446 replies to this topic

[Slowboat]

I always thought the Swede 55 was a cool boat. Knud Reimers was a very talented designer, and I have always liked the look of the Square Meter boats.

Anybody sail one of these things? 53ft long and only 9'8" wide!

[KRC]

Interesting...like a giant Etchells or Soling maybe. Doesn't look very roomy down below for cruising. Never been on one, but wouldn't mind a ride!

Seems like it would look better as a yawl.

[Slowboat]

One more picture:



The Square meter boats are known for a very high aspect rig (short boom tall mast).

[Devoforedeckus]

Temptress won the Pac cup I don't remember when (maybe the late 80's). Nice boat. Did very well in the Danforth series as well. The front end would oil can upwind in the breeze, so ring frames and hat sections were installed, after that it was bullet proof.

[SW Dropout]

Gotta love boats where the boat is longer than the mast. There was always one of these at my Club as a kid and I never saw it out. Ah well.

[wingman]

I agree, I really like the look of these boats. They just look efficient to me. The fact that the rig is small for the hull just looks right. I liked the idea of a square meter boat - measure the sail area and try to get as much boat under it as possible. I wish these boats would have been more popular rather than the International Rule or Meter boats - square meter boats were the original ULDBs.

There is one on yachtworld for $97K.

Never sailed one, but raced against one in Detroit way back in the late 70's. If there was any type of reach they would horizon the whole class.

[Ross]

looks like a great boat, but it need like 25 more feet of mast, and freakin longer boom, fathead main, aw man, dont get me started....

[sam_crocker]

I too love the square meters. Never seen an ugly one. And Knud Reimers is one of my favorite designers, that guy had an eye for beauty and speed.

Brooklin Boat yard did a rendition of the Swede 55 (named Vortex) a few years ago and made a beaut - saved a couple thousand pounds over the glass version. Makes ya wanna go sail one (in heavier air of course):

http://www.brooklinb....com/boats.html

Interior not much different than your basic layout A, 35 foot cruiser of the 70's with opposing settees and V-berth/head forward and galley aft. They did have a double bunk for the kids back aft of the cockpit.

A Swede 55 (The Contessa, shown with Spinny up in an earlier post) finished first in her doublehanded division in this year's Pacific Cup.

[DrunkenSailor858]

There is one in Cape town and is sailed by a whole crew who are over 75. They have a small bow sprit and sail with A sails. they do pretty well. they won this weekends Comp.

Still impressed as the bowmain is 85+

[Lars P]

There is a new version of the Swede 55 with higher rig and a new underwater body. I have sailed it and think it is a wonderful boat, very fast and points extremely high upwind. Is is also very well balanced. I knew Knud H. Reimers and he told me yhat he had made both the Swede 55 and the smaller S30 a little under rigged. The latest development of the Swede 55 has, I believe, the right amount of sail.[color=#000099]

[sam_crocker]

There is a new version of the Swede 55 with higher rig and a new underwater body. I have sailed it and think it is a wonderful boat, very fast and points extremely high upwind. Is is also very well balanced. I knew Knud H. Reimers and he told me yhat he had made both the Swede 55 and the smaller S30 a little under rigged. The latest development of the Swede 55 has, I believe, the right amount of sail.[color=#000099]

No fair telling us about porn and not providing a link

[Slowboat]

I agree the boat looks like it want's a bigger main. With the running backs there wouldn't be any reason not to put on a big roached main.

This shot gives you an idea of how narrow she is.

[Haji]

I raced the old Temptress (modified Swede 55) in a few races back in the 80's, including the Doublehanded Farallones. We won our class and hit a solid 19kts in smooth water...it was blowin. Really great boat offwind in a blow but a little gutless upwind. A more modern version with a higher ballast ratio and perhaps a bulb would be cool.

[JSoup]

The Contessa, a Swede 55, won the double-handed division of this year's Pacific Cup.

The Contessa

[mark washeim]

i have a swede 55, sort of. it might be more accuate to say that it has me. i sail a lot (for a living) & this is one of the bex=st sailing boats i've ever laid my hands on.

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[mark washeim]

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[tuf-luf]

i have a swede 55, sort of. it might be more accuate to say that it has me. i sail a lot (for a living) & this is one of the bex=st sailing boats i've ever laid my hands on.

Jeez! I bet that aft berth is highly contraceptive.

Lovely boat.

[jsmin]

guy at our club has one - loves it and sails it more than most ever dream of sailing of their boats. i have been out on it a couple of times and is fun stuff. great reaching of course and beautiful down below.

[The Big D]

Sailed one around the Caribbean...like saling a big dinghy. Loads of fun until you get into bad weather. The hull is not strong enough without modifications.

[razorback]

Mark you are just showing off now. Man that thing is cool.

[DrunkenSailor858]

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the one in cape town having just ripped there head off. they still made the finish of the race while hand stiching the sail for the nexts days racing. This was pre start on the long distance down the coast.

[Slowboat]

Nice shots Mark! I'm assuming it's your boat up on Yachtworld then?

Big D, what do folks usually do to strengthen the boat? Ring frames? Stringers?

Thanks

[Nice!]

I'm surprised nobody's asked it yet.......

What's it rate?

[sam_crocker]

I'm surprised nobody's asked it yet.......

What's it rate?

72 according to PHRF NE.

[casc27]

I gotta chime in on this topic (mostly because I allways thought the boats looked cool). Used to see one sailing (racing?) on Friday nights out of Berkeley. I think the guy would single hand the boat and he allways carried his spin with two poles, one on each clew. I guess that simplified gybes.

I saw the same boat (named "Bird") years later in teh DH Farallones race in 99. It blew stinking hard that day and the boat lost it's rig. But mostly I remember seeing the aluminum fishing boat upside down on the cabin as they passed us on teh way out the gate. Looked really odd. I think that boat was lost somewhere off the Washington or Canadian coast a couple of years later.

