The seductive Swan 58 - mixing fast bluewater cruising and glamour

Swan's latest German Frers design has a punchy remit: to be a fast, luxury, ocean cruiser that can be handled by a couple... Toby Hodges took this popular new model for a sail. The full 8-page report is in Yachting World February 2022 issue
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[@m__r1100]

I can barely afford a kayak, yet here I am deciding on the Scandi wood with blue fabric interior with a silver hull...

[@alanpettibone]

Sounds like a lovely combination. Go for it!

[@calmauric8218]

Get the loan, get the boat.... then sail extremely fast 😁

[@calmauric8218]

Get the loan, get the boat.... then sail extremely fast 😁

[@keithfaulkner1288]

Buy Bitcoin!

[@fatboyfat2184]

Keep dreaming friend ,lol😎

[@SomeTechGuy666]

I really like that your reviews are done on the boat while sailing. Most boats look good in the slip. It is how they are on the water that matters.

[@joebushor6857]

Toby all I can say is, keep up the great work buddy. You’re doing a wonderful job. I thoroughly enjoy your informative videos on these gorgeous sailing yachts.

[@yachtingworld]

Much appreciated!

[@zepafra]

Very well done as usual (this stands for both Toby's presentation and Swan)

[@johnmorgan6724]

I like the way you're showing us the boat. Thanks Toby!

[@official_dplanet]

I love these interior walk-throughs while under way. Also appreciate that you don't open every single cupboard! Lovely yacht.

[@davidhunternyc1]

I agree completely. Great comment.

[@SpatialGuy77]

Nice review as usual - nice yacht to review too! When reviewing, if possible, can to show things like the recessed forward winch pop up, the spray hood erect itself. All the neat original features we don’t normally get to see. Cheers and Happy 2022, Michael

[@helimx]

Agreed. I always love the idea of the dream yacht like this, but they seem to breeze over the actual utilitarian side of them. I could never buy this boat, but if I could, I'd live on it full time. So why not see that aspect eh?

[@rickhodges1731]

Appreciate the excellent tour! An impressive and beautiful yacht! Who wouldn't be proud to own such a fine lady!

[@puertola7186]

Thank you for this great review!

[@helmutdiez4306]

Well Toby - its always a great pleasure to visit a boat and meet you ... always first... thats good! My appreciation for you

[@davidhunternyc1]

Many summers ago I had the privilege to sail on an 80 foot Swan and this boat here is almost as roomy inside. My favorite yacht interior of all time is "Ghost" by Luca Brenta, interior by Lissoni. A current yacht which is drop dead gorgeous inside is the Solaris 111 CeFeA. Check out the stunning master bedroom but the Solaris is a $22 million dollar yacht, however. This Swan 58 could be bought at a fraction of the price and the interior options are stellar. I would forgo the cheesy looking "gloss" wood finish and choose instead the matte, natural oiled finish. At 6:09 you can see the different interior options and finishes. I especially like the Scandinavian white oak option. It's nice to see boats these days getting away from "marine style" interiors and instead focus on simply beautiful interiors. The Swan 58 is marvelous.

[@tomriley5790]

Toby thanks for enduring these hardships for us :-)!

[@yachtingworld]

A pleasure Tom!

[@errolG68]

What a truly beautiful yacht

[@kenhart8771]

Beautiful and elegant like the X-Yachts.

[@mamacitaalee]

the red looks really good.

[@adrianvalbuena8158]

My sailboat hull lenght fits in this Swan's beam lenght...... It sails beautifully!!!!

[@erichyney6287]

Thanks Toby, for showing a beautiful Swan 58. I'll see you in your next video. Will you ever show us anything in a used condition???

[@helimx]

While toby is my favorite boat tour guy, I don't think he will be doing any used boat tours. He works for a new yacht enthusiast channel. Tons of other options on KZbin for that.

