Beneteau Swift Trawler 50 Review (2015 Edition) by NautiStyles

On Deck

Start at the stern with a small hydraulic swim platform where the tender sits and launches. The whole aft step is molded into the platform so it lowers too. It’s not tiny at all for this size boat - an appropriate platform with the swim ladder tucked in. The dinghy here is roughly 3.35m (11ft), and you could go bigger as long as the platform capacity allows. Shore cable rails are here, and on the other side is the stern door we’ll use later to show the lazarette.

Boarding is easy with side boarding doors. The sidewalks feel comfortable, and there’s a neat trash setup by the side deck - when one galley bag is full you slide it over into a side bin, drop a new bag in, and you can keep a few bags staged there for a couple of days. Simple and kind of clever.

Forward deck reads very trawler. Layout cushions with adjustable backrests flip to proper bench support or full sunpad. The center cover opens to an overhead hatch below, plus there’s another openable hatch forward. Deck gear is straightforward - water fill, quick connect for deck rinse, windlass centered, a locker for dock lines and fenders on one side and a deep anchor locker on the other so the chain won’t stack when you’re retrieving. Emergency handle is here and a handheld remote for the windlass. No foot switches. Ultra stainless anchor on a chunky chain for a 50 footer - a little oversized in a good way. Nice windshield with wipers, and you can see the upper helm we’ll get to.

Back in the cockpit the diesel fills are right by the steps. Transom shower is here along with a quick connect and the cable reel controls. The cockpit is simple and minimal - an L shaped settee for three, space for a loose table, and big hatches you don’t want to block because they access the engine room and lazarette. There’s an openable hatch that likely ties to the optional quarters. Grab handles are where you want them overhead and forward. The whole space can be enclosed - fixed tracks and zipper panels are fitted so you can zip it all in. There are proper weather doors too. Close them and you feel it right away - warmer and calmer if the wind or spray is on the bow. Open again and the breeze kicks back in.

Side decks are asymmetrical. Look from dead aft and you’ll see the superstructure is offset slightly to port. The port side is narrower and a step higher, and it can be enclosed with its own little weather door. The reason is on starboard - there’s a sliding side door from the pilothouse so this becomes your main fore and aft run and boarding side. The offset also buys you more interior space.

Head up to the flybridge. There’s a weather door at the stair that folds into the molding and locks off cleanly. Aft is a good size boat deck where you could carry a tender with an optional crane. Lots of room for loose furniture - chairs, beanbags, whatever works for your program. Moving forward, the wet bar has an electric griddle that can swap tops to a grill, plus a sink, Canyon grill setup, ice maker and trash. Opposite is a large storage compartment that can be a deep freezer. Putting refrigeration out here makes sense - they’re insulated but still throw heat, and having it outside keeps the interior cooler in warm climates.

On top of the arch sit the electronics - radar, the dynamic positioning system for the Volvo IPS drives, and the Trackvision KBH system. The arch itself is collapsible for the Great Loop. Hinges and pins fore and aft let you pull the pins and fold the entire arch back on the hinge so the boat can clear the Loop bridges. Pair that with some Caribbean cruising and you’ve got range of options on this model.

Forward on the bridge, the owner upgraded the fixed dining table with stone from his marble business. It looks great and seats about 6. The bimini folds back when you want open sky. The upper helm has two helm chairs and rides higher than you expect - great sightlines and honestly a good whale watching perch. Controls are familiar IPS fare - shift and throttle, joystick for the IPS, bow thruster, trim tabs, separate engine monitors, autopilot, ignition panel for the Volvo Pentas, chart plotter, compass, and a searchlight remote. Analog RPM readers and a rudder indicator are front and center. Cup holders everywhere. Fusion stereo control and VHF live down low.

Sliding door brings you right into the salon. As said previously, this owner works in the marble business, so you’re going to see some really pretty upgrades in here. These countertops and tables are not factory, but they look like they should be. The table is a high-low, so it can be a coffee table or a proper dining table. There’s also a pop-up TV tucked to port. Windows are huge on both sides, and they open too, plus they have mosquito screens built right in. And then there’s this curtain divider that lets you separate the salon from the galley and pilothouse if you want a bit more privacy. Storage is everywhere.

A couple of steps up takes you into the galley and dinette. The galley is U-shaped, compact but really functional. Storage drawers all around, a gas oven, double sinks, even a little built-in trash bin. There’s a microwave, drawer fridges, another fridge just above, and a dishwasher, which is a big deal when you don’t have much counter space. There’s also a window that opens right above the sinks, so you can get some air moving. Stemware storage is built in, and there’s another privacy curtain here if you need it.

On the other side is the dinette with another high-low table. You can drop it down, add a cushion, and it makes a great nap spot or overnight berth. It’s a good couples setup: one person can sleep here on passage while the other is on watch. Big side windows slide open for airflow.

