Beneteau Swift Trawler 41 Review, Fly vs Sedan and Used Prices

The Beneteau Swift Trawler 41 is a fast trawler, not a slow one

The word trawler covers a wide spectrum, and the Beneteau Swift Trawler 41 sits firmly at the brisk end of it. Where a Kadey-Krogen or Nordhavn is a full displacement boat that lives at seven knots, the Swift Trawler 41 is a semi-displacement cruiser with twin diesels of 270 to 320 hp, built to loaf economically at eight or nine knots and then run at a 16 knot cruise when the forecast demands it. Launched in 2019 to replace the Swift Trawler 44, it was the sixth model in a semi-displacement line that Beneteau started with the original Swift Trawler 42 and that had passed 1,500 boats by the time the 41 arrived.

Beneteau built the 41 in two versions, the Fly with a flybridge and the Sedan without one, the first Sedan in Swift Trawler history and priced about $30,000 below the Fly at launch. They share a hull, engines, tankage and the same basic layout below, but they are different boats to own, and the choice between them is the most important decision a buyer makes. The 41 has now been succeeded by the Swift Trawler 43 Fly and Sedan in Beneteau's 2026 lineup, which makes the 41 a well-sorted used boat rather than a current model.

Fly or Sedan, and why air draft decides it for Loopers

On paper the difference is a flybridge. In practice it is 5 feet of air draft. Beneteau lists the Fly at a maximum air draft of 19 feet 1 inch and the Sedan at 14 feet 2 inches. That gap matters enormously for anyone planning inland cruising.

The fixed railroad bridge near Lemont, Illinois on the Chicago route sets the practical Great Loop limit at about 19 feet 1 inch, and the western Erie Canal is lower still at roughly 15 feet 6 inches. A Sedan clears both with margin. A Fly is right on the limit and will need antennas, radar arch items and anything on the hardtop lowered or removed, with careful measurement before the trip. Plenty of Fly owners do the Loop successfully, but it is a project. The Sedan simply goes.

The trade-off is lifestyle. The Fly's upper deck adds an outdoor living area with a helm, face-to-face seating, a wet bar and a backrest system that seats about seven, which is the best spot on the boat on a warm evening. The Sedan replaces that with a lighter, simpler boat (23,186 pounds lightship versus 24,332 for the Fly) and a lower center of gravity that marginally improves its motion in a beam sea.

• Fly: 19 feet 1 inch max air draft, 24,332 lb lightship, second helm on the flybridge
• Sedan: 14 feet 2 inches max air draft, 23,186 lb lightship, single helm
• Both: 44 feet 1 inch overall, 13 feet 11 inch beam, 3 feet 9 inch draft

The aft galley that changed the Swift Trawler interior

Beneteau describes the U-shaped galley in the aft part of the saloon as a first for the Swift Trawler range, and it is the feature owners mention most. Placing the galley right by the cockpit door means the cook passes plates straight out to the cockpit table and stays part of any gathering aft. A sliding bench in the cockpit opens access to the swim platform, and on warm days the whole aft end of the boat becomes one space.

Forward in the saloon, the helm seat swivels to face the dinette, so the saloon can seat about eight at a table while at anchor. Below, the owner's stateroom sits in the bow with hull windows, a washbasin and toilet to port and a separate shower compartment to starboard. A port guest cabin has twin berths that convert to a double, and a third space in the starboard lazarette takes a single berth or a washer and dryer, which is why listings show two or three cabins. A convertible lounge berth with privacy curtains handles overflow guests.

On deck, the foredeck carries a large sunpad behind a high pulpit, and side decks run the length of the boat for line handling. Walk both side decks at the dock before committing, because saloon volume on modern fast trawlers is often bought with deck width, and you want a secure path forward with a line in hand.

Twin Yanmar 8LV320 engines, speed and fuel burn

The 41 has had two engine families. From launch in 2019 into 2022 Beneteau offered twin Volvo Penta D4-270 shaft drives as standard, with 300 hp D4-300s as the option. During 2022 the specification changed to twin Yanmar 8LV320 V8 diesels at 320 hp each, and that is what later boats carry. Both are compact common-rail engines that give the 41 a turn of speed full displacement trawlers cannot match. Confirm the engine fitted to any boat you view, because the parts and service networks differ.

Power and Motoryacht and Soundings reported a 16 knot cruise and a 23 knot top speed with the standard Volvo D4-270s, and Soundings quoted a range of about 180 nautical miles at that 16 knot cruise. We have not seen published figures for the Yanmar boats. Dropping to 8 or 9 knots cuts total burn to a fraction of the fast-cruise figure, and the 41 rewards owners who learn its sweet spots rather than running at one fixed rpm.

Great Loop practicalities on a 41

Beyond air draft, the 41 checks most Loop boxes. A 3 foot 9 inch draft is comfortable on the rivers and the ICW. Twin engines and thrusters help in lock chambers and tight municipal marinas. The 44 foot 1 inch length overall keeps slip costs reasonable, and the aft galley and cockpit make life aboard pleasant for a couple over a year of cruising.

The limiting factor on long legs is fuel. With 309 gallons, the 41 has enough for every Loop stage at displacement speed, but owners who run fast will be planning fuel stops more often than a full displacement trawler owner. Water at 106 gallons is modest for long anchoring stretches, so many Loop owners add a watermaker or simply plan marina nights.

Ownership costs and the Beneteau dealer network

Budget roughly $30,000 to $55,000 a year excluding depreciation, covering insurance, a 45 foot slip, two engine services, generator service if fitted, bottom paint and canvas care. Beneteau's US dealer network is a real advantage over boutique trawler builders, and both Volvo Penta and Yanmar have broad dealer support in the US.

Like most French production boats, the 41 is built to be light and efficient rather than overbuilt. That is not a criticism, but it means you should look closely at hardware attachment points, hatch seals and joinery after a few seasons of use.

Buying a used Swift Trawler 41 in 2026

Most used 41s on the US market are from the early 2020s. Launch prices in 2019 were about $710,000 for the Sedan and $740,000 for the Fly, and used boats now ask roughly $450,000 to $760,000. Fly models with generators, air conditioning, joystick systems and full enclosures sit at the top. Sedans are fewer in number but often better value for buyers who plan inland cruising.

Have a surveyor who knows modern common-rail engines review the Volvo or Yanmar data logs. Check the bow and stern thrusters, the generator hours and the condition of the cockpit sliding bench, which takes a lot of use. Ask whether the boat has had any warranty work and request the paperwork.