Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 490 vs 1983 Nautor Swan 44 — Comparison
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 490 | 1983 Nautor Swan 44 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Jeanneau | Nautor Swan |
| Year | 2019 | 1983–1991 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | Finland |
| Designer | Philippe Briand | Sparkman & Stephens |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 14.42 m (47.3 ft) | 13.41 m (44.0 ft) |
| LWL | 13.10 m (43.0 ft) | 10.36 m (34.0 ft) |
| Beam | 4.49 m (14.7 ft) | 3.86 m (12.7 ft) |
| Draft | 2.35 m (7.7 ft) | 2.29 m (7.5 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 12,000 kg (26,455 lbs) | 11,340 kg (25,000 lbs) |
| Ballast | 3,800 kg (8,378 lbs) | 4,536 kg (10,000 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 98.0 m² (1,055 ft²) | 82.0 m² (883 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 57 HP | 55 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 250 L (66.0 gal) | 200 L (52.8 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 460 L (121.5 gal) | 350 L (92.5 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 10 | 7 |
| Cabins | 4 | 3 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 490 and 1983 Nautor Swan 44 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 490 is a modern design by Jeanneau from France, while the 1983 Nautor Swan 44 is a 1980s offering from Nautor Swan from Finland. The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 490 was penned by Philippe Briand. The 1983 Nautor Swan 44 was designed by Sparkman & Stephens.
In terms of size, the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 490 measures 14.42m (47.3ft) overall with a beam of 4.49m, compared to the 1983 Nautor Swan 44 at 13.41m (44.0ft) with a 3.86m beam. The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 490 is 1.01m longer than the 1983 Nautor Swan 44. The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 490 displaces approximately 6% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 490 has good sail power for versatile performance with an SA/D ratio of 18.99 and 98.0 m² of sail area. The 1983 Nautor Swan 44, with an SA/D of 16.50 and 82.0 m² of canvas, offers moderate sail power suitable for relaxed cruising. The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 490 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 490 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 13.7) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.79). The 1983 Nautor Swan 44 has a comfort ratio of 22.7 and a capsize screening value of 0.69. The ballast ratios are 31.7% for the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 490 and 40.0% for the 1983 Nautor Swan 44, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 490 provides 10 berths in 4 cabins with 460L of water capacity and 250L of fuel. The 1983 Nautor Swan 44 offers 7 berths in 3 cabins with 350L water and 200L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 1983 Nautor Swan 44 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 Sun Odyssey 490 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 Sun Odyssey 490 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 Sun Odyssey 490 · 1983 Nautor Swan 44