Beneteau Swift Trawler 41 Fly Review

In this review, we provide maximum information about the expedition motor yacht Beneteau Swift Trawler 41 Fly. topRik experts will describe their impressions, which were obtained during testing on board and at sea.

Well-known yachting journalists will be given the floor, with links to their articles in the leading yachting media. And traditionally - a lot of photos, quite a few video reviews, schematics, as well as the speed and fuel consumption results from testing.

The high bar of Beneteau boats originates from the stability of shipyard’s traditions: the company has been owned by the family of the founder of this company and brand, famous among sailors all over the world, since its foundation in 1884. Our own SimpleSail fleet, located in our marinas in Montenegro and Croatia, is being replenished with new Beneteau sailboats regularly, and now it's time for the famous motor trawlers from this company.

Beneteau line of 30 to 35 feet cruising trawlers was launched in 2003, with the Swift Trawler 41 Fly being the first yacht in the range to feature an aft galley and three cabins. This motor yacht is equally suitable for those who can not wait to get to their destination quickly, and those who find pleasure in the very way of life on the water - leisurely and as comfortable as possible, but without ostentatious luxury.

Beneteau's Swift Trawler range of composite yachts is very rich: the current seven models have appeared over the past 15 years- this number proves how important this direction is for the company. Hero of our review replaced the outgoing Swift Trawler 44. Slightly inferior to it in length (by 0.45 m), the newcomer at the same time has a slightly larger displacement and lower cost.

Swift Trawler 41 is the only one in the line that has two modifications: Sedan and Fly. The absence of a flybridge on the Sedan version made it possible to place solar panels and skylights on the roof of the superstructure.

Swift Trawler 41 Fly is a typical Beneteau “fast trawler” with special aesthetics inherent in all models of the line. Its main features are spaciousness (despite its smaller size), practicality, sufficient comfort for sea travel and lack of unnecessary luxury at the sea.

Trawler 41 Fly’s average owner should not be seen as an aged person: young people will surely also be attracted to the vessel’s capacity, safety and unpretentiousness of this vessel in maintenance - qualities that are always appreciated regardless of fashion.

Features

Maximum Speed and Fuel Consumption

Price calculator

Review of Beneteau Swift Trawler 41 Fly by topRik Team

topRik team first took a look at this yacht in the confines of the Cannes boat show. We were able to take it out to the sea later, which we will discuss in our review below.

View from the Pier

There’s no love at first sight when it comes to Beneteau’s motorized cruise trawlers, as it happens with the brand's sailboats. After seeing such an unfashionable and intolerantly aggressive profile from the pier, some were disappointed.

That is until they embarked and went to sea (the topRik team looks with irony at one of their experts, who until now was devoted exclusively to sails). Days of driving and life on board - and there was a feeling of eternal attachment to this thoughtful design and functional comfort that bordered on luxury. The topRik team, using the example of Beneteau trawlers, fully realized the truth of the phrase “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”.

Right at the pier you can appreciate the high sides and a decent distance from the main deck to the flybridge. This means that in the lower deck cabins and cockpit you don't have to worry about hitting the top of your head against the roof or run into the door lintel.

But this railing with stainless steel railings, together with the high sides of the yacht, testifies to the concern of the developers for the safety of passengers. We also see from the pier a powerful platform built into the hull and a ladder leading from the cockpit to the flybridge with handrails and fairly wide steps.

And look how spacious the flybridge is! A high-rise bimini doesn't make the boat look like a multi-storey Victorian cottage, and it's not a must-have awning option. And the continuation of the flybridge, hanging so well over the cockpit, promises a lot of additional space. For what purpose? Well, it's time to find out.

Main Deck: Cockpit, Saloon, Foredeck

Of course, the cockpit, saloon and foredeck are located on the main deck. But let's start as we always do - from the transom. Moreover, at Beneteau Swift Trawler 41 Fly transom is almost classic: with a transom wall, which on the starboard side opens the passage from the platform to the self-draining cockpit.

The platform is equipped with a ladder for descending into the water, and a shower with hot and cold water is built into the wall.

The rest of the main deck is shown in the schematic below. Use it to estimate the distribution of area between zones.

