The Nautor Swan Swan 42 Shoal draft Shoal draft 1980 vs Nautor Swan Swan 45 2001 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 Swan 45 2001 measures 45,5 feet overall (2001), giving it roughly 3,5 additional feet of deck space compared to the Nautor Swan Swan 42 Shoal draft Shoal draft 1980 at 42,0 feet (1980). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Nautor Swan Swan 45 2001 tips the scales at 23 920 lbs — 2 976 lbs less than the Nautor Swan Swan 42 Shoal draft Shoal draft 1980 at 20 944 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 Swan 42 Shoal draft Shoal draft 1980 carries a rated maximum of 40 hp. Engine data for the Nautor Swan Swan 45 2001 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 Swan 45 2001 carries 56 gallons versus 42 gallons in the Nautor Swan Swan 42 Shoal draft Shoal draft 1980. 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 Swan 45 2001 is rated for 13 passengers, while the Nautor Swan Swan 42 Shoal draft Shoal draft 1980 caps at 12. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Nautor Swan Swan 45 2001 could be the deciding factor.
Displacement is where these two sailboats genuinely part ways. The Nautor Swan Swan 45 2001 displaces 23 920 lbs — a 2 976-lb difference over the Nautor Swan Swan 42 Shoal draft Shoal draft 1980 at 20 944 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 Swan 45 2001 draws 9,2 ft, compared to 5,1 ft for the Nautor Swan Swan 42 Shoal draft Shoal draft 1980. That 4,1-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 Swan 42 Shoal draft Shoal draft 1980 uses Sloop rigging. The Nautor Swan Swan 42 Shoal draft Shoal draft 1980 has a documented auxiliary engine of 40 hp.
Hull speed is rated at 8,4 knots for the Nautor Swan Swan 45 2001 and 7,8 knots for the Nautor Swan Swan 42 Shoal draft Shoal draft 1980.
Bottom line: The Nautor Swan Swan 45 2001 is the offshore and bluewater choice — at 23 920 lbs displacement and 46 ft it has the load capacity, range, and seakeeping for extended passages. The Nautor Swan Swan 42 Shoal draft Shoal draft 1980 at 20 944 lbs is the more nimble, accessible option — easier to single-hand and better suited to coastal and inland sailing.