swan 36 sailboat data

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CLUBSWAN 36

The fortune of Nautor’s Swan was born with a 36 footer, one of the first few yachts built in fibre-glass. When the Swan 36 arrived on the scene a new precedent was set. With her combination of fast lines, incorporating the modern separated fin keel and skeg hung rudder, and her fully fitted interior, she represented one of the very first production racer/cruisers. She was a hit from the start with the delivery of 90 boats in just three years between 1967 and 1970. Her success on the race course in the UK began at Cowes Week in 1968, when Dave Johnson and Michael Hurrell’s Casse Tete II won every one of their races. Elsewhere she was regularly winning, and turning plenty of heads. The Swan style and marque had been born along with a formula that would develop quickly in the years to come, helped in part by the Admiral’s Cup. After 52 years of the same enthusiasm and belief in innovation, these are still the basic ingredients for creating the ClubSwan 36.

The architect

Juan kouyoumdijan.

“A sailing boat is unique in the way it transforms free energy into motion, the more efficient this transformation of energy, the more one access sensations and emotions that can only be felt in a sailing boat, nowhere else. The connection between man and machine comes via the helm, and therefore it is fundamental that the steering system is balanced and sensitive in a way that the helmsman perceives such feelings and emotions. This is a central part of my designs, without it a sailing boat loses its magic “The new ClubSwan 36 is an innovative high performance yacht that has been developed using all the experience of Nautor’s ClubSwan Division and the detailed hydrodynamic and CFD studies of Juan Kouyoumdjian in a timeless authentic design. Working with the most qualified experts available and following a deep dedication to finding the edge between an incredibly fast hull, thanks to the latest available technology, and impeccable handling in every condition. The ClubSwan 36 is akin to a modern supercar, allowing you to reach exceptional limits in total control – the extraordinary sensation of surfing at over 20 knots in total safety needs to be experienced to be believed. The ClubSwan 36 allows an amateur sailor to reach extreme performances while racing strict One Design in tight competition.

TWO RUNNING BACKSTAYS WITH DEFLECTORS. DSK, SPECTRA AND OTHER HI-TECH MATERIAL RUNNING RIGGING SHEETS

2 WINCHES HARKEN 35.2 STP 2 SPEED MANUAL

MAINSHEET TRACK WITH A ROLLER BEARING CAR ON THE STERN COCKPIT AREA CONTROLLED WITH MANUAL PURCHASE SYSTEM, LEAD TO THE MAIN TRIMMER’S POSITION FORWARD OF THE HELMSMAN.

TWO MAINSHEET WINCHES HARKEN 40.2 STP 2 SPEED MANUAL. PORT WINCH IS COUNTER ROTATING.

JIB AND KITE

TWO PRIMARY WINCHES HARKEN 46.2 STP 2 SPEED MANUAL FOR JIB AND KITE TRIMMING

The ClubSwan 36 features a modern deck layout, the design comes from the evolution of a concept, tested with various scale models, the shape is clean with well-defined ergonomics. The design is based on how the deck will be used: all that is superfluous has been removed, adding back only what is needed for efficient crew placement and how the crew moves together. There has been a thorough investigation in order to optimize the arrangement of control lines with correct leads and placement occasionally crossing the hull but also with neat solutions where conduits double up as a foot step. The deck is equipped with seven Harken winches, two for the runners, two for the mainsail and two for the jibs or kite, the seventh is positioned centrally and is used to control the C-board, halyards and other lines. Functionality is key when positioning the winches in the right place with the correct angle, in order to achieve the best efficiency and performance. Similar to a dinghy, all the cleats for the deflector, cunningham and vang are placed on both sides of the yacht to be easily accessed by the mainsail trimmer. The line systems are covered by two removable panels, light and durable thanks to some unidirectional reinforcements. The panel on the foredeck covers the retractable bowsprit and the retriever circuit, while the second carter aft of the mast covers all the other circuits and restrictors that replace the stoppers. The main idea behind the removable panels comes from the desire to have a clean deck and keeping most of the controls outside the boat, leaving a dryer interior; guaranteeing Nautor’s Swan traditional safety philosophy whilst also having easy access for maintenance.

