The Nautor Swan Club Swan 42 2006 vs Nautor Swan Club Swan 50 2016 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 Nautor Swan Club Swan 50 2016 measures 54,1 feet overall (2016), giving it roughly 11,4 additional feet of deck space compared to the Nautor Swan Club Swan 42 2006 at 42,7 feet (2006). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Nautor Swan Club Swan 50 2016 tips the scales at 18 739 lbs — 2 755 lbs less than the Nautor Swan Club Swan 42 2006 at 15 984 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 Nautor Swan Club Swan 42 2006 carries a rated maximum of 39 hp. Engine data for the Nautor Swan Club Swan 50 2016 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Nautor Swan Club Swan 50 2016 carries 79 gallons versus 37 gallons in the Nautor Swan Club Swan 42 2006. 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 Nautor Swan Club Swan 50 2016 is rated for 16 passengers, while the Nautor Swan Club Swan 42 2006 caps at 13. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Nautor Swan Club Swan 50 2016 could be the deciding factor.
Displacement is where these two sailboats genuinely part ways. The Nautor Swan Club Swan 50 2016 displaces 18 739 lbs — a 2 755-lb difference over the Nautor Swan Club Swan 42 2006 at 15 984 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 Nautor Swan Club Swan 50 2016 draws 11,6 ft, compared to 8,1 ft for the Nautor Swan Club Swan 42 2006. That 3,5-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 Nautor Swan Club Swan 42 2006 uses Sloop rigging. The Nautor Swan Club Swan 42 2006 has a documented auxiliary engine of 39 hp.
Hull speed is rated at 9,1 knots for the Nautor Swan Club Swan 50 2016 and 8,4 knots for the Nautor Swan Club Swan 42 2006.
Bottom line: The Nautor Swan Club Swan 50 2016 is the offshore and bluewater choice — at 18 739 lbs displacement and 54 ft it has the load capacity, range, and seakeeping for extended passages. The Nautor Swan Club Swan 42 2006 at 15 984 lbs is the more nimble, accessible option — easier to single-hand and better suited to coastal and inland sailing.