1977 Nautor Swan 47 vs Dufour 45E — Comparison
1977 Nautor Swan 47
Dufour 45E
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | 1977 Nautor Swan 47 | Dufour 45E |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Nautor Swan | Dufour |
| Year | 1977–1985 | 2008–2011 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | Finland | France |
| Designer | Sparkman & Stephens | Umberto Felci |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 14.33 m (47.0 ft) | 13.80 m (45.3 ft) |
| LWL | 10.67 m (35.0 ft) | 11.90 m (39.0 ft) |
| Beam | 4.09 m (13.4 ft) | 4.20 m (13.8 ft) |
| Draft | 2.29 m (7.5 ft) | 2.10 m (6.9 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 14,969 kg (33,001 lbs) | 10,500 kg (23,149 lbs) |
| Ballast | 6,350 kg (13,999 lbs) | 3,200 kg (7,055 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 89.2 m² (960 ft²) | 88.0 m² (947 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 55 HP | 55 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 227 L (60.0 gal) | 200 L (52.8 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 454 L (119.9 gal) | 380 L (100.4 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 7 | 8 |
| Cabins | 3 | 3 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The 1977 Nautor Swan 47 and Dufour 45E represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The 1977 Nautor Swan 47 is a 1970s design by Nautor Swan from Finland, while the Dufour 45E is a 2000s offering from Dufour from France. The 1977 Nautor Swan 47 was penned by Sparkman & Stephens. The Dufour 45E was designed by Umberto Felci.
In terms of size, the 1977 Nautor Swan 47 measures 14.33m (47.0ft) overall with a beam of 4.09m, compared to the Dufour 45E at 13.80m (45.3ft) with a 4.20m beam. The 1977 Nautor Swan 47 is 0.53m longer than the Dufour 45E. The 1977 Nautor Swan 47 displaces approximately 43% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the 1977 Nautor Swan 47 has modest sail power for its displacement with an SA/D ratio of 14.92 and 89.2 m² of sail area. The Dufour 45E, with an SA/D of 18.64 and 88.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The Dufour 45E has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the 1977 Nautor Swan 47 offers a moderate motion comfort level (comfort ratio: 25.4) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.67). The Dufour 45E has a comfort ratio of 15.3 and a capsize screening value of 0.77. The ballast ratios are 42.4% for the 1977 Nautor Swan 47 and 30.5% for the Dufour 45E, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the 1977 Nautor Swan 47 provides 7 berths in 3 cabins with 454L of water capacity and 227L of fuel. The Dufour 45E offers 8 berths in 3 cabins with 380L water and 200L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 1977 Nautor Swan 47 is the better choice for comfortable cruising thanks to its higher comfort ratio, offering a gentler motion at sea that crews will appreciate on longer passages.
For racing: The Dufour 45E has the performance advantage with its superior SA/D ratio, meaning more sail power relative to its displacement for competitive sailing.
For liveaboard: The Dufour 45E offers more sleeping accommodation, making it better suited for extended living aboard. Consider water and fuel capacity for extended stays away from marinas.
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Or view individual specs: 1977 Nautor Swan 47 · Dufour 45E