1981 Nautor Swan Sloop
1981 Nautor Swan 42 | Nitido
Nitido is a classic 1981 Nautor Swan 42, a beautifully designed center cockpit sloop that showcases the elegance, performance, and craftsmanship that have made Swan one of the most respected names in sailing. Combining offshore capability with a warm and comfortable layout, this yacht is an outstanding choice for sailors who value both pedigree and practicality.
At approximately 42 feet overall, she features a fiberglass displacement hull with fin keel, offering excellent stability, strong sailing characteristics, and the confidence to cruise near or far. Auxiliary power is provided by a dependable Yanmar diesel engine, making her well suited for both passagemaking and leisurely coastal cruising.
Below deck, Nitido offers two cabins and two heads, creating a comfortable and functional interior for owners and guests. Her center cockpit configuration provides added security underway and contributes to the spacious, private feel below.
Additional features include:
- Electric windlass
- Mainsail
- 2 genoas
- 2 spinnakers
- 1 storm sail
- 10' Zodiac tender (2024)
- Outboard motor
Well maintained and built to the standards that define the Swan name, Nitido is a compelling opportunity for buyers seeking a classic performance cruiser with timeless appeal.
Additional Information
The Company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.
1982 Nautor Swan Swan 51
Agent: David Morris 310-266-6856 text or leave a message.
1982 NAUTOR SWAN 51 High-Performance Bluewater Cruiser · Swan World Cup Winning Design · Proven in Multiple Cruise Adventures · Extensive Cruising Equipment Package
THE VESSEL The Nautor Swan 51 is one of the most respected bluewater cruising and racing sailboat designs ever built. A Swan World Cup winning model with an undeniable racing pedigree, the Swan 51s are equally at home on extended offshore passages as she is hosting family and friends on a day sail, at the dock or on anchor. Designed by the legendary Germán Frers and built by Finland's Nautor Swan, widely considered the finest production sailboat builder in the world, this vessel represents a rare opportunity to own a leading model of the Swan line. This vessel has circumnavigated and proven herself in numerous adventures in the Pacific, Mexico and Hawaii, most of them single or double-handed. All systems are functional and she continues to sail with impressive speed and ease. She has been maintained lovingly by a lifelong mariner and received recent major maintenance programs including a 2025 full hull refit completed with surface fairing, epoxy barrier and antifouling paint, 2020 rig inspection, 2026 generator heat exchanger reconditioning, 2025 full house heater reconditioning, and 2024 all house and engine batteries replaced. Sail inventory includes new genoa in 2023, main, staysail, storm jib and main trysail, delivery genoa, and 1 symetrical and 2 asymetrical spinakers, each with turtle collars for ease of single/double handed sailing. She requires a modest cosmetic investment in new deck paint and replacement of several teak deck strips that the owner is in the process of repairing. An extensive cruising package includes a very large inventory of equipment, spares and tools (see inventory below) enables a cruiser to begin their adventures without ancillary costs. This boat is attractively priced to enable the next owner to enjoy the Swan platform and seek new adventures.
KEY FEATURES Easy to sail and very comfortable offshore, this Swan 51 is as relevant today as she was when she first left the Nautor yard. Many of her cruises have been single-handed and the present husband and wife owners regularly sail double-handed including flying spinakers. The interior space is huge and the wood is beautiful. She is a bluewater passage vessel that is great not just for extended cruising, but also a fantastic day sailing vessel. Its large interior layout makes this Swan 51 a serious liveaboard candidate or a spacious place to relax with your crew after a day on the water. The extensive cruise package brings extra sails, rigging hardware, lines, spares and tools of over $100,000 in value.
MECHANICAL Propulsion is provided by a Perkins M90 90 HP diesel engine, one of the most trusted and reliable marine diesels ever produced. Perkins diesels are legendary in the marine world for their simplicity, durability, and ease of maintenance. This engine has been well maintained throughout its life and starts instantly without pre-heat.
RECENT MAINTENANCE * Last haul out: October 2025, cost $20,000: full hull strip, 2 coats epoxy, surface fairing, 2 coats anti-fouling plus a 3rd at waterline.