The ClubSwan 36 is a yacht completely optimised for performance, in fact it does not have any interior in the Swan tradition but it is considered a “Protected Shelter”. The Protected Shelter is a dry space to rest between races or during longer delivery. Most of the controls are kept outside without intrusion, including the bowsprit which lays within a structural gutter covered by a panel. Accessing the interiors with a sliding companionway hatch, you will see the bulkheads and the longitudinal structure made with unidirectional reinforcements. Carbon is used on some capping to bring stiffness. The bulkheads in front of the rudders are watertight to provide greater safety whilst at sea. All the interior components are of lightweight construction and removable berths can be implemented on occasion. The engine is located centrally under the cockpit. Access is through a bulkhead aft of the companionway and from the sides.

The new ClubSwan 36 is an innovative high performance yacht that has been developed using all the experience of Nautor’s ClubSwan Division and the detailed hydrodynamic and CFD studies of Juan Kouyoumdjian in a timeless authentic design. Working with the most qualified experts available and following a deep dedication to finding the edge between an incredibly fast hull, thanks to the latest available technology, and impeccable handling in every condition. The ClubSwan 36 is akin to a modern supercar, allowing you to reach exceptional limits in total control – the extraordinary sensation of surfing at over 20 knots in total safety needs to be experienced to be believed. The ClubSwan 36 allows an amateur sailor to reach extreme performances while racing strict One Design in tight competition.

STRUCTURE Optimised infused E-Glass epoxycorecell foam with carbon reinforcement on keel grid and lateral bulkhead

C-FOIL: The unique C-foil will generate a combination of horizontal and vertical forces related to the boat speed and heel angle: Upwind, mostly horizontal force resulting in negative leeway equal to improving VMG. Downwind, with the foil in the middle creating just enough horizontal force and simplifying the gybe with no rotation needed during the manoeuvre. Reaching, up to 40% of the boat displacement above 15 knots of boat speed, resulting in “skimming” or “planing”.

SPECIFICATIONS

• RIG AND SAIL DIMENSIONS
• TANK CAPACITY BATTERY & POWER SOURCES

PHOTO GALLERY

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• Sailboat Guide

Swan 36-2 is a 36 ′ 7 ″ / 11.2 m monohull sailboat designed by German Frers and built by Nautor (Swan sailboats) between 1988 and 1996.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

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• About Sailboat Guide

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The Swan 36 2 is a 36.61ft masthead sloop designed by German Frers/A. Winch and built in fiberglass by Nautor (Swan sailboats) between 1988 and 1996.

55 units have been built..

The Swan 36 2 is a moderate weight sailboat which is a reasonably good performer. It is stable / stiff and has a good righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a coastal cruiser. The fuel capacity is originally small. There is a short water supply range.

Swan 36 2 for sale elsewhere on the web:

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Club Swan 36

Sailboat specifications.

• Last update: 15th April 2020

Club Swan 36's main features

• 2020: European Yacht of the Year - Innovation award

Club Swan 36's main dimensions

Club swan 36's rig and sails, club swan 36's performances, club swan 36's auxiliary engine, club swan 36's accommodations and layout.

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Swan 36 - Sailboat Data, Parts & Rigging

Sailboat data, rig dimensions and recommended sail areas for Swan 36 sailboat. Tech info about rigging, halyards, sheets, mainsail covers and more.

Sailboat Data directory for over 8,000 sailboat designs and manufacturers. Direct access to halyards lengths, recommended sail areas, mainsail cover styles, standing rigging fittings, and lots more for all cruising and racing sailboats.

MAURIPRO Sailing offers a full range of sailboat and sailing information to help you find the correct sailboat part, one that properly would fit your sailboat and sailing style. Our sailor's and sailboat owner support team are ready to talk with you about your specific sailing needs, coming regatta, or next sailing adventure.

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Review of Swan 36

Basic specs..

The hull is made of fibreglass. Generally, a hull made of fibreglass requires only a minimum of maintenance during the sailing season.

The boat equipped with a masthead rig. The advantage of a masthead rig is its simplicity and the fact that a given sail area - compared with a fractional rig - can be carried lower and thus with less heeling moment.

Unknown keel type

The keel is made of lead. Compared with iron, lead has the advantage of being 44% heavier, which allows a smaller keel and hence less water resistance and higher speed.

The boat can only enter major marinas as the draft is about 1.83 - 1.93 meter (6.00 - 6.30 ft) dependent on the load. See immersion rate below.

Sailing characteristics

This section covers widely used rules of thumb to describe the sailing characteristics. Please note that even though the calculations are correct, the interpretation of the results might not be valid for extreme boats.

What is Capsize Screening Formula (CSF)?

The capsize screening value for Swan 36 is 1.59, indicating that this boat could - if evaluated by this formula alone - be accepted to participate in ocean races.

What is Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed?

