Swan 36

Swan 36 GBR23806 Finola at the 2013 Swan Europeans in Cowes (GBR) held by the Royal Yacht Squadron

Unlike most of the later Swan models, the 36 wasn’t designed solely for Nautor as it had already been introduced before as a wooden constructed full keel Gaia Class version bearing the same S&S design number 1710.[4][5] Both of the 1710 designs have the same lines plan but the developed version which was to become Swan 36 had two major improvements; the fin keel and the GRP hull structure which were both completely new features in keelboat design and thus offered major advantage over competition. The design #1710 is based on S&S design #1478 Hestia which also has an identical lines plan but different LOA.[6] Because of these two clear and completely new advantages, the timing became a crucial factor for Nautor as in 1967 the fin keel with a separate rudder was rapidly becoming a standard in race boat designs and the new GRP structure became a tempting alternative for the boat yards all over the world. Nautor used this opportunity very effectively and was able to launch these fin keeled and well-built large GRP hulls well before any of the competitors could react to the situation. This new construction material provided the means for faster manufacturing and lower production costs, but also brought in fair amount of risks as GRP was a relatively unknown material at the time. Advice on the dimensioning was sought in co-operation with Lloyd's Registers Åke Lindqvist, who was the Lloyd's principal surveyor in Finland at that time. He took an active interest in the development of this new construction material and used to accompany Rod Stephens on his monthly inspection trips to Nautor. The two ran a friendly competition about who could find more design faults or things to improve. The result was that things fairly quickly got right with respect to proper seagoing layouts, scantlings and the right working methods. As far as the credibility of the fin keel structure was concerned, in the same year S&S had already finished one of their most remarkable racing designs, the 1967 America's Cup winner Intrepid featuring a fin keel and a separate rudder[7] which proved that this new design feature can win races. Together with the S&S design badge, these technical innovations made Swan 36 an interesting choice for the buyers even before its launch. An example of this rapidly growing interest can be found in October 1967 Yachtsman magazine which describes Swan 36 a "fearsome racing machine" which is quite remarkable considering her actual breakthrough to the racing success in the 1968 Cowes Week was almost a full year away. It has taken a considerably long time for the yard to produce anything this radical agin but he brand new ClubSwan 50 has again received similar reviews by the experts before it has even been raced yet.[8] Swan 36 is still a very competitive yacht and in ideal conditions it can still win races even against much bigger and newer yachts.[9] Swan 36 was also sold in the US under the name Palmer Johnson: PJ 36. The Swan 36 series is unique in the Swan line, since the builders in the 60s thought it would be crazy to first build a whole boat (the plug for the mould) and then scrap it once the mould was done, so they decided to make the plug in the finest mahogany. This plug was then to become the hull nr 000 and was eventually completed as a real yacht and it is still sailing (in 2020) as the world's only wooden Swan and currently under the name of Catharina II. [10][11]

According to the original business idea of Pekka Koskenkylä, the Swan 36 had to be not only a winner, but its interior also had to be different and more luxurious than any of the earlier and existing S&S #1710 designs. Because of this and also because of regional marketing reasons a famous Swedish naval architect Olle Enderlein was hired to assist Sparkman & Stephens in designing the interior to Swan 36. The result was something very different with wide open spaces and completely non fiberglass atmosphere. This interior design allowed the sleeping capacity to be increased from six to seven which was one more than its predecessors had to offer. This was achieved by putting a wide convertible U-Shaped settee to the port side of the saloon. With the table in raised position it gave comfortable area for six persons to eat and with the table in lowered position it converted into a large double bed while leaving the aisle free for people to walk back and forth. With the lifting back rest on the settee the mid ships sleeping capacity was raised to three. The interior design also featured an unusually large galley which occupied most of the starboard side of the saloon.[14] This saloon arrangement had its clear advantages while in port but some sailors thought it was not entirely practical while under sail and because of this customer feedback the interior was largely re-designed to the succeeding model Swan 37. In 2019 Nautor introduced a new radical 36 footer designed by Juan Kouyoumdjian.[15]