Allways looked like a fun (probably wet) ride.

[toledosailor]

Does anyone know if there is a smaller version of the Swede made? Just seems like a great boat to put a large roach main and masthead kites!

[Guitar]

Does anyone know if there is a smaller version of the Swede made? Just seems like a great boat to put a large roach main and masthead kites!

Columbia Sabre 5.5 is 32' and points like a tourist. Oscillates like a drunk downwind.

[sam_crocker]

Does anyone know if there is a smaller version of the Swede made? Just seems like a great boat to put a large roach main and masthead kites!

Yeah, sure, you betcha.

It looks like they made a 41 too. According to this web site:

http://www.classicyachts.se/

It's got 33 feet of waterline, 592 square feet of sail (using IJPE), and comes in (I'd imagine dry) at 6600 pounds with 3800 pounds of ballast. Sounds like it's got the numbers.

Running the numbers I get a SA/D (dry) of 26.9 and a D/L of 83.6. Gonna be hard to use that power upwind with such small beam (8.2 feet) but going downwind is probably a blast (as long as it doesn't do the rolly polly).

[mark washeim]

Mark you are just showing off now. Man that thing is cool.

i'd be showing off if i could ever get the thing back in the water. i've had it for 3 years, but only had it in the water for 1/2 a season.

[mark washeim]

Nice shots Mark! I'm assuming it's your boat up on Yachtworld then?

yup. i've got very mixed feelings about it.

[cbayracer]

I sailed on a Knud Reimers boat this summer in the Opera House Cup race: Cythera (in foreground), a 1937 30 square meter he designed. A drop dead gorgeous boat I had been in love with since I first saw it as a child. She proved to be fast and practically drove herself, tracking really well with her full keel.

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[tuf-luf]

That hull is drop-dead gorgeous. Such classic beauty.

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[hobot]

That hull is drop-dead gorgeous. Such classic beauty.

I almost got a woody lookin at that!

[Hannes]

Does anyone know if there is a smaller version of the Swede made? Just seems like a great boat to put a large roach main and masthead kites!

Take a look at the BB10 (Boerresen 10m)

[judge]

The BB10 is a sweet little [33feet] boat in the style of the skerry cruisers. Having owned one and raced it hard for the last 7 years it gives a great bang for your buck if you don't need 8 bunks, two shitters, or to go cruising with 8 of your closest aquaintances. Best part of owning "Surprise" is beating boats on the track that cost 10 times more while looking cool and having fun. Best speed so far is 18.7 knots in complete control with an ice cold beverage in hand.

http://www.vicsail.c...php?BoatID=2449

And tuf-luf, if the Swede almost gave you a woody let me know what effect this has.

http://www.yachtworl...g_id=15064&url=
YachtWorld.com Boats and Yachts for Sale

[judge]

Sorry tuffy, it was hotbot I was talking too.

[USA-7]

From my scrap book c.1978, from Yachting, Yachtracing, or Sail.

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[USA-7]

finally, the price tag.

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[hyderally]

Does anyone know if there is a smaller version of the Swede made? Just seems like a great boat to put a large roach main and masthead kites!

The BB10 meter is a neat boat of that modern sq meter rule type. I have been looking for one. Hard to find. Anyone remember Judy Lawson from Annapolis racing on in the OSTAR? Lost her rig.
Oh, and Witchcraft at the Annap boat show would be the big sister of the swede 55. Cool boat but excessive. Lucky Crossfire!
TP

[toledosailor]

The BB10 is a sweet little [33feet] boat in the style of the skerry cruisers. Having owned one and raced it hard for the last 7 years it gives a great bang for your buck if you don't need 8 bunks, two shitters, or to go cruising with 8 of your closest aquaintances. Best part of owning "Surprise" is beating boats on the track that cost 10 times more while looking cool and having fun. Best speed so far is 18.7 knots in complete control with an ice cold beverage in hand.

http://www.vicsail.c...php?BoatID=2449

And tuf-luf, if the Swede almost gave you a woody let me know what effect this has.

http://www.yachtworl...g_id=15064&url=
YachtWorld.com Boats and Yachts for Sale

Bacchant is a woody for sure. Beautiful boat to sail, effortless!

[powerplane]

Anybody sail one of these things? 53ft long and only 9'8" wide!

If I'm not mistaken a Frenchman sailed one singlehanded around the world via Cape Horn in the 1986 BOC challenge..
http://en.wikipedia....X_5_Oceans_Race

[razorback]

The judge is right, BB10 is a smaller (and even prettier if you ask me) version. The Swedes are very nice though, and sailing is all about enjoying the most beautiful sport in the world, and these type boats are just plain stunning.

[Tranquilo]

http://www.h-boat.no/

Looks like a big H-boat.

[Trovão]

oh, that late 70's boat.
just kidding, nice ride, mark.

[SemiSalt]

Does anyone know if there is a smaller version of the Swede made? Just seems like a great boat to put a large roach main and masthead kites!

The Aphrodite 101? And since the Tarten Ten was inspired by the A101 (or so I've read). you can consider that too.

Since the square meter rule penalizes sail area and almost nothing else, the other speed enhancing features are exaggerated, especially length, but also depth of keel. Since the sail area is small, the boats are especially suited to windy areas, though I think that a Swede 55 or similar has been at the Stamford YC within the past few years.