The theoretical maximal speed of a displacement boat of this length is 6.8 knots. The term "Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed" is widely used even though a boat can sail faster. The term shall be interpreted as above the theoretical speed a great additional power is necessary for a small gain in speed.

The immersion rate is defined as the weight required to sink the boat a certain level. The immersion rate for Swan 36 is about 156 kg/cm, alternatively 874 lbs/inch. Meaning: if you load 156 kg cargo on the boat then it will sink 1 cm. Alternatively, if you load 874 lbs cargo on the boat it will sink 1 inch.

Sailing statistics

This section is statistical comparison with similar boats of the same category. The basis of the following statistical computations is our unique database with more than 26,000 different boat types and 350,000 data points.

What is Motion Comfort Ratio (MCR)?

What is L/B (Length Beam Ratio)?

What is a Ballast Ratio?

What is Displacement Length Ratio?

What is SA/D (Sail Area Displacement ratio)?

What is Relative Speed Performance?

Maintenance

When buying anti-fouling bottom paint, it's nice to know how much to buy. The surface of the wet bottom is about 28m 2 (301 ft 2 ). Based on this, your favourite maritime shop can tell you the quantity you need.

Are your sails worn out? You might find your next sail here: Sails for Sale

If you need to renew parts of your running rig and is not quite sure of the dimensions, you may find the estimates computed below useful.

This section is reserved boat owner's modifications, improvements, etc. Here you might find (or contribute with) inspiration for your boat.

Do you have changes/improvements you would like to share? Upload a photo and describe what you have done.

We are always looking for new photos. If you can contribute with photos for Swan 36 it would be a great help.

If you have any comments to the review, improvement suggestions, or the like, feel free to contact us . Criticism helps us to improve.

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

ClubSwan 36 review: This one-design foiler from Nautor really shakes things up

• Matthew Sheahan
• February 20, 2020

Has Nautor’s radical new one-design ClubSwan 36 been worth the wait, asks Matthew Sheahan?

Product Overview

Manufacturer:, price as reviewed:.

It’s easy to be seduced by modern high performance, especially downwind. As the wake flattens out astern and the foils start to sing, the helm takes on a more direct and responsive feel. The speed climbs, the boat’s motion stiffens and the sail trim comes on as the crew respond to the apparent wind speed and direction that has now worked its way forwards.

As the bow waves slide further aft the speed continues to build and by now it’s an intoxicating ride. Who on earth wouldn’t like this? And so long as you hold your nerve and keep your foot to the floor, even the gybes are fun nowadays when compared to the stress of a metronome motion during the end-for-end pole gybes of old.

But while double figure speeds downhill have transformed our sport, they have also frequently come at a price. The quest for high speeds and cool looks hasn’t always worked out.

Getting the boat back uphill can often be a disproportionate struggle aboard a boat that lacks righting moment and requires crew to fold themselves over guardrails as forgiving as cheese wire as they reach for and stare at their toes. No one likes hiking, surely?

High performance boats are pretty wet too. And while you’d expect that on deck, it’s not great to see the inside of your downhill master blaster ankle deep in water at the bottom of the sleigh ride to the leeward mark. It’s not quick either. Flooding the boat has become all too common aboard high performance racers.

The proliferation of holes that open directly into the accommodation might make for a sleek looking boat, but it also produces a hull and deck that is as watertight as a colander. This has always been unacceptable in my book. I say all of this because it would be easy to assume that the strikingly modern, wickedly fast looking and eagerly awaited ClubSwan 36 would fall straight into this category.

Article continues below…

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It is, after all, a futuristic, aggressively styled machine and when you look at the team that created it, perhaps it’s not that surprising. From the moment that the company’s vice president Enrico Chieffi announced that the new model would be designed by Juan Kouyoumdjian it was clear that Nautor’s Swan’s new pocket rocket was likely to be radical.

But not even Juan K can take all the credit. This new one-design has been the product of an impressive line up of racing talent with structural guru Giovanni Belgrano brought on board as principal engineer, along with aerodynamic expert Hervé Devaux developing the rig. A rig that, even in the preliminary sailplan promotional sketches, looks like it has been scaled up from a 49er is radical for a keelboat.

In fact, the overall style of this skinny, heavily raked and hugely pre-bent mast drew a great deal from the Olympic Star’s rig, a boat that both Chieffi and Kouyoumdjian have a great deal of experience in. They knew how key mast control is in managing the power in a Star’s mainsail and wanted to incorporate some of the same details in the ClubSwan 36.

