Swan 44

Swan 44
Development
DesignerSparkman & Stephens
LocationFinland
Year1972
No. built76
Builder(s)Oy Nautor AB
RoleRacer-Cruiser
NameSwan 44
Boat
Displacement28,000 lb (12,701 kg)
Draft7.40 ft (2.26 m)
Hull
Typemonohull
Constructionglassfibre
LOA44.00 ft (13.41 m)
LWL33.89 ft (10.33 m)
Beam12.58 ft (3.83 m)
Engine typePerkins Engines 4-108M 37 hp (28 kW) diesel engine
Hull appendages
Keel/board typeswept fin keel
Ballast12,600 lb (5,715 kg)
Rudder(s)Skeg-mounted rudder
Rig
Rig typeBermuda rig
I foretriangle height57.50 ft (17.53 m)
J foretriangle base18.60 ft (5.67 m)
P mainsail luff51.00 ft (15.54 m)
E mainsail foot15.50 ft (4.72 m)
Sails
SailplanMasthead sloop
Mainsail area395.25 sq ft (36.720 m2)
Jib/genoa area534.75 sq ft (49.680 m2)
Total sail area930.00 sq ft (86.400 m2)
Racing
PHRF81-87

The Swan 44 is a Finnish sailboat that was designed by Sparkman & Stephens as an International Offshore Rule racer-cruiser and first built in 1972. The boat is Sparkman & Stephens' design #2112.[1][2][3][4]

The design is often referred to as the Swan 44 S&S to avoid confusion with the 1989 Swan 44 Frers, designed by Germán Frers. The boat was also sold in the United States as the Palmer Johnson 44.[1][2]

Production

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The design was built by Oy Nautor AB in Finland, from 1972 to 1978, with 76 boats completed, but it is now out of production. A total of 62 boats were built with the tall mast and 14 with the short mast.[1][2][5][6]

Design

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Swan 44

The Swan 44 is a racing keelboat, built predominantly of glassfibre, with wood trim. It has a masthead sloop rig; a raked stem; a raised counter, reverse transom, a skeg-mounted rudder controlled by a wheel and a fixed, swept fin keel. It displaces 28,000 lb (12,701 kg) and carries 12,600 lb (5,715 kg) of lead ballast. A short mast version was also built with a mast about 2.50 ft (0.76 m) lower.[1][2]

The boat has a draft of 7.40 ft (2.26 m) with the standard fin keel.[1][2]

The boat is fitted with a British Perkins Engines 4-108M diesel engine of 37 hp (28 kW) for docking and manoeuvring.[1][2]

The design has sleeping accommodation for eight people, with a double "V"-berth in the bow cabin, two straight settee berths and two pilot berths in the main cabin and two aft cabins, each with a single berth. The galley is located on the port side just forward of the companionway ladder. The galley is L-shaped and is equipped with a two-burner stove, an ice box and a double sink. A navigation station is opposite the galley, on the starboard side. The head is located just aft of the companionway steps on the starboard side.[1][2]

For sailing downwind the design may be equipped with a symmetrical spinnaker.[7]

The design has a hull speed of 7.80 kn (14.45 km/h) and a PHRF handicap of 81 to 87 for the tall mast and 90 to 96 for the short mast.[1][2][8]

Operational history

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At least one boat had its stern modified and a deeper draft spade rudder installed to improve downwind handling and reduce the risk of broaching.[7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h McArthur, Bruce (2023). "Swan 44 sailboat". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 12 April 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Sea Time Tech, LLC (2023). "Swan 44". sailboat.guide. Archived from the original on 12 April 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  3. ^ McArthur, Bruce (2023). "Sparkman & Stephens". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  4. ^ Sea Time Tech, LLC (2023). "Sparkman & Stephens". sailboat.guide. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  5. ^ McArthur, Bruce (2023). "Nautor (Swan sailboats)". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  6. ^ Sea Time Tech, LLC (2023). "Nautor (Swan sailboats)". sailboat.guide. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  7. ^ a b "How to remodel a Swan 44 to improve performance". Sailing Today. Archived from the original on 12 April 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  8. ^ US Sailing (2023). "PHRF Handicaps". ussailing.org. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
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  • Media related to Swan 44 at Wikimedia Commons