* Last survey: 2020 * Engine: Perkins M90, 90 HP, 4,400 hours, well maintained, instant start * New Raritan forward head and controller — spring 2025
* Parts and extras: Comes with a well-rounded sail inventory, extra lines, and an extensive inventory of spare parts (see detail below)
ACCOMMODATIONS & LAYOUT
The Swan 51 offers generous and well-thought-out accommodations for extended cruising and liveaboard use. Salon The main salon is a very large, open, single-level living and dining space featuring a full galley, large port-side straight couch, large starboard-side U-shape couch surrounds a beautiful high-gloss teakwood dining table, and a dedicated navigation station. It is bright, comfortable, and well-suited for both passage-making and entertaining at anchor or at the dock.
Galley * Double refrigerators with electric and engine driven compressors * Large double sink
* Gimbal oven with gas stovetop
* Microwave
* Large countertops with ample storage and drawers throughout
* PowerSurvivor Fresh water maker (6.7 gal/hr) * Automatic fresh water pressure pump * Fresh and salt water manual pumps * Hot water heater Navigation Station
* B&G Hercules electronics suite
* Furuno radar and chartplotter
* Simrad AP 28 Autopilot
* Depth sounder Forward Accommodations
* Two bunks to port * Separate two-bunk cabin to starboard
* Large forward head with new Raritan electric head and modern controller switch
Aft Master Cabin
* Large full-beam aft master cabin
* Master berth and separate mates berth
* Full private head with original Baby Blake hand-pump head retained for offshore reliability.
A note on the heads: The forward head has been upgraded to a modern Raritan electric unit with a contemporary controller for everyday comfort and ease of use. The aft head retains the original Baby Blake manual pump head — a deliberate choice because the Baby Blake is legendary among offshore sailors for its bulletproof mechanical simplicity. Should an electric head ever fail at sea, the Baby Blake requires no electricity, no electronics, and no special tools — just a hand pump.
COCKPIT & DECK The large exterior sailing cockpit offers excellent visibility in all directions and is one of the finest features of the Swan 51. It is a spacious, comfortable, and well-protected space that works equally well for focused offshore sailing, relaxed daysailing, and entertaining family and friends at anchor or at the dock. The teak decks throughout are a hallmark of the Swan build quality.
EXTENSIVE CRUISING PACKAGE
Sail Inventory * Genoa, new in 2023 * Staysail * Main * Main storm trisail * Symetrical spinnaker w/turtle collar * Two asymetrical spinakers, each with turtle collars * #2 jib * Storm jib * Delivery genoa tri-radial
* Aries wind vane
* Spinaker pole * Whisker pole * Reaching Strut * Misc. sheets and lines (1 dozen) * Marlinspike seamanship bag, line repair materials and tools * Large kit of marine hardware spares, incl. shackles, cars, pole deck mounts, cabling, etc. * Harken bosun’s chair * Topclimber solo mast assent rigging Sail Handling * 6 sheets each with large tylaska shackles * 9 misc sheets * 3 winch handles * Foresail tack protector * Stainless blocks, tylaska shakles, rail cars (30 pcs) * Parachute Droge, size 96” * Complete nautical flag set
* 8 man Avon liferaft * Emergency tiller * Orion Electronic SOS Beacon Locator Kid * SWITLIK man Overboard Module and certification June 2024 * First Aid kit (large, OSHA and ANSI Class A) * Full length jack lines (qty 2) * Inflatable life vests (qty 4) * Foul weather gear (top and bottom) (qty 2) * Foul weather boots * Misc. personal safety equipment * CO alarm *Fire alarm
* Bimini shade for at anchor * Teak cockpit table (seats 4) * Cockpit seating cushions (Qty 6) * Whole boat forced air heater, reconditioned in 2025 (not reinstalled due to warm weather sailing only but it is ready to go) * Boat linens & pillows for all berths * Orick vacuum cleaner
Deck Work
