Beneteau Swift Trawler 54

Beneteau Swift Trawler 54 Overview

The Beneteau Swift Trawler 54 is built for those who want to go further, stay longer, and do it all in complete comfort. As the flagship and largest model yet to wear the Swift Trawler badge, bringing serious passagemaking capability together with a level of space and refinement that makes extended cruising feel effortless.

At the heart of her is an all-new semi-displacement hull from Dixon Yacht Design, badged the “Fusion” hull – a fine entry, a central sailboat-style canoe bottom and a shallow aft section that together let her run flat, at around three degrees, right through the speed range. It’s a hull built to balance sea-keeping with fuel efficiency, giving the confidence to take on longer journeys while keeping the ride calm and composed.

She’s also a boat of several firsts for the range: the first Swift Trawler with a full walkaround deck, and the first with the option of external stabilisers. With unrivalled outdoor living space from bow to stern, she offers boaters the chance to enjoy efficient long-range cruising in an elegant, home-inspired atmosphere – a boat where the journey is every bit as enjoyable as the destination.

Performance & Handling

Power comes from twin 550hp Cummins QSB 6.7 engines – Beneteau’s sole power option for the 54 – driving her to a top speed of around 20 knots. She’s most at home cruising in the 12 to 16-knot range, and at a 9-knot displacement cruise, a 10% fuel reserve still leaves a realistic range of around 700 nautical miles, carried across a 3,440-litre fuel capacity split between two tanks.

The Fusion hull form is designed to deliver efficient, all-round handling rather than outright speed – it’s not about chasing knots, but about making every journey feel controlled, comfortable and rewarding. For extra reassurance at anchor and underway, the latest Sleipner Vector Gen 3 fins are available as an option, providing 360-degree stability control and a low-energy “on anchor” mode to keep things settled overnight.

Many owners drawn to the Swift Trawler range value straightforward systems they can look after themselves, even a long way from land, and the 54 is built with that in mind – genuinely capable of covering serious distance, while remaining refreshingly simple to live with.

Timeless Looks, Genuine Passagemaking

The Swift Trawler 54 wears her passagemaking purpose with real presence. A gentle “S” sheerline rises towards the bow, giving the hull a purposeful, timeless stance, while a low-profile flybridge sits above a continuous glass superstructure for an overall sense of lightness without sacrificing the strength a true passagemaker needs.

Rather than the asymmetrical walkways of earlier Swift Trawlers, the 54 introduces a full walkaround deck to the range for the first time – keeping movement around the boat safe, simple and sociable, whatever the conditions.

Three Cabins for Six

Inside, the saloon is deliberately zoned rather than opened out into one large space – an upper dinette sits beside the helm, a casual lower lounge with a coffee table, and a galley in between, separated from each by glass screens that keep sightlines and conversation open. An internal staircase connects the decks quickly and safely, frees up space in the cockpit, and makes light work of moving food and drink up to the flybridge.

Below deck, the Swift Trawler 54 sleeps six across three cabins, with the option to add a seventh single crew berth. A full-beam owner’s suite sits amidships, with a double berth (1.95m x 1.55m), a full-length mirror, vanity desk and generous wardrobe storage, lit by panoramic hull windows with built-in portholes. A forward VIP cabin offers a second double berth (2.00m x 1.50m), while a third cabin to port takes a more clever approach than stacked bunks, using an L-shaped crossover berth arrangement for a brighter, more open sleeping space.

The owner’s suite has its own ensuite, complete with a Corian worktop and a rainfall shower, while the VIP and port cabins share a day head accessed via Jack and Jill doors. For those wanting extra hands on longer trips, an optional crew cabin can be added in the lazarette, with its own berth, electric toilet and washbasin.

A Galley Built for Life Afloat

The galley is designed for proper onboard living, not just quick meals underway. A full-height fridge (193 litres) and separate freezer (78 litres) give plenty of room for provisioning on longer trips, alongside a Corian countertop, a large stainless steel sink with a hot and cold mixer tap, a gas oven and a three-burner gas hob with a protective glass cover. An air-recirculation cooker hood and a dedicated side door to the deck keep things practical as well as stylish.

A Cockpit and Flybridge Built for Groups

The Swift Trawler 54 genuinely offers a terrace to the sea. At the stern, a 400kg tender lift, dedicated storage for kayaks and paddleboards, and a hydraulic swim platform with adaptive dinghy chocks make light work of watersports and shore trips alike. Forward, a U-shaped foredeck seating area with an inset table converts easily into a huge sunpad, with fender stowage tucked neatly beneath.

Up on the flybridge, the layout is just as thoughtfully zoned as the saloon below. The aft deck is the most practical of the spaces, with room for freestanding furniture and a bracket for SUP boards, while a transverse wet bar to port keeps drinks and snacks close at hand. It’s a space that draws people in naturally, whether cruising, at anchor, or simply relaxing in the sun.

