Watch: Beneteau Swift Trawler 54 Sea Trial – £1.4M cruiser is the ultimate home

Alex Smith Alex Smith

Alex Smith gets behind the wheel of a boat so new, we couldn't even obtain footage of her underway from Beneteau!

We first saw renderings of Beneteau’s all-new Swift Trawler 54 back in April of this year and were immediately impressed. Now Alex Smith has has an exclusive chance to get onboard and take a tour and full test of the model built to replace the old ST52 and plug the gap between the current ST48 and Grand Trawler 62.

Designed by Andreani Design with naval architecture by Dixon Yacht Design, it features a new ‘Fusion Hull’ that is said to strike an even better balance between fuel efficiency and sea-keeping as well as offering more space.

Stylistically, the most obvious feature of the ST54 is the extensive glazing. Like the Grand Trawler 62 it features a tall, reverse angled windscreen that wraps around the front corners and is supported by unusually slender mullions.

The glazing extends right down both sides and for the first time on a Swift Trawler is repeated in the transom. The result should be an exceptionally light and airy wheelhouse with uninterrupted views out in every direction.

Doors on both sides of the wheelhouse suggest it’s a symmetrical design with full walkaround decks rather than an offset wheelhouse with a wider side deck on the starboard side, as used on the smaller models. Deep bulwarks topped by stainless-steel grab rails should make it exceptionally safe and easy to move around, while side gates either side of the cockpit give quick access to the pontoon.

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Beneteau’s Swift Trawlers have always had plenty of cruising practicality to them and the new 54 does a great job of revoicing that. True, unless you’re a longstanding Swift Trawler advocate, you couldn’t say the new boat is thrilling to look at.

You might also suggest that the engine room steals more space from the lower deck accommodation than is absolutely necessary. And, notwithstanding the flexibility that the options list brings, you might even contend that the test boat’s hinged aft deck limits, rather than augments, the flexibility of the living space.

But this is a seriously capable cruising machine that marries long distance comfort, generous outdoor spaces and authentic, intimate home-style comforts with all kinds of seamanship simplicity and a range of subtle innovations that builds on a blueprint that’s been exhaustively finessed over more than two decades.

If you’re looking for an unpretentious and well-priced cruising boat that gets all the big stuff right,this is about as convincing as it gets.

Beneteau Swift Trawler 54 specifications

LOA: 56ft 2in (17.13m)
Beam: 16ft 4in (4.98m)
Engines: 2 x Cummins QSB 6.7 550s
Top speed: 19 knots
Price: from £1,125,000 ex VAT

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