And be sure to pay attention to the wide aisles for passengers both in social areas and on the side decks. The railing goes along the perimeter to the steps from each side. Below the steps, the level changes, and there is no need for a fence - the sides are quite high.

From the platform without a ladder or level change, you immediately enter the cockpit, which is a completely social area with a transom sofa and another large seat with lockers underneath.

If necessary (loading baggage onto a yacht, for example), the transom sofa can be moved, as well as the gangway leading to the flybridge. This is useful when embarking or when a table is taken out into the cockpit to arrange a common meal in the fresh air.

You don’t have to go far for a treat - just push the transparent partition from the cockpit to the saloon to the full possible width. You get a common space with the saloon, including the galley - one of the countertops goes directly into the cockpit.

Behind the galley is an "under the roof" dining area with a folding table, the height of which can be adjusted and a C-shaped upholstered sofa. With the help of an additional mattress, this area can be turned into a large extra bed.

The amount of storage space in this small but well-equipped kitchen is impressive. In addition to the stove and oven, there is a sink and a waste container, as well as a drying rack for dishes. Where is the refrigerator? - you ask. And for that you have to go further.

As you can see, there is enough space for everyone, and the aisles are wide enough. See the lockers on the starboard side? This is where the refrigerators, freezer and ice maker are located. There are also many shelves for storage and, of course, on both sides there is glazing with opening portholes. A lot of natural light and fresh air allow both adults and children to feel comfortable in this space.

Further, in front of the "windshield" the control station is visible. But nothing stops us from getting closer. What an interesting detail: right from the seat at the helm, the skipper can exit the saloon to the side deck - very convenient.

Another pleasant surprise for the skipper of this vessel, which confirms that taking care of the captain's comfort was one of the main goals of the developers. The seat is not only adjustable for the height of the helmsman, it can be rotated in different directions, for example, towards the dining table.

The control station in the cabin is an exact copy of the station on the flybridge. The helm panel lifts up, and here you can set up all the sensors you need to control the crucial equipment, including navigation lights and an anchor winch.

The helm panel contains a marine display, thruster, compass, other navigation electronics and instruments, engine control lever, communications, etc.

We all liked that the steering wheel was made in the form of a classic helm. Anti-reflective windshield is equipped with wipers and blower.

We went through the cockpit and saloon, and now we go out to the side deck and go to the foredeck, where there is an electric winch with an anchor, as well as lockers for storing the anchor chain and other accessories.

This is a large enough area that, with the help of mattresses and sun loungers, can be turned into a social area for relaxing and sunbathing in company or privacy with a seat in the very center of the bow.

Now we return to the cockpit to climb the flybridge - immediately to the third deck of the yacht. Why not into cabins? Because the topRik team at that time was primarily interested in the Beneteau Swift Trawler 41 Fly’s controls.

At the Flybridge

Only after climbing up here you can fully appreciate this huge space. It includes a large social area, which is divided into a dining and sunbathing area, a working area in the center and a spare area. This rather large free area can be used for transporting a tender, exercises or as another recreation area.

Let's start right away with the working area, which includes the same control panel as on the main deck, the helm and a comfortable helmsman's seat. Family members or friends can sit on the sunbed, which is located along the starboard side, so that the skipper does not get bored while driving. And the assistant can sit closer using an additional chair.

The arrangement of instruments and indicators on the helm panel is slightly different from the control post in the cabin, but the set is the same. Some of them are duplicated, notably marine displays, EVC engine displays, analog tachometers, rudder angle indicators.

Despite the fact that there is a cockpit and saloon for relaxing and dining, yacht passengers prefer to hang out on the flybridge in good weather. This is not surprising, since the viewing angle from here is unusual, gives a feeling of flight and is not limited by anything. It is also important that even at high speeds Swift Trawler 41 Fly is not subject to jumps and shaking. Therefore, on the third deck, everyone feels as confident as on the two lower ones.

In addition, there is everything you need to have a great time with the whole family or a group of friends: a grill, a refrigerator, a freezer, an ice maker, comfortable sofas, a sunbed and an armchair. If desired, you can cover all this "terrain" bimini to protect from fierce sun rays.