The helm is forward on a raised platform. You sit higher up here and the visibility is really, really good. The helm bench has a bolster so you can either sit or stand with room to move. Sightlines all the way aft are surprisingly clear - you could dock the boat stern-in from right here. Electronics include twin Raymarine chart plotters, joystick for the IPS drives, bow thruster, trim tabs, autopilot, VHF, multifunction display, and all the Volvo engine panels. Cup holders and a little chart table finish it off, which is basically where everything ends up anyway.

There are a few extra touches as well, like the wine cooler tucked in by the dinette, more drawers and lockers than you’d expect, and all the opening windows have those hidden mosquito screens.  

Owner's Cabin

All the way aft is the full-beam owner’s suite. The bed is queen size, set low with good space on either side and a couple of opening portholes for airflow. Headroom is fine even though you step up onto the platform where the bed sits.

To starboard there’s a little vanity setup with a pouf, which could just as easily work as a small home office. Storage is spread out: hanging lockers with shelving, drawers, and even some deep spaces under the cabinetry that go further back than you expect.

The ensuite is split, which works really well. On one side there’s a sink with storage below and a big mirrored cabinet above. The shower here is actually pretty generous for a 50-footer, with a built-in bench and its own porthole. Then opposite you’ve got a second sink, more storage, and the toilet, also with its own medicine cabinet. Having two sinks means you’re not in each other’s way when getting ready, which is a big plus for a couple living aboard.

It’s a simple setup, but it feels private, has plenty of storage, and gives you that separation in the ensuite that makes daily use easier.

Guest Accommodations

Forward is the VIP cabin with a queen bed. There’s a hanging locker, some shelving, and a full-length mirror tucked in. Two opening portholes bring in air and light, plus an overhead hatch with a screen and blackout. Reading lights are built into the wall in an unusual spot, but they work fine. A TV is fitted opposite the bed. It’s a comfortable space for family or friends, even if storage is on the small side.

The VIP shares a head with the bunk cabin. The bathroom has a big countertop, good storage, and a proper walk-in shower with a built-in bench and an overhead hatch. It’s easily tall enough for most people and feels more like a home shower than the usual boat squeeze.

The bunk cabin itself is to port. Two berths, two portholes, and some decent storage with a small closet and under-berth drawers. It’s not huge, but for kids or occasional guests it works well, and having that shared head right next door keeps it practical.

The lazarette is accessed through the stern door we saw at the swim platform. Inside there’s a surprising amount of space. You’ve got the cable reel, breaker switches, shelves, cleaning supplies and general storage. It makes you wonder if there was an option for crew quarters here, maybe a single captain’s bunk, because there’s even a hatch for light and ventilation. As it stands, it’s just really useful stowage that connects right out to the transom.

The engine room itself is reached through a large cockpit hatch with a proper ladder, not just a squeeze-in step. Once inside, there’s good space around the engines. The layout is clean: shafts running aft, watermaker on starboard, fire suppression system, and the fuel tanks mounted outboard. A generator sits central, with an oil-change system nearby.

The Volvo Penta IPS 600s are the main power here, backed by chillers, filters and a tidy electrical panel. Battery chargers are Victron, the ladder can be removed for better access during maintenance, and even a camera is mounted for monitoring. For a 50-footer it’s a workable space, not something you dread crawling into.

As of March 2025, this 2015 Beneteau Swift Trawler 50 was listed at around $650,000. That puts it in a competitive space for anyone looking at an affordable liveaboard or long-distance cruiser. Two other models worth considering in the same bracket are the Greenline 48 Fly and the Carver C52 Command Bridge.

The Swift Trawler 50 appeals because of its balance. It’s big enough for a couple to live aboard comfortably, with three cabins if you want to bring guests along, but still manageable without a full-time crew. Running costs will be lighter than on larger displacement yachts, and with IPS drives plus joystick control, docking isn’t intimidating.

It’s also Great Loop capable thanks to that folding arch, which opens up more cruising grounds without size becoming a limitation. For owners looking at step-up cruising without committing to a much bigger vessel and all the expenses that come with it, the Swift Trawler 50 would be a good choice.

The Swift Trawler 50 does have a few little quirks. Storage in the cabins isn’t huge, the bunk room is more kid-friendly than adult-ready, and at the bow you don’t get foot switches for the windlass. Because of the asymmetrical layout, one side deck also feels tighter to walk.

But overall, it’s a really good package. You’ve got a hydraulic swim platform for the tender, big opening windows that make the interior feel bright, and a galley and helm setup that’s easy for a couple to run on longer trips. For anyone looking at an easy liveaboard that still has the range and practicality for real cruising, this model makes a lot of sense.