* Full length boat covers by Lohmann Sails, Salt Spring Island BC * Boat scrub brushes (2) * Fresh drinking water fill hose Maintenance
* Extensive sets of tools for (3 full toolbags, socket set) * Spare motor starters for main engine and generator * Spare alternator * Spare water pump * Spare engine intake manifold * Milwaukee right angle cordless drill, rechargable * Milwaukee heavy duty M18 lithium work light, rechargable * Autopilot chain spare * XL extra heavy duty bolt cutters * 5 boxes and 3 flats of electrical tools, spare parts, bulbs, cables to service all items on vessel * 7 boxes and 2 trays of extensive range of spares and tools to service all plumbing on vessel * Replacement filters for all boat systems SPECIFICATIONS & EQUIPMENT HIGHLIGHTS TANKAGE
* Fuel: 100 gallons (two tanks) * Water: 200 gallons (multiple integrated hull tanks)
* Holding: approx. 20 gallons HULL & BUILD QUALITY
* Hand-laid fiberglass hull, thick and rigid construction * Shallow bilge, solid keel — optimized for offshore stability and performance
* Integrated hull water tank system — preserves full structural integrity of hull ribs
* Teak decks, some teak planks are in need of repair
* Original Swan craftsmanship
* Warm teak and holly interior joinery throughout
PERFORMANCE & DESIGN
* Swan World Cup winning design * Designed by Germán Frers — one of sailing's most celebrated naval architects
* Built by Nautor Swan, Finland — widely regarded as the world's finest production sailboat builder
* High-performance bluewater cruiser with proven racing pedigree – Fast, well-balanced, and easy to sail
* Three-blade folding propeller that folds flush when sailing for minimal drag
ENGINE
* Perkins M90 90 HP diesel known for legendary reliability
* 4,400 hours, well maintained, instant start, no pre-heat required
SAILS & DECK GEAR
* Well-rounded sail inventory included
* Extra lines included * Extensive spare parts inventory included
PERFORMANCE & SAILING
The Swan 51 design is a proven high-performance bluewater cruiser with a distinguished racing record for the brand, including the Swan World Cup. The Swan 51 is known throughout the sailing community for being fast, well-balanced, and easy to sail — a rare combination that makes her equally suited to short-handed offshore passages and fully-crewed racing. Her folding three-blade propeller retracts cleanly when sailing, reducing drag to an absolute minimum and delivering performance closer to a dedicated racing yacht than a typical cruising sailboat.
BUILD QUALITY & CONSTRUCTION
Nautor Swan built the Swan 51 using a robust, hand-laid fiberglass hull with a solid keel construction and deep bilge design optimized for offshore stability and performance. The hull laminate is thick, rigid, and exceptionally well engineered, built to handle sustained bluewater passage-making in demanding conditions. The hull form is designed for a combination of upwind efficiency and downwind stability, making her fast, balanced, and confidence-inspiring in all points of sail. The teak decks are a hallmark of Swan craftsmanship — laid with care and precision, they provide both beauty and excellent non-slip footing underway. Below decks, the interior joinery is finished in the warm, traditional teak and holly that Swan is famous for, crafted to a standard that simply cannot be found in modern production boats. Storage throughout the vessel is thoughtfully and smartly designed, making excellent use of every cubic foot of the hull. A particularly noteworthy design feature of this vessel is the integrated water tank system. Rather than cutting through hull ribs to install a single large tank which would compromise the structural integrity of the hull, the designer placed multiple water tanks between the hull ribs and connected them together. This preserves the full stiffness and integrity of the hull while providing 200 gallons of water capacity. It is a uniquely elegant engineering solution that speaks directly to the Swan philosophy of building boats right, not just building them fast.