[@yachtingworld]

Thanks Eric. And maybe...! But the yachts we feature here are typically those I get the chance to view at shows or sail for reviews for the magazine or trials for European Yacht of the Year competition. We'll see what 2022 brings

[@puertola7186]

Thank you for the review! It is a great boat, but all due respect I would still go for Euphoria 54...

[@General_Crock]

That would be a fine choice. Damn those cabin top travelers, though.

[@johncope4977]

Gorgeous 😍

[@catspaw3815]

clean design

[@sleepindragon179]

Swan have always made some of the most beautiful yachts in the world. If the Euro billions came in, I think I'd go for it!

[@nasosnasos8054]

Love love

[@thomaselliott573]

Very modern, but still retaining some character. It would have been nice to hear a bit more about the more important parts of the design and how she goes. It looks like it handles well in easy conditions.

[@ralphaverill2001]

Swan makes beautiful sailboats, for sure. This one is a little too big for me, and for blue water sailing, manual winches would be preferred; fewer things to break. But summertime cruising Long Island Sound, Narragansett Bay, the Maine coast, or cruising down the coast from San Francisco to Baja, this would be the boat to have.

[@n.o.b.1907]

This is a good boat. But you should also see Euphoria 54 (also by the same designer, German Frers)...

[@marcobusch]

I loved the boat, though it could be lighter. I am curious to see the first Mylius M72.

[@richardjohnson4696]

I grew up around sailboats and sailing. It is not something that most people really enjoy, or would be into, it is slow, overall being cold and miserable when the weather is bad, where in the PNW, that is pretty much all the time. My father was the sailor and my mother hated being on our boat. We went out one day on a Swan 42 and it was a beautiful boat, it took part in the Pacific Race that started in 1980. Once you have sailing in your blood, it is something that stays with you for the rest of your life. You had better find a partner who is into it before buying a sailboat. I know my wife wouldn't be into it at all, so, I don't even go there with her.

[@noyfub]

Beautiful Boat. Can't beat a Swan!

[@JohnJuliano]

I'd like to see the pop-up dodger/ spray hood. Toby mentions it, I can see the groove in the deck, but I can't find images anywhere.

[@hanslauterbach7433]

A beautiful and high quality yacht. Just a SWAN. The interior - like life. But where are the seats behind the steering wheels? Standing there for many hours in wind and weather and strong winds is damn uncomfortable and exhausting. Well let's see if SWAN will improve it. Thank you, dear Toby, for the presentation.

[@hurri7720]

You swith the auto pilot on and stay behind the spray hood, or you have a professional crew who can stand for the money.

[@williamd1891]

The no helm seats are to make sure you are swept away at the first sight of breaking waves. Today's yachts are designed by interior designers for the Mrs. and these are called life insurance helms.

[@hurri7720]

@@williamd1891 , clearly nice weather helms.

[@Tomm9y]

I'd like to see an evaluation of what it's like to be on a night watch in cold changeable winds, choppy seas, spray. The big question is how does the boat handle in big seas, offwind/upwind, my concern is that wide beam carried aft. Toby didn't cover downwind sail handling, asymetrics, poles.

[@helimx]

Novice question. Is the water in the bilge and issue? Because if I'm not mistaken, there was water in the bilge ...

[@sailingsvzara]

I can't help but to feel that it seems like an upgraded version of the Hanse 575. So many similarities, but the quality of materials and workmanship is a step above.

[@alisonrahn9873]

upgrade from HANSE?! Ha!

[@sailingsvzara]

@@alisonrahn9873 total upgrade obviously but has many of the same design ideas from 2014. Obviously a higher level of execution. I'd rather have the Swan but the review was so de ja vu.

[@alisonrahn9873]

@@sailingsvzara what’s the draft of your 50’ Hanse

[@sailingsvzara]

@@alisonrahn9873 I don't have 575. I have a 505. My draft is 2.4m. The 575 has a draft of 3.0m.

[@PornopietistgeilimBe]

Yeah I recently sailed a current model 588 and was a bit weirded out just now seeing that quite a few design elements even are similar if not exactly the same. The aft cabins for example are exactly the same. From the engine bay access to the double door toilet. I believe the hull is identical, meaning Nautor buys Hanse's hulls.