The skipper's chair here also easily turns towards the table.

And now it's time for the topRik team to test this magnificent yacht in action. But what about the lower deck and cabins? We have not forgotten about it, but rest - after a sea walk.

At the Sea

The truth is, despite the fact that we had to test the vessel in the rain and with somewhat grumpy sea conditions, this test really turned out to be a walk in the park.

Beneteau Swift Trawler 41 Fly can be equipped with one of two options for engine installations - Volvo Penta D4 diesel engines with a shaft drive - 270 or 300 HP. The boat tested by the topRik team had a more powerful variant, which gave us a top speed of 24.4 knots at 3500 rpm. At such high speeds, the wave began to be slightly felt in the form of small jumps, especially since the yacht was not fully loaded.

As our practice has shown, the optimal planing speed in terms of fuel consumption will be 12-16 knots, at which you will spend 60-80 liters of fuel per hour. Your power reserve will be 240-250 nautical miles then.

This is a very impressive number. However, even more impressive are the noise levels in the saloon, which at full speed do not exceed 79 decibels - comparable to the noise of a running washing machine.

It was especially pleasant to steer the yacht from the flybridge: excellent visibility, fresh air, all controls at hand. The boat sensitively reacts to the movement of the throttle handles and the helm, but at the same time obediently keeps its course - it starts gliding already at 12 knots at 2700 rpm.

Lower Deck

It's time to settle down for the night. The master cabin was rightfully occupied by our permanent leader and skipper. By the way, the desire of the developers to provide him with maximum comfort also affected the location of the owner's cabin. The owner's cabin is moved to the bow, away from the engine room, although, as we have already mentioned, the engines noise is nothing to worry about.

We had an option for 3 cabins, although a version with two is also possible. Two people were accommodated in the cabin on the port side, one in the cabin on the starboard side, and another expert equipped a berth for himself in the saloon.

In the master cabin, a king-size double island bed has a built-in large locker. But there is already enough space for storage in the form of lockers and niches.

From the "bedroom" there is an entrance to a private comfortable bathroom, which is equipped with a shower cabin, washbasin, toilet bowl, cabinets, shelves and a mirror.

The same bathroom serves as a shared bathroom, and is also designed for the other two cabins.

The double cabin can be equipped with two single beds, which can be converted into a double bed using an additional mattress.

This is what the third single cabin looks like. In the 2-cabin version, the vacated space can be used for storing luggage, water toys or yachting equipment and accessories.

Advantages of Beneteau Swift Trawler 41 Fly

This one is a real expedition yacht of semi-displacement type. From its type all its advantages and features follow, with an almost complete absence of shortcomings. One of the experts, a fierce fan of sailing, after a day on board said with a sigh: “Why is there no version with the sails?” This was the only drawback of Swift Trawler 41 Fly, in his opinion.

The equipment of the yacht, the capacity of the water and fuel tanks are designed specifically for long-term autonomous navigation, as well as its seaworthiness, the most important of which is stability during maneuvers and in all weather conditions.

Swift Trawler 41 Fly is stable on turns, confidently cuts through the wave and maintains balance when entering the planing mode. Good handling is also evident at low speeds, for example, when entering a cramped marina or lagoon, as well as when mooring. The use of thrusters is practically not required: the yacht is very responsive and the owner will be able to manage it independently.

One of the staples of Beneteau yachts is their incredible functionality. Beneteau Power engineers have provided a number of practical features that are extremely useful when traveling with a large group. For example, a sofa and a table in the saloon on the port side can be turned into an extra bed.

Another handy feature is the sliding transom sofa, this way you can increase the overall area of the cockpit. Each segment of the sofa also serves as a locker for storing equipment.

The width of the bathing platform can be increased to 1.19 m, so that a tender or a jet ski will fit on it.

Reviews of Swift Trawler 41 Fly from Professionals

Norman Holtzhausen Article

Of course, the author of the review could not fail to note that the history of the Beneteau brand boasts several yachts designed by the famous New Zealander Bruce Farr in the 1990s. This explains the impatience with which Swift Trawler 41 Fly was expected at New Zealand.