DESIGNER & BUILDER HERITAGE
Germán Frers is one of the most celebrated naval architects in sailing history. Born in Argentina and trained under his father, also a distinguished yacht designer, Frers built his international reputation designing grand prix ocean racers and high-performance cruising yachts for some of the world's most prestigious builders. His designs are known for their perfect balance of speed, seakeeping, and comfort — blending racing performance with blue-water capability in a way few designers have matched. The Swan 51 is widely regarded as one of his most successful and enduring designs. Nautor Swan was founded in 1966 in Pietarsaari, Finland, by Pekka Koskenkyla. From the very beginning, the company set out to build the finest offshore sailing yachts in the world — and by most measures, they succeeded. Swan yachts are hand-built to exacting standards, using the highest quality materials, and are renowned throughout the sailing world for their structural integrity, fit and finish, and long-term durability. Decades after they left the yard, Swan hulls remain among the most sought-after vessels on the brokerage market, a testament to the quality of their construction.
1982 NAUTOR SWAN 51 High-Performance Bluewater Cruiser · Swan World Cup Winning Design · Proven in Multiple Cruise Adventures · Extensive Cruising Equipment Package
THE VESSEL The Nautor Swan 51 is one of the most respected bluewater cruising and racing sailboat designs ever built. A Swan World Cup winning model with an undeniable racing pedigree, the Swan 51s are equally at home on extended offshore passages as she is hosting family and friends on a day sail, at the dock or on anchor. Designed by the legendary Germán Frers and built by Finland's Nautor Swan, widely considered the finest production sailboat builder in the world, this vessel represents a rare opportunity to own a leading model of the Swan line. This vessel has circumnavigated and proven herself in numerous adventures in the Pacific, Mexico and Hawaii, most of them single or double-handed. All systems are functional and she continues to sail with impressive speed and ease. She has been maintained lovingly by a lifelong mariner and received recent major maintenance programs including a 2025 full hull refit completed with surface fairing, epoxy barrier and antifouling paint, 2020 rig inspection, 2026 generator heat exchanger reconditioning, 2025 full house heater reconditioning, and 2024 all house and engine batteries replaced. Sail inventory includes new genoa in 2023, main, staysail, storm jib and main trysail, delivery genoa, and 1 symetrical and 2 asymetrical spinakers, each with turtle collars for ease of single/double handed sailing. She requires a modest cosmetic investment in new deck paint and replacement of several teak deck strips that the owner is in the process of repairing. An extensive cruising package includes a very large inventory of equipment, spares and tools (see inventory below) enables a cruiser to begin their adventures without ancillary costs. This boat is attractively priced to enable the next owner to enjoy the Swan platform and seek new adventures.
KEY FEATURES Easy to sail and very comfortable offshore, this Swan 51 is as relevant today as she was when she first left the Nautor yard. Many of her cruises have been single-handed and the present husband and wife owners regularly sail double-handed including flying spinakers. The interior space is huge and the wood is beautiful. She is a bluewater passage vessel that is great not just for extended cruising, but also a fantastic day sailing vessel. Its large interior layout makes this Swan 51 a serious liveaboard candidate or a spacious place to relax with your crew after a day on the water. The extensive cruise package brings extra sails, rigging hardware, lines, spares and tools of over $100,000 in value.
MECHANICAL Propulsion is provided by a Perkins M90 90 HP diesel engine, one of the most trusted and reliable marine diesels ever produced. Perkins diesels are legendary in the marine world for their simplicity, durability, and ease of maintenance. This engine has been well maintained throughout its life and starts instantly without pre-heat.
RECENT MAINTENANCE * Last haul out: October 2025, cost $20,000: full hull strip, 2 coats epoxy, surface fairing, 2 coats anti-fouling plus a 3rd at waterline.
* Last survey: 2020 * Engine: Perkins M90, 90 HP, 4,400 hours, well maintained, instant start * New Raritan forward head and controller — spring 2025
* Parts and extras: Comes with a well-rounded sail inventory, extra lines, and an extensive inventory of spare parts (see detail below)
ACCOMMODATIONS & LAYOUT
The Swan 51 offers generous and well-thought-out accommodations for extended cruising and liveaboard use. Salon The main salon is a very large, open, single-level living and dining space featuring a full galley, large port-side straight couch, large starboard-side U-shape couch surrounds a beautiful high-gloss teakwood dining table, and a dedicated navigation station. It is bright, comfortable, and well-suited for both passage-making and entertaining at anchor or at the dock.