[twrch]

Jean-Luc van den Hede did the BOC in 1986 on a quite similar boat, but it was a Wasa 55.

http://www.wasayacht...acl/wasa55.html

[hobot]

The BB10 is a sweet little [33feet] boat in the style of the skerry cruisers. Having owned one and raced it hard for the last 7 years it gives a great bang for your buck if you don't need 8 bunks, two shitters, or to go cruising with 8 of your closest aquaintances. Best part of owning "Surprise" is beating boats on the track that cost 10 times more while looking cool and having fun. Best speed so far is 18.7 knots in complete control with an ice cold beverage in hand.

http://www.vicsail.c...php?BoatID=2449

And tuf-luf, if the Swede almost gave you a woody let me know what effect this has.

http://www.yachtworl...g_id=15064&url=
YachtWorld.com Boats and Yachts for Sale

Boinggg!!

[Slowboat]

What a long day...(Thanks Roman)

We hauled and surveyed the a Swede earlier today that I have been looking at purchasing. It passed a survey (with some known issues) and I'm a happy (overwhelmed) owner of a Swede 55.

I also had the fun job of getting it ready to ship by myself. Everything is ready to go, mast is wrapped and de-rigged, wheel pulled, etc etc. Let the games begin.

[midfleet]

guy at our club has one - loves it and sails it more than most ever dream of sailing of their boats. i have been out on it a couple of times and is fun stuff. great reaching of course and beautiful down below.

I used to crew on that boat for several years. Corsair was hull #1. Was a bitchin' ride, and yeah, the aft cabin was referred to as the sex palace.

We would always pray that the wind would blow from Detroit, and hard, before any Falcon Cup!!

Slowboat, you're going to love the boat.

[Slowboat]

Here she is:



Hopefully to be trucked up in the next week. I'm a classic boat guy, and think I'm going to have a lot of fun with her.

Slow (now a bit faster)

[Al.]

Here she is:


Hopefully to be trucked up in the next week. I'm a classic boat guy, and think I'm going to have a lot of fun with her.

Slow (now a bit faster)

She's a beaut! How long till you're sailing her with the Anarchy battle flag proudly flying?

[JoeS]

What a long day...(Thanks Roman)

We hauled and surveyed the a Swede earlier today that I have been looking at purchasing. It passed a survey (with some known issues) and I'm a happy (overwhelmed) owner of a Swede 55.

I also had the fun job of getting it ready to ship by myself. Everything is ready to go, mast is wrapped and de-rigged, wheel pulled, etc etc. Let the games begin.

Congratulations -> gorgeous boat.

[SemiSalt]

Does anyone know if there is a smaller version of the Swede made? Just seems like a great boat to put a large roach main and masthead kites!

How about a Dragon? Or do you want an actual interior.

All you folks who want to add a lot of sail area might consider that it sails really well as it is. But it is true that the type was developed for northern Europe and does best in windy conditions.

[Sabre66]

Columbia Sabre 5.5 is 32' and points like a tourist. Oscillates like a drunk downwind.

I have to agree G.

[Lazy Guy]

if the Swede almost gave you a woody let me know what effect this has.

http://www.yachtworl...a...=15064&url=
YachtWorld.com Boats and Yachts for Sale

I saw Bacchant at Mackinac a few years ago. A buddy of mine was lucky enough to measure her.
No one is allowed on board until their clothing has been checked to make sure there is nothing that could possibly scratch her brightwork (ie - those little rivet things on your Levi's). I believe you have to leave your street shoes on the dock and either change into your deck shoes or only wear socks. Her previous owner was the King of Sweden.

I would have to say I have never seen a more beautiful boat, before or since.


(If erection continues for 4 or more hours, please consult a physician.)

[judge]

Here comes another one!


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[PressureDrop]

There was a Swede 55 here on the Chesapeake Bay through 2004 at least. The boat raced 2004 governors cup that was big breeze downhill, but I think the boat was quite under preforming. Unfortunately as they delivered the boat home the day following the race they were involved in a port/starboard incident with a much smaller boat(about 30 feet) and both boats dropped their rigs I believe. I heard this story from a good friend at the time who was in the vicinity at the time and saw the Swede motoring in to their with the rig on deck. I havent heard or seen of the boat since.

PressureDrop

[hyderally]

There was a Swede 55 here on the Chesapeake Bay through 2004 at least. The boat raced 2004 governors cup that was big breeze downhill, but I think the boat was quite under preforming. Unfortunately as they delivered the boat home the day following the race they were involved in a port/starboard incident with a much smaller boat(about 30 feet) and both boats dropped their rigs I believe. I heard this story from a good friend at the time who was in the vicinity at the time and saw the Swede motoring in to their with the rig on deck. I havent heard or seen of the boat since.

PressureDrop

That boat won the Annapolis - Bermuda Race. Good reacher.
I recently bought a BB 10 meter but haven't sailed it yet. It's to be launched next week and will live on the Magothy. Similar but smaller boat than the Swede 55. Ah, new boats.

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[jhiller]

Who is building the new version !
I remember seeing one sailing around the Detroit area. Sure was beautiful !
Jim

[PressureDrop]

That boat won the Annapolis - Bermuda Race. Good reacher.
I recently bought a BB 10 meter but haven't sailed it yet. It's to be launched next week and will live on the Magothy. Similar but smaller boat than the Swede 55. Ah, new boats.

Hyder,
Boat looks great, classic lines. Are you going to race your new boat or is this just for crusing? See you out on the river soon!
PressureDrop

[Slowboat]

A few folks were looking about smaller versions of the Swede 55. There is one on Ebay right now, a Swede 42:

http://cgi.ebay.com/...1QQcmdZViewItem

[darkstar32170]

The smaller version of the Swede 55 was called an S30. It was a modern version of a 30 square meter. I raced for 3 seasons on one in Detroit from 79 to 81. We placed 2nd in class in the 1980 Port Huron-Mackinaw race.

"Windhover" was substantially modified. The fractional rig was converted to a masthead rig to improve light air performance (the predominant condition in the Great Lakes). As a result the boat was a killer off the wind. Upwind in light air it was still slow.

