At 24.89 meters, this monohull carries the distinctive Frers handwriting from the height of his four-decade tenure as Nautor’s principal designer. It ranks among the larger glassfibre cruising designs of its era.
Design and Construction
Frers gave the Swan 82 a fin keel with a lead bulb, a raked stem, and a reverse transom. The boat displaces 90,400 lb and carries 29,300 lb of lead ballast. Beam is 19.22 ft, waterline length is 69.75 ft, and draft is 11.48 ft.
The hull is predominantly glassfibre with wood trim. The raised-saloon “S” deck provides more interior volume than the standard deck while retaining the same underlying cruiser-racer brief.
An internally mounted spade rudder is controlled from twin wheels. On a boat of this length, the arrangement provides useful sightlines from either helm. With a ballast-displacement ratio of about 32 percent and a comfort ratio in the upper thirties, the 82 S is intended for loaded offshore passagemaking rather than stripped-out racer weight savings.
Tankage reflects that long-range role: fuel capacity is 487 gallons, with 237 gallons of water.
Rig, Sail Plan, and Power
The 82 S carries a Bermuda masthead sloop rig. The I measurement is 105.48 ft and J is 29.66 ft; the mainsail dimensions are 102.79 ft for P and 34.12 ft for E.
The mainsail measures 1,754 sq ft and the genoa 1,720 sq ft, for 3,474 sq ft of upwind sail area. Downwind, the boat can set a 5,631 sq ft asymmetrical spinnaker, increasing the total flying area to 7,385 sq ft.
The scale of this rig calls for substantial winches and capable crew. It also sits over a boat that requires serious ground tackle. The numbers nevertheless describe a design intended to move under sail first. The theoretical hull speed is 11.19 knots.
Standard auxiliary power comes from a 180 hp Volvo D-4, with the Yanmar 4LH-STE offered as an alternative.
Accommodation
Below deck, the Swan 82 provides sleeping for six in three cabins. Two forward cabins each have two bunk beds, while the aft cabin has a central island double berth.
The main cabin includes an L-shaped settee and a straight settee. Just aft of the companionway ladder, the U-shaped galley sits to port, opposite the navigation station to starboard. Galley equipment includes a three-burner stove, an ice box, and a double sink.
Each cabin is served by its own head with shower. This three-cabin, three-head arrangement can support either private owner cruising or paid-crew operation without compromising either use.
Verdict
The Swan 82 S is a rare, purpose-built Frers cruiser-racer. Only seven were built, and the raised-saloon deck adds genuine living space without abandoning the Swan 82’s bluewater hull form.
For a buyer seeking a 24-meter performance cruiser with substantial tankage and a classic Nautor glassfibre build, few alternatives from the same era match this combination.
Pros
- Raised-saloon “S” deck adds interior volume to the Swan 82 hull
- 487-gallon fuel and 237-gallon water capacities suit long-range cruising
- Three-cabin, three-head layout with a dedicated navigation station and U-shaped galley
Cons
- With only seven built, finding a particular example may take patience
- The 11.48 ft draft restricts access to some anchorages and shallow cruising grounds
- The large masthead rig requires substantial winches and capable crew
