Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 490 vs 2003 Nautor Swan 50 — Comparison
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 490 | 2003 Nautor Swan 50 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Jeanneau | Nautor Swan |
| Year | 2019 | 2003–2008 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | Finland |
| Designer | Philippe Briand | German Frers |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 14.42 m (47.3 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 | 2.35 m (7.7 ft) | 2.55 m (8.4 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 12,000 kg (26,455 lbs) | 14,500 kg (31,967 lbs) |
| Ballast | 3,800 kg (8,378 lbs) | 5,700 kg (12,566 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 98.0 m² (1,055 ft²) | 108.0 m² (1,163 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 57 HP | 75 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 250 L (66.0 gal) | 280 L (74.0 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 460 L (121.5 gal) | 480 L (126.8 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 10 | 7 |
| Cabins | 4 | 3 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 490 and 2003 Nautor Swan 50 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 490 is a modern design by Jeanneau from France, while the 2003 Nautor Swan 50 is a 2000s offering from Nautor Swan from Finland. The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 490 was penned by Philippe Briand. The 2003 Nautor Swan 50 was designed by German Frers.
In terms of size, the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 490 measures 14.42m (47.3ft) 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 0.82m longer than the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 490. The 2003 Nautor Swan 50 displaces approximately 21% 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 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 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 2003 Nautor Swan 50 has a comfort ratio of 17.4 and a capsize screening value of 0.71. The ballast ratios are 31.7% for the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 490 and 39.3% for the 2003 Nautor Swan 50, 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 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 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 · 2003 Nautor Swan 50