The boat moved like a Cadillac, over the first wave and under the next two, but we finished near or at the top in everything those years. Our main competition was "Natalie J" which back then was a C&C 35 Mk II. The boat tracked beautifully but I do remember one Chinese jibe where we bent the spinnaker pole 90° around the mast - but the rig stayed up. It occurred halfway down a 10 mile leg. We still rounded the first mark in second carrying a full main and a "deeply reefed chute" (the spinnaker wrapped around the headstay and it took us part of the second leg to straighten everything out.

We pegged on knotmeter at "12" (the days of analog instruments) for one 5 mile leg once passing boats like they were anchored with their crews standing and applauding us.

"Windhover", though odd was a fine boat on which to race.

[Anders Andreasen]

The smaller version of the Swede 55 was called an S30. It was a modern version of a 30 square meter. I raced for 3 seasons on one in Detroit from 79 to 81. We placed 2nd in class in the 1980 Port Huron-Mackinaw race.

"Windhover" was substantially modified. The fractional rig was converted to a masthead rig to improve light air performance (the predominant condition in the Great Lakes). As a result the boat was a killer off the wind. Upwind in light air it was still slow.

The boat moved like a Cadillac, over the first wave and under the next two, but we finished near or at the top in everything those years. Our main competition was "Natalie J" which back then was a C&C 35 Mk II. The boat tracked beautifully but I do remember one Chinese jibe where we bent the spinnaker pole 90° around the mast - but the rig stayed up. It occurred halfway down a 10 mile leg. We still rounded the first mark in second carrying a full main and a "deeply reefed chute" (the spinnaker wrapped around the headstay and it took us part of the second leg to straighten everything out.

We pegged on knotmeter at "12" (the days of analog instruments) for one 5 mile leg once passing boats like they were anchored with their crews standing and applauding us.

"Windhover", though odd was a fine boat on which to race.

My father owned one for 5 years. Here are some photos:

[Anders Andreasen]

Does anyone know if there is a smaller version of the Swede made? Just seems like a great boat to put a large roach main and masthead kites!

I just registered today, so the reply may seem a little late compared to the original post:

Try and have a look at S30 (Reimers) see my previous post, Wasa 55 (see pictures of my fathers boat below - like the s30 he sold the boat .-( and Wasa 30 (Have a look at http://www.wasa30.nu/Startsida.html it's a really nice boat)

[BarePoles]

Gorgeous boats! I didn't know it when I took this photo but it seems it is a Swede 55, after all I did take this photo in Stockholm.

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[engnrmerc]

There is also a Swede 41 My Buddy has one converted to a mast head rig, there was also one listed recently on www.yachtworld.com, We raced it hard for a few years, got in to a breezy reaching distance race on Lake Saint Clair and
rounded one of the far marks, the thames river light with an andrews 70 with 1/3 to go we figured we had it in the bag,
Rally nice short handed boat, took FIC, and FOA, At the Dock people were looking for our crew, It was only 5 of us. Myself, my buddy, our wives and another gal. Lotta fun. Rates 126-132 in PHRF

[totto]

The Swede 52: a Swede 55 with new keel and rudder, a carbonspar and a lot more sailarea.

http://www.classicyachts.se/

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[tuf-luf]

The Swede 52: a Swede 55 with new keel and rudder, a carbonspar and a lot more sailarea.

http://www.classicyachts.se/

That's hot!

Main looks a bit rough though - could use loads more foot tension and less on the leech.

Damn that's a sexy hull though. Find myself looking at it alot.

Edited by tuf-luf, 30 August 2007 - 01:30 PM.

[sam_crocker]

I think I found my boat. I'm in love.

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Edited by sam_crocker, 30 August 2007 - 10:44 PM.

[kimbottles]

I had Swede 55 hull #34 for several years in the 1990's. She was the best two person cruising boat I have had the pleasure of sailing. My wife and I hit 15 knots under main alone while towing our tender one day. Yes it was windy.

I currently own a Beck & Sohne 30 Square Metre. Great single handed or double handed daysailor.

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[Red Dragon]

Kimb, beautiful boat. If I owned her I'd probably spend a lot of time just sitting and looking at her. I do that now with my Dragon, walking around looking at her from different angles. An obsession, eh?

30 squares are the most aesthetically perfect boats that I have ever seen. Marvelous.

RD

[Mikem]

yup. i've got very mixed feelings about it.

Hi Mark, I'm new to this forum (and a whole lot of other things nautical). I must admit to having had your boat on my shortlist of desirable yachts for about two months now. I see you are describing her as something of a project, can you give me some idea of what needs doing to make her ready for the water ?

I'd also like some opinions on whether the Swede 55 would make a good short-handed (1 or 2) cruising boat. I intend to do a lot of sailing in whatever boat I decide to buy so it would need to be suitable for bluewater cruising in all oceans (and probably in a multitude of weather conditions).

Your (and anyone elses) advice would be much appreciated - and go easy mates, we all have to start somewhere

Mikem

[Slowboat]

The Swede is a very easy boat to single hand. I had it out in 25 knots the other day with myself and a buddy. We were doing 7.5 upwind and 9.5 down with a reefed main and 100% jib. Wheel in one hand and a beer in the other. No problems and we blew by a Tanser 22 and a Pearson 28 so fast it wasn’t even funny.

I have single handed the boat all over the lake this summer and enjoyed every minute of it. About the only thing I haven’t done is set the kite alone. I should get a sock for it then it would make things easier.

I’m currently running a 165sq meter (1750 sq ft) bow tack Asym and the boat is very fast. In the one big race we entered we had very good down wind speed. In heavy wind we were way faster than the J-109 and pulled a horizon job on a Bene 41.7 and J-105. It was hard to tell against the J-120, but earlier in the day in light conditions it seemed like we were pretty evenly matched.