Galley * Double refrigerators with electric and engine driven compressors * Large double sink
* Gimbal oven with gas stovetop
* Microwave
* Large countertops with ample storage and drawers throughout
* PowerSurvivor Fresh water maker (6.7 gal/hr) * Automatic fresh water pressure pump * Fresh and salt water manual pumps * Hot water heater Navigation Station
* B&G Hercules electronics suite
* Furuno radar and chartplotter
* Simrad AP 28 Autopilot
* Depth sounder Forward Accommodations
* Two bunks to port * Separate two-bunk cabin to starboard
* Large forward head with new Raritan electric head and modern controller switch
Aft Master Cabin
* Large full-beam aft master cabin
* Master berth and separate mates berth
* Full private head with original Baby Blake hand-pump head retained for offshore reliability.
A note on the heads: The forward head has been upgraded to a modern Raritan electric unit with a contemporary controller for everyday comfort and ease of use. The aft head retains the original Baby Blake manual pump head — a deliberate choice because the Baby Blake is legendary among offshore sailors for its bulletproof mechanical simplicity. Should an electric head ever fail at sea, the Baby Blake requires no electricity, no electronics, and no special tools — just a hand pump.
COCKPIT & DECK The large exterior sailing cockpit offers excellent visibility in all directions and is one of the finest features of the Swan 51. It is a spacious, comfortable, and well-protected space that works equally well for focused offshore sailing, relaxed daysailing, and entertaining family and friends at anchor or at the dock. The teak decks throughout are a hallmark of the Swan build quality.
EXTENSIVE CRUISING PACKAGE
Sail Inventory * Genoa, new in 2023 * Staysail * Main * Main storm trisail * Symetrical spinnaker w/turtle collar * Two asymetrical spinakers, each with turtle collars * #2 jib * Storm jib * Delivery genoa tri-radial
Rigging
* Aries wind vane
* Spinaker pole * Whisker pole * Reaching Strut * Misc. sheets and lines (1 dozen) * Marlinspike seamanship bag, line repair materials and tools * Large kit of marine hardware spares, incl. shackles, cars, pole deck mounts, cabling, etc. * Harken bosun’s chair * Topclimber solo mast assent rigging Sail Handling * 6 sheets each with large tylaska shackles * 9 misc sheets * 3 winch handles * Foresail tack protector * Stainless blocks, tylaska shakles, rail cars (30 pcs) * Parachute Droge, size 96” * Complete nautical flag set
Anchoring
* Hinged plow/CQR anchor, 65 lbs. * Fortress stern anchor * Extra large Fortress folding aluminum anchor * 300 ft anchor rode * 200 ft anchor rode * 2 sections additional anchor chain, 60 feet each * Anchor bridle * Boat hookSafety
* 8 man Avon liferaft * Emergency tiller * Orion Electronic SOS Beacon Locator Kid * SWITLIK man Overboard Module and certification June 2024 * First Aid kit (large, OSHA and ANSI Class A) * Full length jack lines (qty 2) * Inflatable life vests (qty 4) * Foul weather gear (top and bottom) (qty 2) * Foul weather boots * Misc. personal safety equipment * CO alarm *Fire alarm
Living
* Bimini shade for at anchor * Teak cockpit table (seats 4) * Cockpit seating cushions (Qty 6) * Whole boat forced air heater, reconditioned in 2025 (not reinstalled due to warm weather sailing only but it is ready to go) * Boat linens & pillows for all berths * Orick vacuum cleaner
Deck Work
* Full length boat covers by Lohmann Sails, Salt Spring Island BC * Boat scrub brushes (2) * Fresh drinking water fill hose Maintenance
* Extensive sets of tools for (3 full toolbags, socket set) * Spare motor starters for main engine and generator * Spare alternator * Spare water pump * Spare engine intake manifold * Milwaukee right angle cordless drill, rechargable * Milwaukee heavy duty M18 lithium work light, rechargable * Autopilot chain spare * XL extra heavy duty bolt cutters * 5 boxes and 3 flats of electrical tools, spare parts, bulbs, cables to service all items on vessel * 7 boxes and 2 trays of extensive range of spares and tools to service all plumbing on vessel * Replacement filters for all boat systems SPECIFICATIONS & EQUIPMENT HIGHLIGHTS TANKAGE
* Fuel: 100 gallons (two tanks) * Water: 200 gallons (multiple integrated hull tanks)
* Holding: approx. 20 gallons HULL & BUILD QUALITY
