S&S 41 - 1975 - Advice needed

I am a Swan lover and am looking at buying one as soon as my cashflow allows me. I have done most of my sailing on a 53 Ft 1985 Swan. Being based in New Zealand we dont get that many down here but there has been a 51 footer sold last month and now a nice 1975 41 footer is on the market for 121k USD!!

I wanted to get members thoughts on the problems that can be experienced on these older boats...more from a structural perspective. i realise that I will need to spend money on updating the ground tackle, electronics, sails etc....I am not worried about that....I am more concerned about the safe life span of the hulls....the old girl is as old as I am and I am starting to creak a bit myself!!

Your feedback is greatly appreciated

Cheers

Matt

Matt, I am biased, but these boats were incredibly well built. When buying I would check the rudder bearings and the mast heel for corrosion in particular but you'd find it hard to pick a better sea boat. The other point which I and some of the other members had problems with was the original dry exhaust running across the aft end of the galley sole. I owned one for 13 years and used it on both sides of the Atlantic and up to the Baltic with no problems. Looked after well, it will be a good investment too! Gavin

thanks for the reply Gavin, appreciate it. Have got beaten to the punch on an offer but is subject to sea trials / survey so may still get a crack at it.

Matt

The boat is out of California and has cruised via the islands for the last 2 years....Scotch Bonnet, 41, 1975 , Hull Number unknown.....does anyone know this boat?

Cheers

Matt

Dear Mattplowman

,there is a Scotch Bonnet, but she's actually a 411 and not a 41, hull # 019

Fair winds

Matteo (38/067 Only You)

...by the way the first 411 was lounched in 1977...

Thank you for the info, I will double check with the broker that they have accurate information

What is the difference between the 411 and 41?

Thanks

Matt

Dear Matt,

the 411 is an updated and younger version of the 41, different rudder and sail plan, if you go to classicswan.org website and click on "Swans by S&S", then you can see drawings and pics of both models.

Anyway I think it would be better to wait comments of 41's and 411's owners. They are aesthetically quite different too!

Fair winds

Matteo (38/067 Only You)

Thanks again

Matt and Matteo

There is a 41 delivered 1975 with the name you mention, it is hull 039

Kind regards

Lars

Dear Lars,

thanks a lot!

Fair winds

Matteo (38/067 Only You)

Dear Lars,

wasn't 41/039 original name Cygnus?

Fair winds!

Matteo (38/067 Only You)

Thanks guys, just had confirmation from broker it is 41/039...does anyone have any history / info on this boat? current owner 23 years

Thanks

Matt

Dear Matt,

My advice would be to get the boat professional surveyed. Then you will get a clear and objective report of the condition of the boat (not only the hull).

To get a good idea about the condition of the hull, it would be necessary to get the boat out of the water and put it on land for a couple of days (best would be at least a week) and measure the moisture content of the hull in several places. You need a special instrument to measure the moisture content.
Furthermore you can check on the inside for cracks in stingers and other parts of the hull, but you need to lift every floorboard and look behind every door in the interior.

End of 2009 I bought a 47 from the same year (1975) and my surveyor followed the procedure described above. It took a whole day to work through the boat.
There was nothing basically wrong with the hull, no osmosis, nothing. Swans from that era are very strong build. Everybody who sees the boat now is astonished about the strength of the construction and the thickness of the material. Swan from this era are among the strongest boats you can find.

Wish you a lot of success with the search.

Regards,

Gerrit
47/001 Mandate

Thanks Gerrit, I will certainly be getting a survey done before commiting to the purchase

Matt

Matt,

I have acquired Antares (Swan 41 - Hull #11) in the US (Newport) a bit more than two years ago and I have shipped her back to Brittany - France.

I have been through a renovation program mainly consisting in (i) buying new sails, (ii) anti osmosis treatment and new paint, (iii) new electronics, (iv) new winches (initial winches were replaced by self tailing ones to allow for a limited crew), (v) new engine as the old Perkins was considered as unreliable and leaking a lot of oil without the ability to repair it, (vi) new propeller, (vi) new hatches, (vii) new windows etc...

I would be happy to share some of my experience with you should you wish at some point in time.

I had promised Matteo to send some pictures to the Association but I am struggling from a technical standpoint. Matteo, would it be possible for me to send you the pictures on a CD Rom?

Kind regards.

Christophe

thanks for the offer christophe, and thank you to all who gave me input. Unfortunately the boat has sold before I could get  my ducks lined up in a row! The search continues.......

The 41 is a wonderful boat.  Best of luck with your search.