The downwind speed of the Swede seems to take most folks by surprise. At times she flies upwind, but you really need to change gears with her. It’s not like a modern sailboat that keeps the 155% up until 15. My Swede has a bigger rig than stock but I find that the number one is good from about 0-8 knots. 135% is good up to about 12-13 and above that it’s a 100% all the way. Still, for racing it’s tough change gears that quickly.

For cruising a 100% or maybe a 120% would be perfect for most conditions. She would still go faster than almost any other cruiser out there (while pointing higher) - it’s just while racing that you need to go through the trouble. My current main is a bit deep though – once I get something flatter it will help that out – less heel and more drive.

Anyway good luck finding a boat. The Swede is very cool. I love mine and don’t think I could really find another boat like it.

[Mikem]

The Swede is a very easy boat to single hand. I had it out in 25 knots the other day with myself and a buddy. We were doing 7.5 upwind and 9.5 down with a reefed main and 100% jib. Wheel in one hand and a beer in the other. No problems and we blew by a Tanser 22 and a Pearson 28 so fast it wasn’t even funny.

I have single handed the boat all over the lake this summer and enjoyed every minute of it. About the only thing I haven’t done is set the kite alone. I should get a sock for it then it would make things easier.

I’m currently running a 165sq meter (1750 sq ft) bow tack Asym and the boat is very fast. In the one big race we entered we had very good down wind speed. In heavy wind we were way faster than the J-109 and pulled a horizon job on a Bene 41.7 and J-105. It was hard to tell against the J-120, but earlier in the day in light conditions it seemed like we were pretty evenly matched.

The downwind speed of the Swede seems to take most folks by surprise. At times she flies upwind, but you really need to change gears with her. It’s not like a modern sailboat that keeps the 155% up until 15. My Swede has a bigger rig than stock but I find that the number one is good from about 0-8 knots. 135% is good up to about 12-13 and above that it’s a 100% all the way. Still, for racing it’s tough change gears that quickly.

For cruising a 100% or maybe a 120% would be perfect for most conditions. She would still go faster than almost any other cruiser out there (while pointing higher) - it’s just while racing that you need to go through the trouble. My current main is a bit deep though – once I get something flatter it will help that out – less heel and more drive.

Anyway good luck finding a boat. The Swede is very cool. I love mine and don’t think I could really find another boat like it.

Hi Slowboat

Thanks for the reply and for your insight into the '55', it sounds like you use the boat mostly for day racing or day-cruising (lucky guy !), so I'm interested to know what you think of the boat for more extended cruising ?, with the narrow beam, I'm guessing that storage space (in fact space of any kind) is at a premium. And how about the possibility of fitting long range tanks (not that I want to use the engine particularly, but you need to plan ahead) and storage space for food, water, diving gear etc (I'm a keen scuba diver too) ??.

Last but not least, have you had any serious maintenance issues, any weak points in the design that you are aware of (etc etc).

Thanks again for the help, without first-hand experience such as your own, it's very difficult to get a feel for any new boat you might aspire to.

Cheers
Mikem

[Slowboat]

Hi Mike, good questions…The Swede is a funny boat, but one of the big pluses is that it has huge amounts of storage space. You need to think of it as having the interior space of a classic 38 foot boat but with the storage of a 50ft boat.– it has a nice V-birth, decent head, salon with nice settees and two fold out bunks that are very wide, a good sized galley and nav table and the pilot berth behind that. It’s fairly narrow, so there isn’t tons of space to move around but for a couple of folks it’s fine. The foldout table is comfortable and the galley has lots of room to cook.

The aft cabin is pretty strange. I suppose it works well if you need extra room for occasional guests, but I wouldn’t really want to spend much time sleeping back there – maybe I’m just a pansy. It is great for storage though, and pretty large. It also means that you can sit in comfort and work on the steering gear if needed. It’s easy to install autopilots etc, without standing on your head. If you decided to not use the aft cabin it would be great for extra storage of all sails, suba gear, bikes, etc etc.

Behind the aft cabin is a huge lazerette. It’s large enough that you can lie down in it. It’s large enough to fit a folded up dinghy, engine, fenders, lines, spare anchor, more sails, or what ever other crap you have.

The boat also has a pretty large anchor locker. It’s plenty large enough for two anchors, and line, perhaps a spare sail or two etc. I can fit in it just fine sitting down…Like I said, tons of storage space all around.

My boat has an added 125ltr bladder fresh water tank under the V-birth. I haven’t used it yet, but that and the 20 gallon tank under the pilot berth should be plenty of water. I know that some have also built water tanks into the bilge of the boat – it’s very deep. If you wanted to you could easily add more tanks under the aft cabin. I’m guessing you could fit another 30 gallons of tanks below the floor boards. You need to remember that the engine is pretty small – my boat still has the original 22hp Volvo which uses very little fuel. I would think that you wouldn’t need anymore than 50 gallons of fuel to go anywhere. My engine uses around ½ a gallon per hour at 6.5 knots. That’s 100 hours of running time at 6.5 knots which is 650 miles – more motoring than I would want to do. She’s also a fast boat under sail, especially down wind. When most cruisers would be motoring in 8 knots of breeze downwind you would be sailing at 6 knots or so.

As for construction the boat seems pretty solid. The hull is solid glass – no core, and when I cut out a hole for a spedo it was 1” thick! That’s pretty serious. It also looked well constructed – lots of glass and not excess resin. Mine’s 30 years old and all the floors etc show no signs of problems. Because the hull is solid glass it seems like you do get some flex (oil canning) that can be fixed with stringers glassed it. I have heard that the front v-birth can get broken loose from the hull, but mine hasn’t had that problem. I would assume that the cabin sole is original in mine and it’s starting to delaminate. This winter I will be replacing the whole thing. 30 years isn’t bad for the original though. The bulkheads and everything else seem solid with no issues.

