Bavaria 46 vs 1990 Nautor Swan 53 — Comparison
Bavaria 46
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Bavaria 46 | 1990 Nautor Swan 53 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Bavaria | Nautor Swan |
| Year | 2004–2009 | 1990–1999 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | Germany | Finland |
| Designer | J&J Design | German Frers |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 14.27 m (46.8 ft) | 16.15 m (53.0 ft) |
| LWL | 12.50 m (41.0 ft) | 12.80 m (42.0 ft) |
| Beam | 4.35 m (14.3 ft) | 4.40 m (14.4 ft) |
| Draft | 2.15 m (7.1 ft) | 2.50 m (8.2 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 11,200 kg (24,692 lbs) | 17,237 kg (38,001 lbs) |
| Ballast | 3,500 kg (7,716 lbs) | 6,804 kg (15,000 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 95.0 m² (1,023 ft²) | 112.0 m² (1,206 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 55 HP | 100 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 250 L (66.0 gal) | 350 L (92.5 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 450 L (118.9 gal) | 550 L (145.3 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 10 | 7 |
| Cabins | 4 | 3 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Bavaria 46 and 1990 Nautor Swan 53 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Bavaria 46 is a 2000s design by Bavaria from Germany, while the 1990 Nautor Swan 53 is a 1990s offering from Nautor Swan from Finland. The Bavaria 46 was penned by J&J Design. The 1990 Nautor Swan 53 was designed by German Frers.
In terms of size, the Bavaria 46 measures 14.27m (46.8ft) overall with a beam of 4.35m, compared to the 1990 Nautor Swan 53 at 16.15m (53.0ft) with a 4.40m beam. The 1990 Nautor Swan 53 is 1.88m longer than the Bavaria 46. The 1990 Nautor Swan 53 displaces approximately 54% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the Bavaria 46 has good sail power for versatile performance with an SA/D ratio of 19.28 and 95.0 m² of sail area. The 1990 Nautor Swan 53, with an SA/D of 17.05 and 112.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The Bavaria 46 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the Bavaria 46 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 14.3) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.78). The 1990 Nautor Swan 53 has a comfort ratio of 19.3 and a capsize screening value of 0.68. The ballast ratios are 31.3% for the Bavaria 46 and 39.5% for the 1990 Nautor Swan 53, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Bavaria 46 provides 10 berths in 4 cabins with 450L of water capacity and 250L of fuel. The 1990 Nautor Swan 53 offers 7 berths in 3 cabins with 550L water and 350L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 1990 Nautor Swan 53 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 Bavaria 46 has the performance advantage with its superior SA/D ratio, meaning more sail power relative to its displacement for competitive sailing.
For liveaboard: The Bavaria 46 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: Bavaria 46 · 1990 Nautor Swan 53