[@78779]

Crazy money.

[@andrewbooth1420]

Nice boat, saving my penny's. One day!

[@angela1984a]

I know Covid has made it difficult to get a hold of one of these, but anyone else that wants to see something about the Rapido 60 and/or the Bañuls 53 tri?

[@sharonbraselton4302]

buy the ⁶0 futre huñç 50 foit wave beyiuñd fßdty limes

[@laser69beam]

Scandi version FTW

[@boatbuilderjon5636]

imagine having to replace any of those hidden lines and sheets

[@tlgibson97]

It wouldn't be too bad as long as something didn't break or foul up inside. but I just think of how much longer they will last not being blasted by the sun. I'll never have one to know. The tax on this boat is as much as what I pay for whole boats.

[@propylaeen]

Is this chain bucket and 45° piping from the windless really a practical solution? See me sorting and unlocking chain jams over and over… All the Rest: quite lovely if it only were made from aluminium.

[@Lightw81]

Interior designed by Wetherspoons?

[@socialwebwiki]

the guy (i guess the captain) at minute 1 in the back says it all.

[@propylaeen]

Covid lessons: realize your dreams in an instant nowness is key… if you can and its your dream: do it. There’s nothing to lose.

[@_instabil]

I'll take two.

[@cornelisvanderbent8569]

Where are the handles in the spacious interior?

[@davidnichols195]

Nice video but not a single criticism which doesn’t seem right. Here we have a 2 mil ‘blue water cruiser’ but without many of the practical features that make up such a yacht. It would have been great to see an honest review from you, it’s what we all expect!

[@madwoof3932]

The only criticism of this exceptional yacht is it's too plush. I'd prefer more simple style.

[@Rscholten16]

@David Nichols what practical features do you miss?

[@keithfaulkner1288]

Why isn't this an honest review. I see a nice production boat and a man that likes it. Pretty simple really.

[@WickBeavers]

I sailed around the world on my Swan 51, Longhorn (the stick on “N” kept falling off our MOB horseshoe rings so we were renamed Loghor). Got talked into her cuz I didn’t like the wavy little finger vibe), but man, there was very little wrong with her. I still have no clue why people have those CQR’s when same size Bruce is far superior. We did 3000 miles in 15 days like clockwork. And won the first Swan Asia cup (second or third overall), came in 13 in the Sidney Hobart, and never had a problem anywhere sailing. Interestingly, the only place we were attempted to be boarded by thieves was RishCutter’s Bay in Sidney. 7 years, never a leak, a failure or an anchor (Bruce) drag. Couple of things that ought to be mandatory and built in- water maker, bigger fuel tanks and on my boat, better stowage for the 2 poles and jockey pole. I’d never want the owners cabin forward, but I see they put the life raft where I’d want my double bunk… put the life raft on the deck. Who is gonna give up their bed underway!?!? If $$ were no object and we were going again? This might be it (resale is amazing!) or I’d be looking at a 60ft round the world single hander and try hard to keep things to a minimum in the comfort department. But money no object? Swan any day.

[@DannyBoyInMarseille]

I've watched a lot of Toby Hodges reviews, it's not often that he criticizes any luxury sailboats but in all honesty, these sailboats are all excellent!

[@FranFerioli]

I like they price it 1.98 mEUR not to make it 1.99 like the discount store. Classy touch 😆

[@briandale8386]

I wanna take a 1980 57 swan swoop , paint her blackish grey . Put black sails and a red spinnaker on her with red and black lines . . Then add red interior with white piping cushions and red leather where appropriate. I might do it . Oh and paint the mast and boom the same color as the hull .

[@alexfuller818]

Where does the tender go?

[@kingkongseinvater5618]

😍👍

[@MCook-jk7fo]

What is topside color?

[@justinjones6267]

Computer hardware in what looks like the wet locker, separated by a cloth panel. Keep paper charts handy, then...