The boat does have a cored deck, so you need to watch for wet balsa. Mine’s pretty dry so I’m not worried, but it could be an issue on other boats. The stanchions go through solid glass which is good, and the hull joint seems very well engineered.

All this makes for a very tough boat, but I do wish mine was a bit lighter. From all reports when the boat is made lighter it really transforms it into a machine – both the cold molded one in Maine and the new ones in Sweden are much lighter – it means the boat can have more keel and a taller rig while staying lighter – good for racing. For cruising I think you will be very happy with the robust hull and deck!

Sorry for the long reply, but I wanted to cover all the bases. Earlier in the summer I had considered selling mine, but after I have sailed it for the last few months I realize it’s a very cool boat – it looks amazing, draws lots of compliments, goes fast and it very easy to sail. Like I said in my last message, you can leave the wheel for minutes on end while doing 7 knots and she just sails herself.

Mine is now out of the water up in Vermont, but you are welcome to come look at it if you want to get a feel for the boat in person. I’m starting a whole bunch of work on it – new cabin sole and reworking the cockpit controls. I’m putting in a really nice traveler and reworking the halyard control system.

Slow.

[Hike, Bitches!]

That boat won the Annapolis - Bermuda Race. Good reacher.
I recently bought a BB 10 meter but haven't sailed it yet. It's to be launched next week and will live on the Magothy. Similar but smaller boat than the Swede 55. Ah, new boats.

sorry for the hijack...hyderally, how has this boat been for you? It used to be sailed in our club so I am interested in if you have given it a good home.
[/hijack]
Mmmm...swede 55's

[Mikem]

Hi Mike, good questions…The Swede is a funny boat, but one of the big pluses is that it has huge amounts of storage space. You need to think of it as having the interior space of a classic 38 foot boat but with the storage of a 50ft boat.– it has a nice V-birth, decent head, salon with nice settees and two fold out bunks that are very wide, a good sized galley and nav table and the pilot berth behind that. It’s fairly narrow, so there isn’t tons of space to move around but for a couple of folks it’s fine. The foldout table is comfortable and the galley has lots of room to cook.

The aft cabin is pretty strange. I suppose it works well if you need extra room for occasional guests, but I wouldn’t really want to spend much time sleeping back there – maybe I’m just a pansy. It is great for storage though, and pretty large. It also means that you can sit in comfort and work on the steering gear if needed. It’s easy to install autopilots etc, without standing on your head. If you decided to not use the aft cabin it would be great for extra storage of all sails, suba gear, bikes, etc etc.

Behind the aft cabin is a huge lazerette. It’s large enough that you can lie down in it. It’s large enough to fit a folded up dinghy, engine, fenders, lines, spare anchor, more sails, or what ever other crap you have.

The boat also has a pretty large anchor locker. It’s plenty large enough for two anchors, and line, perhaps a spare sail or two etc. I can fit in it just fine sitting down…Like I said, tons of storage space all around.

My boat has an added 125ltr bladder fresh water tank under the V-birth. I haven’t used it yet, but that and the 20 gallon tank under the pilot berth should be plenty of water. I know that some have also built water tanks into the bilge of the boat – it’s very deep. If you wanted to you could easily add more tanks under the aft cabin. I’m guessing you could fit another 30 gallons of tanks below the floor boards. You need to remember that the engine is pretty small – my boat still has the original 22hp Volvo which uses very little fuel. I would think that you wouldn’t need anymore than 50 gallons of fuel to go anywhere. My engine uses around ½ a gallon per hour at 6.5 knots. That’s 100 hours of running time at 6.5 knots which is 650 miles – more motoring than I would want to do. She’s also a fast boat under sail, especially down wind. When most cruisers would be motoring in 8 knots of breeze downwind you would be sailing at 6 knots or so.

As for construction the boat seems pretty solid. The hull is solid glass – no core, and when I cut out a hole for a spedo it was 1” thick! That’s pretty serious. It also looked well constructed – lots of glass and not excess resin. Mine’s 30 years old and all the floors etc show no signs of problems. Because the hull is solid glass it seems like you do get some flex (oil canning) that can be fixed with stringers glassed it. I have heard that the front v-birth can get broken loose from the hull, but mine hasn’t had that problem. I would assume that the cabin sole is original in mine and it’s starting to delaminate. This winter I will be replacing the whole thing. 30 years isn’t bad for the original though. The bulkheads and everything else seem solid with no issues.

The boat does have a cored deck, so you need to watch for wet balsa. Mine’s pretty dry so I’m not worried, but it could be an issue on other boats. The stanchions go through solid glass which is good, and the hull joint seems very well engineered.

All this makes for a very tough boat, but I do wish mine was a bit lighter. From all reports when the boat is made lighter it really transforms it into a machine – both the cold molded one in Maine and the new ones in Sweden are much lighter – it means the boat can have more keel and a taller rig while staying lighter – good for racing. For cruising I think you will be very happy with the robust hull and deck!

Sorry for the long reply, but I wanted to cover all the bases. Earlier in the summer I had considered selling mine, but after I have sailed it for the last few months I realize it’s a very cool boat – it looks amazing, draws lots of compliments, goes fast and it very easy to sail. Like I said in my last message, you can leave the wheel for minutes on end while doing 7 knots and she just sails herself.

Mine is now out of the water up in Vermont, but you are welcome to come look at it if you want to get a feel for the boat in person. I’m starting a whole bunch of work on it – new cabin sole and reworking the cockpit controls. I’m putting in a really nice traveler and reworking the halyard control system.

Slow.

