Beneteau Swift Trawler Owners?

Not one yet but hope to be.

We are looking for our first Swift, not sure 34 or 42 .. .but that is why I am here for. I would like to know what you like what you don't like, what to look for. What are the typical issues with the Swifts? We took the 34 out for sea trial and it rides nice, I will the 42 shortly, but looking maybe at a used one ... how far should I go?

Looking forward to see what other Swift owners have to say.

That's not a rave review, but more than just that boat it illustrates why I always recommend a pre-owned boat. Besides the money saved, the first owner gets to deal with the new boat bugs. Totally agree with you on the Raymarine. Definitely not my favorite brand for anything.

Hi,

Please apologize for my broken english and poor american grammar.
I own a ST 42, currently based in Med, french coast, where I am living in the Port du Roy marina when I am not in my house in the north ( Normandy). I bought this ST 42 hull 63 new in 2006 and have done a lot of miles with her in the Channel and Atlantic coast, as well in Med ( I leaved Tunisia during their "revolution" in winter)
As member of the Beneteau Yacht Club, I know very well these boats and the yard. This is a very good "canote" with an efficient hull ( the old grand father Beneteau started the company at the beginning of the 20 century with fishing boats)
Of course, Beneteau produce a lot of boats and this a mass product boat but the basics, design and so on are very good. What you need to do with these boats, is to customize and improve them. What I did for the last six years.I am know very happy and the semi displacment approach gives sense here in Med where the mistral can produce very quickly rough sea with big waves.
I joined the Swift Trawler Fest in 2012 when more than 23 of these trawlers 34 - 42- 44 and 52 owners met them to share experiences and do fiestas.
I do not know what Beneteau USA is doing for their customers to help them with these trawlers (technical infos, etc).
Feel free to contact me if you need more info. I will be also very happy to send some pictures of my ST 42.
Some improvment I did aboard:
- electric mast and bimini ( to go under the bridge, access alongside to my villa)
- extended swim platform
- cheminey
- washer dryer, washing machine, watermaker etc
- office and desk instead of second cabin
- new design of toilets and showers,
etc etc.
Bonne navigation

Dominique
Trawler Balder VII
Petite Camargue
France

New Swift Trawler 44

I have so many questions I don't know where to start.
We have just traded in our Antares 9.8 for a Swift Trawler 44 and I am interested in finding out as much as I can from current owners.

Hi Would love to hear about your Swift 44

They were marketed in the US as Loop boats. There is no shortage, however, of other loop boats. I wouldn't blame the shortage of them in the US on the economy alone but rather on very stiff competition that is well established. They presented the "Swift Trawler" as a new concept when it's new for them, perhaps, but nothing unique when compared to other boats in it's size range. That's not being negative about the boat, but just explaining why few seen here.

I ran a Swift 44' from Miami to Stuart a year or two ago. I didn't like it at all. IN a 3-5' beam sea, at cruise, it had a very sharp very fast righting motion that would snap your neck, it was also very wet and all of those cored/wood laminated floor hatch/pieces creaked and groaned.

Not at all unique with Grand Banks and Marlow. Then a lot of people for looping to for Kadey Krogen or Selene. Then some none Trawlers like Sea Ray, Hatteras, Mainship, Carver, Cruisers, Meridian.

Hi Richard and Dominique
I am buying a 42, 2006 in Rochester, NY and I will be sailing June to Ft Lauderdale.
I really like the look on this boat and hope it will run very well.
Luis

You may want to name the boat 'Wrong Way Corrigan'. Just be sure that your insurance company is aware of your plans.

Full insurance and excellent Cap and Crew

As noted by NYCap123, why go to Fl to face hurricane season and insurance run arounds as to where boat will be holed up

Because he lives in Florida and likes it there perhaps. There are many of us who live in Florida, love it there, keep our boats there, and deal with hurricane season and insurance.

I also might remind that over the last few years the northeast has been hit by hurricanes far more and suffered far more damage to boats than Florida.

This is a bit like me telling someone who lives in Rochester NY, I would never take my boat there, it gets too cold during the winter. Well, I wouldn't personally live there but there are many who love it there as there are with other cold climates.

Now hopefully he has time to enjoy the Northeast and Mid Atlantic on the way down. But bringing his boat home is a most natural thing.

Maybe I needed to be more specific. I was referring to his timing. Not saying he should stay north all year long. The trip south at this time of year is nothing but hot. My suggestion was simply to wait until fall to bring her south.