[@AKaktusA]

I wonder when these big boats come with solar panels on deck. Bluewater sailing with a generator running is only half the fun (i would guess :D )

[@Thezftw]

I wonder if you could fit the whole deck with panels and put an electric motor on the boat for thrust 😂

[@rikirix1]

Wondering if this beauty is made in Italy or in Finland...

[@yachtingworld]

All Swans are built in Finland (except the smallest ClubSwan 36)

[@nasosnasos8054]

Price ?

[@Hokutenyu]

I know I must be wrong, I'm an offshore oilman not a yachtsman, but it just doesn't feel right to see gas bottles stored right in the bow at the most probable collision point. I must be wrong, for sure Swan will know better than I, but for peace of mind at night I'd feel happier with my gas stowed somewhere better protected astern. Pile on . . . .

[@datAero]

how is the ventilation in this thing, how do all those modern boats do without the air scoop thingies? sorry i dont know much haha, just stumbled on this by curiosity

[@sharonbraselton4302]

blowerß oñe

[@didiermatroit2820]

⛵👍🤩

[@lamermisima007]

A couple million fridge

[@markcampbell7577]

Would you like the sailboat design to sail upright and faster with better rudder control in heavy weather??MC/BS basics of sailing.

[@markcampbell7577]

The heeling over is due to the keeling design blocking the boom. If you keel the mast at the mast and headsails at the midpoint between the mast and forestay of the largest sail she would sail more upright and faster with better rudder control in high wind. Another way to do that is a French keel curves up ahead of the bowsprit. Much deeper at the stem. Another way to get a proper academic keeling line is to drop the bow down straight down much deeper than the stern or mast. You want to have enough displacement under the bow to keep the bow up out of the water in heavy weather. You don't boom keel a sailboat design. It causes the boat to heel over and falloff.

[@markcampbell7577]

How fast can you sail like that? If done right you can win Hobart or fastnet Rock race.

[@yachtingworld]

Maybe you should speak to German Frers about it Mark...?!

[@mklarsen]

Do you know if Swan is going to offer electric engine/batteries/solar any time soon. Like Spirit yachts. Thanks.

[@odan7564]

I like reviewing affordable boats

[@michaelbastin9851]

the problem with these boats is when it rains or the sun is too hot you have no cover. you're out in the elements. so unless for travelling sailing.

[@carlosespinal17]

1.9million. That's a fraction of a GME share....

[@fingerhorn4]

For a nearly 60 foot yacht it is actually a bit cramped. I've seen 38 footers with more stowage and cabins as large. This is a reverse tardis.

[@sharonbraselton4302]

wr8bg

[@nomenestomen3452]

Propane bottles stowed right in front of the bow, what could ever go possibly wrong? 🤣😬

[@030Cappucino]

why do you need to wash the anchor ???

[@yachtingworld]

You don't have to - but it can often be caked in thick mud or weed

[@GollyGDean]

cockpit seems a little too exposed for me, not for any serious passage, barely a windscreen or anything. fair weather cruising only I suppose

[@Cyrusmagi]

Modern clean designs like this may look sexy for some. That type of person probably will not be a serious passage maker because if they were they would want more safety features such as a lot more hand rails/ holds other than just those open big stations and lines. Ideal for sunbathing on those clear decks or partying on in a cosy marina. Sloop rigged main and foresail furling ideal for retired couples who watch the forecast and avoid stronger winds and seas. Thank goodness for bespoke yacht builders who can individual sailing yachts for those that want a yacht with a change of rig from furled sloop.

[@SomeTechGuy666]

I hate that you never mention the price as tested. They are all great boats. What matters is how much they cost and what is the best boat for the $$.

[@davidsmeglap4023]

I've always been monohull. But if you want fast how do you compete with a cat. Plus with a cat you have more windows and it feels bigger. If you are making a passage and can wait for a favorable wind forecast for 2000 miles. A big cat will absolutely eat that up.

[@whitevanman8703]

Very nice but still an expensive Med basher. No good for a summer in the Outer Hebrides or to visit Norway or even Finland where it was made.