Hi (not so) Slowboat

Many thanks for the very comprehensive reply, from what you say it looks like the Swede 55 is one of sailing's long lost and best kept secrets, it's a wonder they stopped making them, although I guess this has more to do with racing considerations than any overall limitations.

I hope you'll keep us all up to date with your revamp of the cabin sole and any other work you deem necessary, it will be helpful for any future or present owners.

Must admit at this point that I'm probably going to go for something wider, with more overall space for long distance cruising, I'm kinda tall and bulky so I like to have room to move around inside without squeezing past furniture, people etc, so the long thin concept may not be to my liking.

Thanks so much much for the offer of a look, if I were'nt in Asia I would definitely pay you a visit, but for now that's a little difficult. In the meantime, I'd really appreciate a few photos of your boat just to help with my decision making (one way or the other), internals are of most interest as from your description, above decks is not a matter of any real concern. You can email me on masonmjs@runbox.com

Thanks again Slow
Mike

[Pehrst]

Gorgeous boats! I didn't know it when I took this photo but it seems it is a Swede 55, after all I did take this photo in Stockholm.

The intetresting thing about that photo is that the building in the background is a home for the elderly, in the past foreign visistors thought it was the the Royal Castle and sent salvo in respect towards the building only to learn that the actual royal castle is 3 miles further.

[seadog14]

[quote name='toledosailor' date='Sep 27 2006, 10:19 PM' post='885051']
Does anyone know if there is a smaller version of the Swede made? Just seems like a great boat to put a large roach main and masthead kites!

Check out the Cayanne 41 or slightly different Cayanne 12.5. long and narrow, reaches like a bitch, long sloping reverse transom with 2 X 6' pipe berths side by side. fun boat.

They have several in Canada/Lk Erie , and at least one by name of GEORGE in detroit area, one named ARRIBA on the Lake Michigan side...think they rate 84 or 87 phrf. doesn't perform very well under IRC rating. check teh hisotry of PH-Mac or Chicago-Mac, or Queens Cup results.

[redboat]

Enjoyable thread.

Have always been fascinated by the boat but then the thought of paying any fee based on boat length put me off and I stopped there.


Must be tough to rate the boat fairly under any rating scheme. Any number that would be fair for typical windward/leeward events would be shattered by the boat in any reaching/pure waterline conditions.

[Slowboat]

Redboat, you are totally correct...it's hard to rate, and it pains me to pay by the foot for a boat that is really a long 38 footer. Hell, it's only 9'6" wide - a good 3 feet narrower than most modern boats, but the boat yard doesn't like to look at it that way.

It is also hard to rate - I have been going back and forth with the rating board, and I don't know if we will ever get it right. If you rate it for reaching conditions I will never be able to compete in the light wind short coarse W/L that we do most of the year. In the one distance race I did it blew pretty good and wasn't dead down wind. Sure enough we did ok, and they dropped my rating by 8 seconds...crap if you ask me, but what am I going to do about it. I had an 8 second credit for a bow tacked asym, but they decided since it was 5'6" in front of the forestay it shouldn't count...Oh well, we will see what happens next year.

[sam_crocker]

It is also hard to rate - I have been going back and forth with the rating board, and I don't know if we will ever get it right. If you rate it for reaching conditions I will never be able to compete in the light wind short coarse W/L that we do most of the year. In the one distance race I did it blew pretty good and wasn't dead down wind. Sure enough we did ok, and they dropped my rating by 8 seconds...crap if you ask me, but what am I going to do about it. I had an 8 second credit for a bow tacked asym, but they decided since it was 5'6" in front of the forestay it shouldn't count...Oh well, we will see what happens next year.

FYI according to USSailing, the base handicaps of Swede 55s range anywhere from 55 to 96 with an "average" of 75. We raced against one that rated about 72 and she had trouble in the windward leewards with that rating, but she wasn't sailing with a great inventory either (old crappy cruising chute, no pole).

Ya gotta get that boat on an ocean race, she'll clean up.

[seadog14]

[quote name='Slowboat' date='Nov 3 2007, 11:59 AM' post='1408704']
Redboat, you are totally correct...it's hard to rate, and it pains me to pay by the foot for a boat that is really a long 38 footer. Hell, it's only 9'6" wide - a good 3 feet narrower than most modern boats, but the boat yard doesn't like to look at it that way.

It is also hard to rate - I have been going back and forth with the rating board, and I don't know if we will ever get it right. If you rate it for reaching conditions I will never be able to compete in the light wind short coarse W/L that we do most of the year. In the one distance race I did it blew pretty good and wasn't dead down wind. Sure enough we did ok, and they dropped my rating by 8 seconds...crap if you ask me, but what am I going to do about it. I had an 8 second credit for a bow tacked asym, but they decided since it was 5'6" in front of the forestay it shouldn't count...Oh well, we will see what happens next year.

Slow boat... she's beautiful, and we don't buy boats because we're getting a deal on storage, or because of the slip fees, we buy em because we love to sail 'em. Congratulations on that SWEDE... Looks like a lot of boat for the money.
Let the romance begin!

[Beau.Vrolyk]

SA gang, last summer I came really close to buying a Spirt 46, which is a British boat that is quite similar to the Swede above the water with a fin and spade underbody. It is also a LOT lighter, and due to the flat bilges a lot smaller inside. I have been enamored of these boats, except when going up wind. Sure they point, they point like a tourist. But, because they're so narrow they don't carry much sail area. One of the earlier posts also pointed out that they go over the first wave and then under the next two. The was certainly my experience with 12-meter and 8-meter boats, and I'd be interested in hearing what folks have to say about the Swede.

