Bavaria 49 vs 2003 Nautor Swan 50 — Comparison
Bavaria 49
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Bavaria 49 | 2003 Nautor Swan 50 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Bavaria | Nautor Swan |
| Year | 2005–2009 | 2003–2008 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | Germany | Finland |
| Designer | J&J Design | German Frers |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 14.98 m (49.1 ft) | 15.24 m (50.0 ft) |
| LWL | 13.10 m (43.0 ft) | 12.80 m (42.0 ft) |
| Beam | 4.49 m (14.7 ft) | 4.30 m (14.1 ft) |
| Draft | 2.20 m (7.2 ft) | 2.55 m (8.4 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 13,000 kg (28,660 lbs) | 14,500 kg (31,967 lbs) |
| Ballast | 4,200 kg (9,259 lbs) | 5,700 kg (12,566 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 102.0 m² (1,098 ft²) | 108.0 m² (1,163 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 75 HP | 75 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 280 L (74.0 gal) | 280 L (74.0 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 500 L (132.1 gal) | 480 L (126.8 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 10 | 7 |
| Cabins | 4 | 3 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Bavaria 49 and 2003 Nautor Swan 50 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Bavaria 49 is a 2000s design by Bavaria from Germany, while the 2003 Nautor Swan 50 is a 2000s offering from Nautor Swan from Finland. The Bavaria 49 was penned by J&J Design. The 2003 Nautor Swan 50 was designed by German Frers.
In terms of size, the Bavaria 49 measures 14.98m (49.1ft) overall with a beam of 4.49m, compared to the 2003 Nautor Swan 50 at 15.24m (50.0ft) with a 4.30m beam. The 2003 Nautor Swan 50 is 0.26m longer than the Bavaria 49. The 2003 Nautor Swan 50 displaces approximately 12% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the Bavaria 49 has good sail power for versatile performance with an SA/D ratio of 18.74 and 102.0 m² of sail area. The 2003 Nautor Swan 50, with an SA/D of 18.45 and 108.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The Bavaria 49 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the Bavaria 49 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 14.5) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.77). The 2003 Nautor Swan 50 has a comfort ratio of 17.4 and a capsize screening value of 0.71. The ballast ratios are 32.3% for the Bavaria 49 and 39.3% for the 2003 Nautor Swan 50, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Bavaria 49 provides 10 berths in 4 cabins with 500L of water capacity and 280L of fuel. The 2003 Nautor Swan 50 offers 7 berths in 3 cabins with 480L water and 280L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 2003 Nautor Swan 50 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 49 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 49 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 49 · 2003 Nautor Swan 50