including offshore canvas
• Ex-charter provenance review: head systems, joinery wear, accommodation fit-out condition