The Beneteau Sense 55 2016 vs Beneteau Swift Trawler 47 2019 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Beneteau Sense 55 2016 measures 58,4 feet overall (2016), giving it roughly 10,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Beneteau Swift Trawler 47 2019 at 48,4 feet (2019). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Beneteau Sense 55 2016 tips the scales at 39 474 lbs — 11 516 lbs more than the Beneteau Swift Trawler 47 2019 at 27 958 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 425 hp, the Beneteau Swift Trawler 47 2019 has a 305-hp advantage over the Beneteau Sense 55 2016's 120-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Beneteau Swift Trawler 47 2019 carries 51 gallons versus 11 gallons in the Beneteau Sense 55 2016. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Beneteau Sense 55 2016 is rated for 17 passengers, while the Beneteau Swift Trawler 47 2019 caps at 14. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Beneteau Sense 55 2016 could be the deciding factor.
Displacement is where these two sailboats genuinely part ways. The Beneteau Sense 55 2016 displaces 39 474 lbs — a 11 516-lb difference over the Beneteau Swift Trawler 47 2019 at 27 958 lbs. That gap separates two entirely different categories of sailing: the heavier boat is built for offshore passage-making and load-carrying, while the lighter hull rewards performance sailing and easier handling in lighter air.
Draft is a practical consideration that many buyers underestimate until they're already at the marina. The Beneteau Sense 55 2016 draws 7,1 ft, compared to 3,8 ft for the Beneteau Swift Trawler 47 2019. That 3,3-foot difference affects which anchorages you can access, which haul-out facilities will take you, and how carefully you need to read the tide tables in shallower cruising grounds.
The Beneteau Sense 55 2016 uses Sloop rigging. For auxiliary power the Beneteau Swift Trawler 47 2019 carries a 425-hp engine against 120 hp on the Beneteau Sense 55 2016. Motoring range and ability to punch through a foul current or enter a tight marina under power will favour the more powerful installation.
Hull speed is rated at 24,0 knots for the Beneteau Swift Trawler 47 2019 and 9,7 knots for the Beneteau Sense 55 2016.
Bottom line: The Beneteau Sense 55 2016 is the offshore and bluewater choice — at 39 474 lbs displacement and 58 ft it has the load capacity, range, and seakeeping for extended passages. The Beneteau Swift Trawler 47 2019 at 27 958 lbs is the more nimble, accessible option — easier to single-hand and better suited to coastal and inland sailing.