Trade-A-Boat – June 2019

LOCAL REVIEW | BENETEAU SWIFT 47 TRAWLER

68 | TRADEABOAT.COM.AU

TOP European versions of the Swift Trawler do away with a bimini, but Aussie buyers will likely gravitate to the fibreglass
hardtop; ABOVE The flybridge helm includes comprehensive instrumentation that can be viewed in bright sunlight.

flattened to promote planing; this is also helped

by being considerably lighter than conventional

displacement trawlers at 12,685 kilograms.

It's constructed from infused foam cored GRP

with sandwich above and solid fibreglass below

the waterline and on the chines. These hulls

have an EU rating of 'B' which denotes offshore

classification, rather than 'A' for ocean, which is

just about right for their usage.

Another departure from more traditional

vessels is the relatively shallow draft (1.15m)

which may not be ideal offshore but allows fast

cruising – estimated at about 19 knots, way

beyond heavy displacement trawlers.

The performance chart shows frugal numbers

with a vast range in displacement mode (or when

seas are heavy) of 728 nautical miles at 7.65

knots, while in semi-displacement at 18.5 knots

it's a modest 248 nautical miles.

Overall, I'd say this boat should have wide

appeal to both cruising sailors and casual

weekenders who want to escape to that favourite

anchorage without compromising seaworthiness,

as the Swift 47 successfully combines a practical

semi-planing hull with ample creature comforts.

Highs

Practical overall layout

Performance

Smart systems

Lows

Shallow sinks in both bathrooms

Engine noise in main saloon is

a possibility