* Hand-laid fiberglass hull, thick and rigid construction * Shallow bilge, solid keel — optimized for offshore stability and performance
* Integrated hull water tank system — preserves full structural integrity of hull ribs
* Teak decks, some teak planks are in need of repair
* Original Swan craftsmanship
* Warm teak and holly interior joinery throughout
PERFORMANCE & DESIGN
* Swan World Cup winning design * Designed by Germán Frers — one of sailing's most celebrated naval architects
* Built by Nautor Swan, Finland — widely regarded as the world's finest production sailboat builder
* High-performance bluewater cruiser with proven racing pedigree – Fast, well-balanced, and easy to sail
* Three-blade folding propeller that folds flush when sailing for minimal drag
ENGINE
* Perkins M90 90 HP diesel known for legendary reliability
* 4,400 hours, well maintained, instant start, no pre-heat required
SAILS & DECK GEAR
* Well-rounded sail inventory included
* Extra lines included * Extensive spare parts inventory included
PERFORMANCE & SAILING
The Swan 51 design is a proven high-performance bluewater cruiser with a distinguished racing record for the brand, including the Swan World Cup. The Swan 51 is known throughout the sailing community for being fast, well-balanced, and easy to sail — a rare combination that makes her equally suited to short-handed offshore passages and fully-crewed racing. Her folding three-blade propeller retracts cleanly when sailing, reducing drag to an absolute minimum and delivering performance closer to a dedicated racing yacht than a typical cruising sailboat.
BUILD QUALITY & CONSTRUCTION
Nautor Swan built the Swan 51 using a robust, hand-laid fiberglass hull with a solid keel construction and deep bilge design optimized for offshore stability and performance. The hull laminate is thick, rigid, and exceptionally well engineered, built to handle sustained bluewater passage-making in demanding conditions. The hull form is designed for a combination of upwind efficiency and downwind stability, making her fast, balanced, and confidence-inspiring in all points of sail. The teak decks are a hallmark of Swan craftsmanship — laid with care and precision, they provide both beauty and excellent non-slip footing underway. Below decks, the interior joinery is finished in the warm, traditional teak and holly that Swan is famous for, crafted to a standard that simply cannot be found in modern production boats. Storage throughout the vessel is thoughtfully and smartly designed, making excellent use of every cubic foot of the hull. A particularly noteworthy design feature of this vessel is the integrated water tank system. Rather than cutting through hull ribs to install a single large tank which would compromise the structural integrity of the hull, the designer placed multiple water tanks between the hull ribs and connected them together. This preserves the full stiffness and integrity of the hull while providing 200 gallons of water capacity. It is a uniquely elegant engineering solution that speaks directly to the Swan philosophy of building boats right, not just building them fast.
DESIGNER & BUILDER HERITAGE
Germán Frers is one of the most celebrated naval architects in sailing history. Born in Argentina and trained under his father, also a distinguished yacht designer, Frers built his international reputation designing grand prix ocean racers and high-performance cruising yachts for some of the world's most prestigious builders. His designs are known for their perfect balance of speed, seakeeping, and comfort — blending racing performance with blue-water capability in a way few designers have matched. The Swan 51 is widely regarded as one of his most successful and enduring designs. Nautor Swan was founded in 1966 in Pietarsaari, Finland, by Pekka Koskenkyla. From the very beginning, the company set out to build the finest offshore sailing yachts in the world — and by most measures, they succeeded. Swan yachts are hand-built to exacting standards, using the highest quality materials, and are renowned throughout the sailing world for their structural integrity, fit and finish, and long-term durability. Decades after they left the yard, Swan hulls remain among the most sought-after vessels on the brokerage market, a testament to the quality of their construction.
Disclaimer
The Company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.