My question to the Swede owners is about durability and upwind sailing in what most folks think is really heavy air. Living in San Francisco I end up sailing all summer in wind well above 20 knots and frequently above 30. The shape of the bay means that most of the "in the Bay" races look a lot like windward-leeward, while the "outside" races are a beat out of the bay and then a fair amount of tight and broad reaching. As a result, I'd be very interested in the following:

1) Will the Swede55 breakup or need reinforcing if sailed HARD upwind on SF Bay in heavy chop year after year?
2) What's the boat like on a run in 35knots of wind - that's a "normal" occurance in the Bay during the summer. Does it do the Rollie-Pollie? Round up?

Why don't these boats have tillers, as the smaller ones do? Just a thought.... I don't really like wheels unless you're driving a car.

Beau

[puddin]

I gotta chime in on this topic (mostly because I allways thought the boats looked cool). Used to see one sailing (racing?) on Friday nights out of Berkeley. I think the guy would single hand the boat and he allways carried his spin with two poles, one on each clew. I guess that simplified gybes.

I saw the same boat (named "Bird") years later in teh DH Farallones race in 99. It blew stinking hard that day and the boat lost it's rig. But mostly I remember seeing the aluminum fishing boat upside down on the cabin as they passed us on teh way out the gate. Looked really odd. I think that boat was lost somewhere off the Washington or Canadian coast a couple of years later.

Allways looked like a fun (probably wet) ride.

I sailed on Bird 2 or three times years ago. Two beercan races and one Saturday afternoon cruise. Twin pole for gybes only. It was just easier for the owner to fly the kite by himself or double handing, but never flew it with twin poles like the quoted post suggests. I guess the hardest it blew when I was on the boat was probably 25...don't remember anything remarkable about the boat gong upwind or down in those conditions, but an interesting boat for sure. If the above is true, too bad it was lost.

[Klok]

Hi all in this topic...just found it, even i have been looking for everything about SWEDE 55 since 4 years.
I use to sail a smaller "look a like" called Lotus 40 (c@milla)... for anybody who have interest there is a webpage : www.lotus40.dk

3 years ago i found one Swede 55 in France - i sailed her, and was addicted - truly in love in this beautifull boat. Short story - we bought it, kept her in France for 1½ year....sailed in the Med and then took her home for a refit by truck to Denmark.
She have now been in danish waters for 1½ season...and the love is even stronger. - We have just got another comming for a refit like our own... pictures of that to come.

I´l be looking here and have a strong interest in maybe gather other owners in a kind of register - or maybe gather some general informations on a homepage. I will post it here when it´s ready.

Meanwhile...ask if you wanna know - anything..;-).

Klok

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[Grinder]

great pics,
Thanks

[midfleet]

Klok -

What hull # is that? F'n gorgeous!

Definitely post pics of the other refit. I used to sail on one & am hooked on the boats. Love seeing pics!

[Klok]

great pics,
Thanks

;-) yw.... glad you like them

[Klok]

Klok -

What hull # is that? F'n gorgeous!

Definitely post pics of the other refit. I used to sail on one & am hooked on the boats. Love seeing pics!

I belive it´s hull no. 23 former AS1 (when she was in France) and now renamed to Calypso which seems to be her original name.
WHich one did you sail.?? And thx for the nice words...

[Klok]

Klok -

What hull # is that? F'n gorgeous!

Definitely post pics of the other refit. I used to sail on one & am hooked on the boats. Love seeing pics!

We are not started on refitting the other yet, but it will be done this winter - they are both on the hard right now hmmm but i have a picture from just before they got up...

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[midfleet]

I belive it´s hull no. 23 former AS1 (when she was in France) and now renamed to Calypso which seems to be her original name.
WHich one did you sail.?? And thx for the nice words...

I sailed & raced on Hull #1 Corsair on the Great Lakes. She's in Mentor, Ohio, US

[Zebra]

I sailed & raced on Hull #1 Corsair on the Great Lakes. She's in Mentor, Ohio, US

Midfleet,

this must have been Swede 55 no. 10 or 11, built and launched probably 1976/77, then owned by Davis Jones or Chris Duer, right?

Any remarkable race results on Lake Michigan?

There are one or two 55‘s in the southern part of lake Michigan, true?

Cheers, Zebra

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[Zebra]

I belive it´s hull no. 23 former AS1 (when she was in France) and now renamed to Calypso which seems to be her original name.
WHich one did you sail.?? And thx for the nice words...

Klok,

hmmm, beautiful. I assume "Calypso" ex "As" (what a name) is hull number 14, built probably in 1977, launched perhaps in 1977 for a swedish owner who kept her in the mediterranean pretty soon. The Knud H. Reimers design, by the way, dates from July 1975 (then the drawings were finally released by Reimers, probably after production of the moulds started at Fisksaetra Varv in Vastervik, eastern seabord of Sweden)

Apparently "Calypso" was sailed extensively by some young and eager french guys (second owners, I assume), repeated trips from southern france to the Caribbean and back (this replying occasional doubts regarding the seaworthyness of the design and construction) under the name "Santé Montpellier". Perhaps I am wrong with the name. Then in the hands of a new owner, she did repeatedly take part in Nioulargue regattas. So you sail a Nioulargue classic already (few people from Denmark do that, very few lucky Danes!)

Next to it, along the jetty, is "Kaniga", no. 24, built and launched in 1978/79 (three german owners, followed now by a new owner), not so much sailed, mostly limited mileage in then baltic. Good luck with the job. Please do not add much weight to the boat (the Swede 55s are already to heavy). Perhaps the new owner likes the idea to remove as much clutter as possible: Capstans, dodgers, sprayhoods etc. pp.who needs that apart from the boating industry?

These boats should be kept like classics, pure as they came out of the yard. Why not just keeping them, maintaining and just sailing?

There were alltogether 27 Swede 55‘s being buil

Skol

Zebra

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