Norman singled out one of the features of the flooring design solution: basic non-slip fiberglass textured flooring or teak deck options for all exterior areas.

The author also appreciated the advantage of a side door near the helm station on the main deck for those who operate the ship alone. This is an opportunity to quickly get to the bow of the yacht without running around it through the saloon and cockpit.

He especially noted the height of all cabins - 1.95 meters.

Testing was carried out on a rather windy day, with strong swell at sea and gusts of wind. But Norman says they barely noticed it because of the trawler's hull. The yacht almost did not roll when it entered the turbulent wake from the ferry passing by.

He reported that, moving at a speed of 18 knots at 2900 rpm, the boat showed fuel consumption of just over 70 liters per hour.

Emilie Piron Article

The author of the review gave several figures and names from the history of the appearance of the Beneteau Trawler line, assessed the exterior of the new yacht and dwelled in detail on the interior and equipment of all three decks.

Emilie noted the excellent seaworthiness of the Swift Trawler 41 is a hallmark of a cruiser designed for long voyages. The thin flared bow of the Swift Trawler 41 cuts through the water mass perfectly, which ensures efficient fuel consumption with sufficient cruising and maximum speed: 5 liters per nautical mile at speeds from 10 to 23 knots (topRik experts could argue with this statement, and, judging by test results by other yachtsmen, not just us).

But Emilie mentioned a feature that we missed in our review. Swift Trawler 41 is equipped with on-board control technology, which allows you to control the operation of all ship equipment. On one display, even on a smartphone, you can display all the technical data: readings of navigation devices, battery status, lighting, temperature, air conditioning, etc.

The author concluded that this trawler yacht from Beneteau is ideal for long-distance sailings, for short weekend boat trips, for family vacations at sea and for exploring the sea coasts with friends.

Video Reviews

To fully appreciate the seaworthiness and comfort of this little house on the water, we suggest taking a look at some footage we found online, coming from the most respected sources.

First, the Beneteau themselves – proudly showcasing their child in all its glory:

Next, also proud, Nauta releases a full exterior tour:

10 minutes of walking around the boat and enjoying various design solutions:

Test at the sea, aligning with our own expectations:

Sometimes there’s just no need for any commentary:

Conclusion

Beneteau Swift Trawler 41 Fly has all the hallmarks of an expedition planing yacht - it develops excellent speed, provides a high level of comfort, is designed for a long stay at sea, is simple and easy to manage.

Despite the significant volumes and areas, it has 7 beds. Based on all of the above, this yacht is primarily created for a single owner who:

• wants to provide a family with safe and comfortable conditions during the cruise;
• likes to invite close friends to explore the coasts;
• prefers comfort in sea travel;
• initially aimed at comfort in the management of the yacht and life on board;
• chooses a safe and comfortable boat to live on board for months with occasional calls to ports and marinas to replenish supplies;
• prefers solitude among the open spaces of the sea;
• loves speed and wind in the face, but is tired from constant physical exercises with the sails.

Where to Buy Beneteau Swift Trawler 41 Fly at a Bargain Price

To buy Beneteau Swift Trawler 41 Fly at a bargain price you just need to ask the topRik team for help – don’t be shy.

Our marketplace provides a full range of services for the purchase of yachts, any nautical equipment and accessories.

You do not have to barrage through the pages of many websites in search of Beneteau Swift Trawler 41 Fly at a good price, because topRik experts will:

• pick up a yacht in the configuration you specified;
• will negotiate with the manufacturer or dealer to provide you with the most favorable purchase conditions;
• prepare a full package of documents, including all contracts, insurance, customs clearance and other permits;
• follow the equipment of your yacht;
• overtake Swift Trawler 41 Fly from the place of shipment to the berth you specified.

Marketplace experts are experienced sailors who are involved in the formation and maintenance of our SimpleSail fleet. They select and test boats for it, negotiate with sellers to negotiate favorable terms of sale, ship sailing and motor yachts to our marinas in Croatia and Montenegro from shipyards all over the world.

This whole experience works for you immediately after you call the specified phone number. To contact us you can also use the fast feedback form or send a message to [email protected].