2014 Beneteau Swift Trawler 44

The Swift Trawler 44 has a major advantage over most yachts — experience. The seasoned design team is creative and competent, and Beneteau has a successful tradition of building boats for over 150 years. The Swift Trawler series has become very popular in the United States (and throughout the world) as an attractive, lightweight, strong, well equipped and speedy trawler yacht.

Her profile is pleasing, a nice balance of form and efficiency. Her layout is practical with a well-thought-out use of space. This is a two cabin, two head layout with additional sleeping accommodations by converting the saloon sofa. The entry level is a great gathering area with saloon, galley and helm station all framed amid windows surrounding them to offer excellent views all around. The lower level has the staterooms and heads. Above deck is the flybridge and boat deck.

Commissioned in 2015, Speedy Charlotte has lively speed, nimble handling, efficient fuel consumption and economical operation. She is designed with access in mind which makes it easier to maintain her. Twin Volvo Penta D4 engines coupled with bow and stern thrusters provide speed and maneuverability. She is a very complete package at an affordable price — a lot of boat for the money — with relatively light use and careful ownership.

Changing family demands have put her on the market. After years of enjoying the San Francisco Bay area, Speedy Charlotte has recently relocated to Anacortes, WA so her owners can enjoy the PNW waters while awaiting a buyer. The islands and waters of Washington, Canada and Alaska would be an incredible location to take over command and begin your own adventures. The Swift 44 is built to meet CE certification and has a Class B offshore rating.

The aft swim deck is topped with teak planks and provides an easy docking platform for arriving by tender, with a boarding door access to the cockpit. The cockpit has teak decking which extends forward along the starboard side and up to the bow. The aft deck area is a great outdoor space, protected overhead by the boat deck. With generous headroom and built-in seating it is an inviting and useful space. You can turn aft to the swim deck, ascend the stainless ladder with teak treads up through a deck hatch to arrive at the top deck level, move around either side deck forward, or enter the saloon.

The starboard side deck provides waist-high bulwark security when moving from the cockpit up past the interior helm station, and a couple of built-in steps allow you to transition up to the foredeck. There is a boarding door amidships for easy entry when side-tied to a dock. The port side deck is raised, and after transiting a couple of steps from the cockpit you can walk forward at foredeck level with stainless railings and an inboard handrail. The raised port side deck allows for additional storage volume in the saloon. Beneteau's innovative double walkway decking arrangement allows for easy docking and simple walking on either side, since you can walk completely around the house. The starboard side deck is wider than the port and provides great visibility while docking from the pilothouse.

The foredeck is fenced in with stainless steel railing and has beautiful teak wood decking. Forward is the anchor station with a 1000W vertical electric windlass and a Mantus 65-pound anchor with chain. The chain locker is easily accessible from a hatch in the foredeck. The foredeck hatches provide air and light to the cabins below, and on a nice day you can relax on the sun bed cushion.

Entry to the interior is from the saloon aft door or the pilothouse door to starboard. The primary entrance into the saloon from the cockpit takes you through a large double sliding door. Once inside you have excellent visibility outboard and forward — the Swift 44 has expansive windows which provide a great connection to the outdoors. This yacht has a "sedan" layout with the saloon, galley and helm all on the same level — great for a cruising couple and ideal for a family, as everyone can stay connected.

The saloon has a large built-in couch to starboard with a high-low table in front that expands to accommodate a larger group for dining. The galley is forward to port and includes a double basin sink, propane oven, three-burner stovetop and several drawers for storage; below the helm seat is a cleverly concealed refrigerator. The helm station has bench seating and convenient access to operational controls including the steering wheel, thrusters, engine throttles and navigation electronics. The helm sliding door grants immediate access to the side deck and provides natural airflow when operating in warmer weather.

The engine room is beneath the entry level, accessed via a hatch in the saloon floor. It is well organized to provide convenient access for inspecting and servicing the machinery. This compact machinery space includes both Volvo main engines.

The forward lower level is reserved for the staterooms and heads. Going down a short set of steps, the hallway gives you several choices. The guest cabin is to port and has a roomy double berth that has been cleverly tucked in to maximize sleeping (with a short overhead) with standing headroom forward. There is a head and shower to starboard. The master stateroom is forward with an island berth that is roomy, comfortable and easy to access and make. It has two portlights as well as two hanging lockers and its own head.

The flybridge on Speedy Charlotte has two helm chairs and the primary navigation electronics to easily operate underway and to give you a better vantage when arriving in a marina to dock or a cove to anchor. The flybridge easily seats eight comfortably. We think of the Swift 44 as a three-level boat: the interior has the entry level and the accommodations level, and the upper deck above is all one outside level, with the flybridge forward extending all the way aft for a generous boat deck.

There is a painted aluminum mast and boom; the mast is stayed with wire shrouds and serves as the natural place for navigation lighting, nav/com antenna mounting and radar. The "cargo boom" serves as a davit for launching a tender (no tender is included).