Jeanneau Yacht 55 vs 1990 Nautor Swan 53 — Comparison
Jeanneau Yacht 55
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Jeanneau Yacht 55 | 1990 Nautor Swan 53 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Jeanneau | Nautor Swan |
| Year | 2018 | 1990–1999 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | Finland |
| Designer | Philippe Briand | German Frers |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 17.14 m (56.2 ft) | 16.15 m (53.0 ft) |
| LWL | 15.10 m (49.5 ft) | 12.80 m (42.0 ft) |
| Beam | 4.86 m (15.9 ft) | 4.40 m (14.4 ft) |
| Draft | 2.50 m (8.2 ft) | 2.50 m (8.2 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 18,000 kg (39,683 lbs) | 17,237 kg (38,001 lbs) |
| Ballast | 5,800 kg (12,787 lbs) | 6,804 kg (15,000 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 130.0 m² (1,399 ft²) | 112.0 m² (1,206 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 110 HP | 100 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 400 L (105.7 gal) | 350 L (92.5 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 660 L (174.4 gal) | 550 L (145.3 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 10 | 7 |
| Cabins | 4 | 3 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Jeanneau Yacht 55 and 1990 Nautor Swan 53 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Jeanneau Yacht 55 is a modern design by Jeanneau from France, while the 1990 Nautor Swan 53 is a 1990s offering from Nautor Swan from Finland. The Jeanneau Yacht 55 was penned by Philippe Briand. The 1990 Nautor Swan 53 was designed by German Frers.
In terms of size, the Jeanneau Yacht 55 measures 17.14m (56.2ft) overall with a beam of 4.86m, compared to the 1990 Nautor Swan 53 at 16.15m (53.0ft) with a 4.40m beam. The Jeanneau Yacht 55 is 0.99m longer than the 1990 Nautor Swan 53. The Jeanneau Yacht 55 displaces approximately 4% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the Jeanneau Yacht 55 has good sail power for versatile performance with an SA/D ratio of 19.22 and 130.0 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 Jeanneau Yacht 55 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the Jeanneau Yacht 55 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 13.6) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.74). The 1990 Nautor Swan 53 has a comfort ratio of 19.3 and a capsize screening value of 0.68. The ballast ratios are 32.2% for the Jeanneau Yacht 55 and 39.5% for the 1990 Nautor Swan 53, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Jeanneau Yacht 55 provides 10 berths in 4 cabins with 660L of water capacity and 400L 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 Jeanneau Yacht 55 has the performance advantage with its superior SA/D ratio, meaning more sail power relative to its displacement for competitive sailing.
For liveaboard: The Jeanneau Yacht 55 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: Jeanneau Yacht 55 · 1990 Nautor Swan 53