On a chopped sea the new Beneteau Swift Trawler 35 confirms a rather good seaworthiness and enhances the livability of the previous 34.
Trawlers are very specific boats indeed, even the semi-planing ones that we see lately: if you love sleek look, tapered lines and cruising at 50 knots, then just skip this page. But if, on the other hand, you enjoy relaxing on the sea and slowly cruising in peace, they can be a good alternative to a second home to the sea.
Beneteau Swift Trawler 35: let’s get on board
As I get on board the Beneteau Swift Trawler 35, I see much of what the renderings had already hinted. Much has changed over the previous 34, starting with the completely redesigned and enlarged hull which improves stability and, at the same time, is more effective in deflecting sprays on chopped sea. Which is exactly the conditions I find in Port Ginesta, on the Barcelona Riviera.
Waiting to get off the dock, I have the opportunity to appreciate the solution adopted for the transom, which opens entirely, and the two benches which tilt to leave the whole cockpit clear: anglers will surely appreciate. The fly overhang is run along its perimeter by an awning which can completely close the cockpit, for cruising in bad weather.
The cockpit features several handrails on the ceiling, while a curtain can separate the dinette from the galley / helm station, in order to use the space as a third cabin. The owner and two guests will instead find a warm welcome in the two cabins, which share a single, large head. I also like the cabin door split in two sections. The ambiance is very bright, thanks to the side windows which replace the portholes of the previous model and give also a modern touch to the look of Swift Trawler 35.
Back onto the deck, I also appreciate the side door beside the piloting station, and the tilting dashboard which grants access to the wiring. On the other hand, I am not convinced by the massive fiberglass element that protects the starboard passageway to stern. Everything as expected as on the flybridge, with a large clear area to aft. Only thing missing, a grill cabinet.
Beneteau Swift Trawler 35: the test
It is time to face the Spanish sea, still with waves and swell for the storms of the previous days, although getting better. There’s the chance to appreciate the good behavior of the new hull, both on the long waves and on the sharp ones created by our wake. I am surprised by the tiny turning radius of the boat, sure due to the single-motor. This latter solution will not please many boaters, but it seems there is no alternative. On the other hand, however, the single Cummins QSB6 pushes the Beneteau Swift Trawler 35 up to nearly 20 knots and burns only 76 liters of diesel per hour.
But for sure it’s not the performance what you have to look for in this boat. So I test a minimum planing speed of 10 knots and 2000 rpm, with consumption dropping to 27 liters / hour. Down again to displacement, 8 knots, and you need just 11 l / h. At these pace, you can forgive a rather hard rudder and a hint of nose-up while getting to plane. Among the many pluses, the fact that no sprays reach the bow sun bed, nor the cockpit, and the excellent inside soundproofing, as the sound-meter data clearly point out. Last note: be careful if you cut the throttle too suddenly as some water floods the cockpit. Just do it slowly, as the whole design of the boat suggests.
The numbers of Beneteau Swift Trawler 35
- Length overall 11.29 m (37 ft)
- Length LH 10.81 m (35ft 6in)
- Beam 3.96 m (12 ft)
- Draft 1.17 m (3ft 10in)
- Displacement 8252 Kg
- Engine 1xCummins 425 HP
- Fuel reserve 800 l (211 US gal)
- Fresh water reserve 2×150 l (79 US gal)
- Passengers 8/10
- CE design category B/C
Performance
- rpm knots mph lph nm/l range* dB
- 600 3,5 4,0 1,3 2,69 1723 61
- 1000 5,6 6,4 3,4 1,65 1054 64
- 1500 7,8 9,0 11 0,71 454 67
- 2000 9,3 10,7 27 0,34 220 72
- 2500 13,0 5,0 4 9 0,27 170 75
- 3000 19,5 22,4 76 0,26 164 78
*(20% reserve)
Test conditions
- Moderate sea, clean hull, fuel 560 l (147 US gal), water 120 l (31 US gal), 6 passengers
Indicative price (VAT not included)
- With Cummins QSB6 425 HP € 239700
Beneteau Swift Trawler 35: comfort as a priority
Always safe and comfortable, whatever the weather conditions. So on the Beneteau Swift Trawler 35 the aft cockpit (on the same level and directly connection to the swim platform) is almost completely protected from the fly overhang that also extends over the starboard passageway (the only one) to ensure a comfortable way to the bow, Possibly also using the side door by the helm station. To bow, the usual solarium will compete with the wide spaces of the flybridge, which beside a dashboard saves all the space for a dinette transformable into a solarium, with a totally clear area to stern.
The interiors feature a traditional layout. In the salon, the dinette is right at the entrance, while the galley cabinet faces the dashboard: in case of emergency, table and sofas can turn into a double bed and a curtain is also to be separated from the wheelhouse. Two cabins take the lower deck: the master to bow and the guest with bunk beds, to port. There’s only one head, with separate shower cubicle.
Great attention went to navigation range thanks to the large water and diesel tanks, so that Beneteau Swift Trawler 35 honors the fame of long-range boat that has decreed the success of the previous model.
Read our test of Beneteau Swift Trawler 30