Downwind the foil can be used to both lift the bow and generate more righting moment

Below the waterline it’s even more extreme, with a skinny, high aspect ratio keel fin and a giant single C-foil, a novel and ingenious way of delivering a new set of cogs to an already impressive sailing gearbox.

But for all this, one of the key features that stood out for me is the deck layout and the manner in which a boat that will kick up spray like a vapour trail will also stay dry below decks. This is a boat that combines advanced thinking with practical detailing. More on that later.

Moving the game on

Over the last few seasons Nautor’s Swan has been on a roll following its bold call to move away from trying to combine modern high performance with cruising comfort. Instead, the range has been polarised into racing and cruising with contemporary designs that tackle their own markets without making compromises to another.

Clean, uncluttered and well laid out, this is an easy cockpit to work. The raised moulding on the centreline provides a good footbrace

On the racing side this could be seen with the ClubSwan 50 , a modern 50ft one design that is an unapologetic racer for the owner/driver scene and that was first launched in 2016.

Compare this with the company’s approach 17 years ago with the ClubSwan 45 that had slick racing lines, but a fitted interior and the lack of compromise today is clear to see. The same can be seen aboard the ClubSwan 42, first launched in 2006. Both boats proved popular, but it was time to move the game on.

The ClubSwan 36 takes the no-nonsense approach of the 50 even further. For starters, the 36 continues the strict owner/driver principles of the ClubSwan fleet. With mixed crews of amateur and pro sailors in mind, the rules dictate a maximum of three professional crew.

Removing the deck moulding is simple and provides quick and easy access to the control line system. A similar fairing covers the retractable gennaker pole

Designed as a high-performance one design, its hull and deck lines are in keeping with some of the more radical styles out there among boats like the Fast 40+ Rán VII  and more recently Alex Thomson’s IMOCA 60 Hugo Boss .

It has minimal rocker and a flat run aft along with an aggressive chine in the after sections in order to help boost form stability and develop more power upwind and down. A chamfered gunwale on the foredeck helps to save weight and reduce the centre of gravity while at the same time reducing windage.

The shallow, open cockpit is the one area that appears much as you’d expect of a boat of this type, with an offset companionway hatch and pit area similar to a modern TP52 and a thoughtfully arranged control line layout elsewhere.

Pit controls are straightforward and offset to starboard

On the face of it, the rig looks pretty simple with just one set of aft swept spreaders and rod rigging that is terminated on a full width chainplate base. Yet, here the simplicity is at odds with a sophisticated carbon mast.

The concept was to create a fractionally rigged mast that could be easily and safely handled while being able to alter its bend sufficiently to allow greater control of the ample sail plan. Here, a set of PBO running backstays and deflectors provide the main controls.

Interestingly, and in order to help the range of rake and pre-bend that is available, the mast is deck stepped, a feature that also helps to keep the boat dry below decks. When it comes to the sail plan itself, the choice of sailmaker has been left open but with strict limits on the design and number of sails.

Fixed bars under deck connect the tiller steering to the twin rudders

But the real focus for this new design centres on its appendages. And while the 2.75m (9ft) deep, super skinny 1,163kg (2,563lb) CNC-milled steel fin and lead bulb keel provides and impressive 47% ballast ratio, it is the innovative C-section foil that draws the most attention.

A foiling swan?

In simple terms the ClubSwan 36 has, in effect, a set of curved daggerboards that can be deployed to a variety of depths in order to create both side force and a component of vertical force. The big difference is that instead of being independently operated, the system is one large circular sectioned foil that slides through a watertight case inside the boat. This ingenious solution allows simple control of the board rather than two sets of up and down controls.

Broadly speaking, the foil provides two areas of benefit. Upwind Nautor’s Swan claim that the foil is efficient enough to create negative leeway under certain conditions. Downwind the foil contributes more to the righting moment with up to 1.2 tonnes of lift at 14 knots of boat speed and therefore delivers additional power as well as helping to promote planing.

Designed as a high performance one-design, the CS36’s hull and deck lines are in keeping with some of the more radical styles out there

The conditions for our test sail were lighter than we would have liked but with 8-9 knots true we were still able to sit at 11-12 knots at 120° true with the asymmetric kite set. As you would expect, in such light breeze heating it up even further did little to improve the speed but what it did demonstrate if pushed to the limits is how the foil prevents the Swan from broaching.