[@General_Crock]

Wait, who goes to the Outer Hebrides? This ain't no fishing boat!

[@SpeedDemonExpress]

That's an alarming amount of heeling going on.

[@BRN497]

⛵

[@tamagis-qe1cg]

It is a beautiful boat but very very expensive. For the same price we can have a one-off built just for you. The Swan remains a production boat. We pay a lot for the name...

[@06barcafan10]

I love the older Swans…they were designed and built for blue water. These newer versions are not blue water…..fantastic boats for everything but serious offshore crossings. Nope, no thanks.

[@OldGuySailing]

I agree 👍

[@F26robot]

curious cause idk boats, why is this one no good for blue water?

[@06barcafan10]

@@F26robot keel design, lack of helm protection, dodgers are flimsy canvas, anchor system is woefully inadequate, fuel and water tanks are too small, etc…..

[@peterm4475]

Indeed, could this boat do a Whitbread, like the old 65's?

[@06barcafan10]

@@peterm4475 I certainly wouldn’t run that risk with this boat. Again, lovely for a lot of sailing but suggesting this is a true blue water boat is marketing not reality.

[@MrAppelvink]

poor image quality :-(

[@wagganationMFFM]

gas near a chain locker? i like the stainless shaft for the chain, now what if it rubbed the chain causing a spark, and say you had a tiny gas leak! yer no thanks.

[@bodes4870]

Please help me out. Is this for sailing the med or blue water. I cannot imagine being outside for x days crossing the altantic. Prefer say an Amel. Thx for thought.. Occassion all sailor!

[@lunes-1]

🇪🇦⛵👍

[@dr.strangelove7696]

2 million? Is that all? hahah Can I just have one? Ill be your friend :)

[@mitjapraprotnik8366]

Blue water cursing boat does have a centre cockpit and does not have twin rudders ... this is not a blue water boat ...

[@joseperezperez5808]

Muchisimo mejor el Amel 60 mucho mas cómodo y práctico con su cabina cerrada ,nadie en su sano juicio estaría en un mar bravo como el Atlántico todo el tiempo en el timón sin protección como la este Swan . Amel esta infinitamente mejor concebido en un mar bravo como el Atlántico que este velero finlandés . Swan solo vale en una mar tranquilo como el Mediterráneo y encima algo más caro que el Amel 60

[@Denstoradiskmaskinen]

3 Toilets, great for a bad dinner

[@JohnJohn-cu7nk]

👍My only criticism is it's to big for just me.

[@sharonbraselton4302]

buy j88 solar ekrrç sàil boat

[@ln5747]

Rather disappointing if I'm honest.

[@sheerluckholmes5468]

Once again Toby is waxing lyrical and gushing about how nice everything is, never once does he mention any of the negatives of any boat that he reviews. I guess he needs to keep the advertisers happy otherwise the money dries up as would the boat reviews, after all no one wants to hear bad things about their boat, that just won't do.

[@yachtingworld]

This is a tour not a review - the review is in the magazine and done by someone who spent a lot more time on the yacht!

[@jerillthorpe1270]

They leave that part to the KZbin commenters

[@organismx]

@Sheerluck Holmes , Who would you say properly reviews sailboats ?

[@rallekalle2403]

I am disappointed that YW/Toby is never able to review yachts in a questioning or critical way...

[@cybereye2]

That is an ugly looking boat that you'd be hard pressed to know it was a swan. They've lost their way and build boxy unstylish and probably not the most seaworthy boats to be caught out on in bad weather. Bring back the traditional German frers and Sparkman and Stephens designs . They were really stylish, distinctive and seaworthy designs.

[@SpatialGuy77]

The current trend is for these clean, everything flush, teak foredecks of old style. It can look really good but like you say, here it seems to loose a lot of the boat’s character. I’m sure the hull is as good as every other Swan, aesthetics don’t affect performance IMO. Cheers 🍻

[@SpatialGuy77]

I’m not sure I could ride that chart table stool in heavy weather. Be like a rodeo!

