The Nautor Swan 51 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Nautor Swan 51, a masthead sloop, was designed by German Frers and built in Finland by Nautor.

A Nautor Swan 51

Published Specification for the Nautor Swan 51

Underwater Configuration: Fin keel & spade rudder

Hull Material: GRP (Fibreglass)

Length Overall: 51'3" (15.6m)

Waterline Length: 42'4" (12.9m)

Beam: 14'8" (4.5m)

Draft: 8'11" (2.7m)

Rig Type: Masthead sloop

Displacement: 39,600lb (17,962kg)

Designer: German Frers

Builder: Nautor Swan (Finland)

Year First Built: 1980

Year Last Built: 1985

Number Built: 36

Published Design Ratios for the Nautor Swan 51

Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 17.9

Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 41.7

Displacement/Length Ratio: 233

Comfort Ratio: 38.0

Capsize Screening Formula: 1.7

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Nautor Swan 51

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1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 17.9 suggests that the Nautor Swan 51 will, in the right conditions, approach her maximum hull speed readily and satisfy the sailing performance expectations of most cruising sailors.

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 41.7 means that the Nautor Swan 51 will stand up well to her canvas in a blow, helping her to power through the waves.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 233, tells us the Nautor Swan 51 is a moderate displacement cruiser, which means she'll carry all your cruising gear without it having a dramatic effect on her performance. Most of today's sailboats intended for offshore cruising fall into this displacement category.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 38.0 suggests that crew comfort of a Nautor Swan 51 in a seaway is similar to what you would associate with the motion of a moderate bluewater cruising boat - a predictable and acceptable motion for most seasoned sailors.

5. The Capsize Screening Formula (CSF) of 1.7 tells us that a Nautor Swan 51 would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0.

The Swan 51: A classic racer-cruiser that combines performance, comfort and elegance.

Overview
The Swan 51 was designed by Germán Frers and built by Nautor in Finland from 1980 to 1985. It was the first Swan design by Frers and led to a long collaboration between Frers and the manufacturer.

The Swan 51 is a masthead sloop with three sets of unswept spreaders and aluminium spars. The hull has a raked stem, a reverse transom, an internally mounted spade-type rudder controlled by a wheel and a fixed fin keel or optional keel and centreboard. It has a displacement of 39,600 lb (17,962 kg) and carries 16,500 lb (7,484 kg) of lead ballast.

The Swan 51 has sleeping accommodation for six people, with a double bunk beds in the forward cabin, a "U"-shaped settee and a straight settee in the main cabin with a pilot berth above to port and an aft cabin with a double berth and a single berth. The galley is located on the port side just aft of the companionway ladder. The galley is "U"-shaped and is equipped with a three-burner stove, an ice box and a double sink. A navigation station is opposite the galley, on the starboard side. There are two heads, one in the bow cabin on the starboard side and one on the port side in the aft cabin.

The Swan 51 has a hull speed of 8.72 kn (16.15 km/h) and a PHRF handicap of 27 to 54 for the fin keel model and 42 to 54 for the centreboard version.
The Swan 51 is a well-built and well-maintained boat that can handle any sea condition. It is also a fast and agile boat that can compete in races or cruise in style. It is a boat that will make you proud to own and sail.

Accommodation
The Swan 51 has a spacious and comfortable interior that can accommodate six people in three separate cabins. The forward cabin has a double bunk beds on the starboard side and a hanging locker on the port side. There is also an ensuite head with a shower on the starboard side.

The main cabin has a "U"-shaped settee on the port side that can seat six people around a folding table. There is also a straight settee on the starboard side that can be used as an extra berth. Above the port settee there is a pilot berth that can be accessed by a ladder. The aft cabin has a double berth on the port side and a single berth on the starboard side. There is also an ensuite head with a shower on the port side.

The galley is located on the port side just aft of the companionway ladder. The galley is "U"-shaped and is equipped with a three-burner stove, an oven, an ice box and a double sink. There is also ample storage space for pots, pans, dishes and food.

A navigation station is opposite the galley, on the starboard side. The navigation station has a large chart table, an instrument panel, a radio, a radar and a GPS. There is also a seat with storage underneath.

The interior of the Swan 51 is finished with high-quality teak woodwork that gives it a warm and elegant feel. The upholstery is blue and white striped fabric that matches well with the woodwork. The cabin sole is teak and holly that adds to the beauty of the interior.

Hull and Deck
The hull of the Swan 51 is made of glassfibre reinforced plastic (GRP) with longitudinal stringers and transverse frames for strength and stiffness. The hull has a raked stem, a reverse transom with an integrated swim ladder, an internally mounted spade-type rudder controlled by a wheel and a fixed fin keel or optional keel and centreboard.

The deck of the Swan 51 is also made of GRP with balsa core for insulation and rigidity. The deck has a flush foredeck, a raised coachroof with two large hatches, a wide and deep cockpit with a pedestal-mounted wheel, a mainsheet traveller and a dodger. The deck is also equipped with two primary winches, two secondary winches, two halyard winches, two spinnaker winches and a reefing winch. There are also six rope clutches, two genoa tracks, two spinnaker poles, a bow roller, an anchor locker, a liferaft locker and a stern locker.

The hull and deck of the Swan 51 are joined by an inward flange that is bonded and bolted for a watertight and strong connection. The hull and deck are also painted with white gelcoat that is easy to maintain and gives the boat a sleek and shiny look.

Mast and Rigging
The mast and rigging of the Swan 51 are designed for performance and reliability. The mast is a masthead sloop rig with three sets of unswept spreaders and aluminium spars. The mast is keel-stepped for stability and strength. The boom is also aluminium and has an internal outhaul and reefing system. The standing rigging is stainless steel wire with swaged terminals and turnbuckles. The running rigging is low-stretch polyester rope with snap shackles and blocks.

The sailplan of the Swan 51 consists of a mainsail, a genoa, a spinnaker and a storm jib. The mainsail has full battens, two reefs and lazy jacks. The genoa has roller furling, foam luff and UV protection. The spinnaker has a snuffer sock for easy handling. The storm jib has hanks for attachment to the inner forestay.

The mast and rigging of the Swan 51 are well-balanced and well-tuned for optimal performance in various wind conditions. The mast and rigging are also easy to adjust and maintain.

Keel and Rudder
The keel and rudder of the Swan 51 are designed for speed and manoeuvrability. The keel is a fixed fin keel or optional keel and centreboard that provides stability and lift. The keel is made of lead with an antimony alloy for hardness and corrosion resistance. The keel is bolted to the hull with stainless steel bolts that are sealed with epoxy resin.

The rudder is an internally mounted spade-type rudder that provides responsiveness and control. The rudder is made of GRP with a stainless steel stock and bearings. The rudder is connected to the wheel by a cable-and-pulley system that is smooth and precise.

This article was written with the assistance of Gemini, a large language model developed by Google. Gemini was used to gather information, summarize research findings, and provide suggestions for the content and structure of the article.