Instead, at 110° true and as the little gusts came through it simply heeled further and refused to apply any weather helm. An academic exercise perhaps, but one that helped to illustrate how different a boat this is to sail

Sailing at more normal angles in a light yet puffy breeze, it was clear that this is a boat that has plenty in common with a multihull in that it thrives on apparent wind. At just 3,140kg with an upwind sail area of 93.5m 2 and downwind area of 193m 2 , its sail area/displacement ratios of 44 and 91 respectively put facts to the hands-on feel.

Such a potent performance ratio will require a different style of sailing for some of the owner-drivers who come to the 36 from displacement keelboats. Sailing on apparent wind angle and speed is more of a dinghy trick. Yet the C-foil introduces an additional element that will take even the pros a while to learn.

Talking to them about what they have established so far suggests that heel angle will be an interesting new dimension in deciding how much of the C-foil is used to provide vertical lift to leeward.

Unlike Beneteau’s Figaro 3 with its midship mounted foils, there is no adjustment for the angle of attack of the foil, which means that boat speed will need to be fed into the mix when considering the amount of lift that is best, which in turn will determine how much foil to deploy. The bottom line is that there is a new style of sailing to be learned for all.

What is known is that the ClubSwan 36 starts to plane downwind at 140-145° true from 13 knots wind speed. As the breeze increases to 18 knots+ it likes to be sailed in a higher mode as the foils start to work more efficiently, just as you’d expect in a performance dinghy. At this point the polar data shows boat speeds in excess of 20 knots.

Smart layout

Setting the numbers to one side, it is a very comfortable and secure boat to helm. Decently proportioned side decks, a good foot rail and the highly effective and forgiving SeaDek anti-slip made the test boat a secure platform to move about on through manoeuvres.

The control line layout is well thought out making the boat easy to handle for a crew of six. So for anyone used to a modern race boat there will be few surprises here. Among my favourite features are the removable sections of the deck that in place create a clear rope-free deck, making it far more secure underfoot while also giving a clean appearance.

Spartan down below, perhaps, but the interior of the boat is dry and practical, with the option for a pair of pilot berths for offshore sailing

And not a single hole through the hull or deck, making it a boat that is as likely to float to its lines just as well at the bottom of the course as it might at the top.

When lifted, the removable panels reveal the entire deck control line layout and provide easy access to all the turning blocks and fairleads. Even the carbon fibre retractable bowsprit sits in its own recess beneath a long slender deck fairing. While Velcro attachments might not be the norm for holding a deck down, the special version of this popular fastener material seems very capable.

For a design that aims to push at the boundaries, the ClubSwan 36 is nevertheless a modest boat when it comes to her construction. The hull is an E-glass/infused epoxy laminate with carbon reinforcements. The structural components are also infused and cured separately before being vacuum-bonded into the hull.

Other than that the engine options are for either a Nanni 10.3kW diesel or an electric Torqeedo Cruise powered by a lithium battery from BMW, which boasts a 70% higher energy density and 50% longer life cycle than a typical marine lithium battery. In race mode, the drive shaft and three-bladed fixed prop retract into the hull. When sailing but not racing, the spinning propeller recharges the battery.

The electric option also offers advantages for those looking to trail the boat on the road as there is no fuel and oil to drain before heeling the boat to 60° to get it within the European towing limit. So, while there has been plenty of thought put into the management of this race boat afloat, there has also been time spent on how best to handle it ashore as well.

Although our trial sail didn’t deliver the type of downwind sleigh ride that its looks suggest it’s capable of, I have little doubt this will be an exhilarating and rewarding boat to sail. Getting it onto the scene hasn’t been easy. After several delays, at times the birth of the ClubSwan 36 has been a tricky one. This in itself has triggered plenty of dockside gossip about whether the project was too ambitious. But to see and sail it for real reveals an innovative boat where time has clearly been taken to work out the detail. In some ways fitting C-foils is a gamble, the pay-off of which is not yet really known. Only time on the racecourse will tell if it has worked. Sticking with a modest step forward, an evolution of grand prix racer, would have been both easier and possibly a safer bet. But that was not what this project set out to do and in that respect Nautor’s Swan has made an impressive statement of intent in seeking to move the racing game on. At €385,000 excluding sails, electronics and tax, this is an expensive boat, but given the company’s reputation for delivering models that remain on the scene for many years there’s a good chance the ClubSwan 36 will be able to convince owners it’s a good bet that will go on to hold its value. In short, I liked the ClubSwan 36. The more time I spent aboard the more I appreciated the detail. It’s a boat that’s been on my ‘must test’ list for some time, but has now moved across to ‘must race’.