[@cybereye2]

@@SpatialGuy77 I disagreed They may be as well built using modern techniques but their hull shapes and layouts aren’t designed with offshore comfort in mind. Could you imagine trying to cook a meal in a force 7-8 hard on the wind in one of those? Slamming away to windward with your meal bouncing our of its pot making a lovely mess all over the floor? Or how secure should you feel in one of those bunks after a long arduous watch?

[@TheBeingReal]

Just need the 8-12 people to crew her.

[@JayBeBerg]

Nice. But most of these larger high quality yachts are, for some reason, made to accommodate lots of people. Yet they are meant to be handled by a couple. How about an interior made especially comfortable and functional for a couple? In stead of seating for 8 or 10 people, how about a really comfortable living space for two? Look at what interior designers can do with tiny New York/London apartments with shape-shifting walls and furniture. Some of that engineering spirit could be used on yachts.

[@hurri7720]

The "lots of people" is for the marina life. People with more money and severe sailing in mind don't buy standard designs but talk to the designer and builder to get what they want.

[@JayBeBerg]

@@hurri7720 I suppose so, if it's an option.

[@janhamer7933]

Beautiful, but isnt an Amel just so much better thought through? Rubbish mechanical space for such a large vessel

[@maartenbaas2308]

beautifull boad. no doubt. but i always wonder that if you have that much money to spend, why not get a catamaran? They have such much nicer living space. And i would think these purchasers have the money to pay the extra harbour fees for a cat. Luckily that choice is one problem that i will never have...:)

[@General_Crock]

Buying a million plus mono over a cat is never about the money, it's about the sailing experience.

[@farqfarq2225]

That's a fcking beauty

[@basilroland]

It's well made but ugly.

[@Fuhugawagah]

No handholds for going forward? Totally exposed cockpit. I mean its pretty but this is not a serious offshore sailboat. Great for coastal daycruising I imagine.

[@General_Crock]

With all due respect the fast boats winning offshore like the Sydney Hobart and the Fastnet are as exposed if not more so in the cockpit.

[@Fuhugawagah]

@@General_Crock point taken but this isnt commanche.

[@General_Crock]

@@Fuhugawagah Very true. But people are happily cruising Pogos and Baltics and the like offshore. They are offshore cruising boats for a great many people. To be fair I am like you. Moving forward in the cabin with a good heel requires better handholds for safety, and I prefer a deeper cockpit with a more sheltered helm. But I understand others have different takes and cruise happily nonetheless.

[@helmutdiez4306]

In the past 10 years the designers of the interiors of well priced yachts work really bad - as they would have never been on a boat which is shaking and moving - where you dislike any edge, sharp angle etc.. we see that even on a Swan, we see on Neel ... what are you doing!

[@livelikeitslegal]

A really nice boat but not for me. Imagine rough mixed swells with a strong current and 40 knots of wind, autopilot shorted out, it's night time and you're white knuckling it a mere inches from the aft edge of the boat with no wind or wet protection. Nor is there sun protection for those 20+ days riding the trade winds. Definitely for the "bluewater" cruiser that jet sets to exotic locations and hires people to sail to them.

[@tomski6811]

Swan has lost in style.

[@sharonbraselton4302]

wribg

[@Fuhugawagah]

cmon toby, any criticisms? at all? i mean, its a very nicely tarted up beneteau. but how about a little critical eye? these videos are just advertising.

[@yachtingworld]

Sure, the test report is in the February issue! I don't think a quick tour within minutes of getting on a/the yacht is a fair time to give critical analysis - but was a good opportunity to at least give a walkthrough for those who want to see the boat

[@davidnichols195]

I agree here Toby, you often criticise other builders on small details but not here… seems a bit bias to me. There is plenty to say about this yacht being marketed as a blue water cruiser and some of the features it lacks….

[@imichael2411]

Past. Beautiful, Yes. Cold and wet to blue water cruise, Yes. No Thank you.