A new variation on a long-cruising idea
BENETEAU has introduced the Swift Trawler 43 Sedan as part of the latest development of its family-cruising range. The 13.13-metre boat combines the practical hallmarks of a trawler-style passagemaker with a lower-profile silhouette and a roof that can be used as a separate outdoor living area.
The Sedan is relevant to owners who enjoy long weekends aboard and occasionally need to pass beneath bridges or into more sheltered inland waterways. BENETEAU offers different mast arrangements to reduce air draft, but the actual clearance must always be confirmed for the installed equipment and water level.
At 4.25 metres wide, the yacht is large enough to offer meaningful interior space while remaining within a size that some experienced couples may consider managing themselves. Its true suitability for owner operation depends on docking conditions, visibility, manoeuvring equipment and the skipper's abilities.
A rooftop with more than one purpose
BENETEAU says the Sedan design provides more than ten square metres of additional rooftop living space, reached by an aft cockpit ladder. Integrated fixing points and an electrical socket are intended to support different leisure uses rather than leaving the roof as a purely technical surface.
The optional Relaxed Lifestyle package adds details for privacy, shade and comfort, while skylight and solar-panel choices can support greater time at anchor. Those options should be examined carefully because roof loads, shade structures and equipment may affect headroom, access and the vessel's actual height.
Any rooftop used as a guest area requires safe movement, appropriate rail protection and careful attention to when it can be occupied. A buyer should ask exactly which positions are intended for use underway and which are primarily useful while securely moored.
Practical details of the lower decks
The published data gives an overall length of 13.13 metres, a maximum draft of about 0.97 metres and a fuel capacity of 1,170 litres. BENETEAU also lists 400 litres of fresh water, suggesting an orientation toward multi-day cruising rather than only short harbour excursions.
Inside, the builder highlights a panoramic saloon, a practical galley and an owner's cabin on the lower deck, with a guest cabin and separate shower-room arrangements. Storage, ventilation and the ability to move around the cabin while others are resting will influence how pleasant longer passages become.
Equipment options include joystick controls, gyroscopic stabilisation and a tender-handling arrangement. These systems can improve convenience, but they should be specified against an actual operating plan because the cost of acquisition and maintenance can be substantial.
The rooftop is especially interesting for an owner who does not need a second external helm but would appreciate a quiet place to sit away from the cockpit. Access, furniture security and shade must be considered as a single system rather than separate catalogue options.
Bridge clearance is more than a measurement on the brochure when cruising waterways with low bridges. The mast arrangement, radar hardware, antennas and any removable equipment should be measured on the finished yacht in the same condition in which it will pass beneath an obstruction.
A longer stay aboard can reveal small annoyances that a boat-show viewing misses, including wet locker capacity, domestic noise and the distance between dining and sleeping zones. Buyers may find a short charter or extended sea trial useful where that is available.
The case for a measured sea trial
The Sedan's shallow draft is useful for exploring coastal estuaries, but it does not remove the need for updated charts, tide checks and conservative under-keel clearance. A quoted draft is a reference figure that can vary with loading, equipment and the actual boat.
Prospective owners should test helm visibility, the effect of wind on docking and the sound levels at the speeds they expect to use most often. It is also worth evaluating the saloon with windows closed and then at anchor, because a well-designed cruiser must work across different temperatures and weather.
The Swift Trawler 43 Sedan presents an interesting response to the demand for more flexible living aboard moderate-sized motorboats. Its appeal rests on the practical relationship between interior comfort, rooftop freedom and the real handling abilities of its owner.