Safe, Sociable Deck Layout

Practical details run right through the deck design. Rope lockers tuck away beneath the mooring cleats to keep the side decks tidy, while integrated canvases in Solstice fabric run around the roofline, offering shade from the sun without blocking the breeze. Unusual, cleverly conceived doors at the aft ends of the side decks add a further sociable, easy-access touch that’s unique to the 54.

Mooring is handled by twin 300W electric windlasses with remote control from the wheelhouse and flybridge, ten stainless steel mooring cleats, and stainless steel gunwale guards throughout, while a stainless steel pulpit surrounds the cockpit and flybridge for reassurance underway.

Confidence at the Helm

The 54 offers a genuine choice of helm positions – a sheltered lower station at the wheelhouse and a commanding upper helm on the flybridge. The lower helm features three synchronised wipers, opening portside windows and a starboard side door, with the console housing engine instrumentation, four drink holders and generous storage. The anthracite vinyl pilot seat has a flip-up bolster for sitting or standing, and hydraulic steering keeps handling light and precise.

For docking confidence, proportional bow and stern thrusters and Zipwake trim tab interceptors are available as options, alongside a Cummins joystick system with integrated thruster control. Navigation is well catered for too, with space for a Raymarine Radome and the option of Raymarine’s ClearCruise augmented reality system.

Effortless, Independent Cruising

To mark 140 years of Beneteau heritage, an upgraded, refined finish comes as standard across the 54, using premium materials to create a space that feels elegant and sophisticated while staying warm and sociable – with joinery available in Alpi Teak or Alpi Oak.

The optional Silent Boat package takes independence further, adding a lithium battery bank topped up by solar panels for up to ten hours of generator-free anchoring – ideal for a peaceful night at anchor without disturbing the neighbours in the bay. A future-proofed engine room is also ready to accommodate diesel-electric hybrid drive down the line.

Why Choose the Beneteau Swift Trawler 54?

What makes the Swift Trawler 54 stand out is the sheer breadth of what she offers in one package: proper passage making range and a genuinely composed ride, three cabins of home-style comfort for six, and outdoor living space that runs the full length of the boat from foredeck sunpad to flybridge wet bar. As the third generation in this size class – and the largest Swift Trawler yet – she brings two decades of range development to bear on a genuinely fresh design.

With a highly configurable specification list covering everything from joinery and climate control to navigation electronics and outdoor covers, the Swift Trawler 54 can be tailored closely to individual cruising plans. Fox’s Yacht Sales can talk you through the full options list and help configure the boat perfectly.

For those after a proper long-range cruiser that feels every bit like a home on the water, the Beneteau Swift Trawler 54 is a genuinely capable choice for UK waters.

Key Features of the Beneteau Swift Trawler 54

• Largest and latest model in the Swift Trawler range, replacing the Swift Trawler 52 and filling the gap between the 48 and the flagship Grand Trawler 62
• Semi-displacement Dixon Yacht Design “Fusion” hull, running flat at around three degrees through the speed range
• Twin 550hp Cummins QSB 6.7 engines with a top speed of around 20 knots
• Realistic range of around 700 nautical miles at a 9-knot cruise, from a 3,440-litre fuel capacity
• LOA 17.13m, beam 4.98m, draught 1.20m
• First Swift Trawler with a full walkaround deck and the option of external stabilisers
• Three cabins for six guests, including a full-beam amidships owner’s suite, with an optional seventh crew berth
• Zoned three-part saloon with upper dinette, lower lounge and central galley
• 400kg tender lift, hydraulic swim platform and dedicated kayak/paddleboard storage
• Optional Silent Boat package: solar-topped lithium battery bank for up to ten hours of generator-free anchoring
• Refined finish as standard, marking 140 years of Beneteau heritage
• Choice of lower wheelhouse or flybridge helm, linked by an internal staircase

Beneteau Swift Trawler 54 FAQ

What top speed can the Beneteau Swift Trawler 54 reach?

With twin 550hp Cummins engines, Beneteau’s figures put the top speed at around 20 knots. She’s most at home cruising in the 12 to 16-knot range, where the Fusion hull delivers a calm, composed ride.

How many people can sleep aboard the Beneteau Swift Trawler 54?

The 54 sleeps six across three cabins – a full-beam amidships owner’s suite, a forward VIP cabin, and a port cabin with an L-shaped crossover berth – with the option to add a seventh single crew berth in the lazarette.

Are parts and servicing readily available for the Beneteau Swift Trawler 54 in the UK?

Yes. As an authorised Beneteau dealer, Fox’s Yacht Sales can assist with genuine Beneteau parts, technical support and servicing enquiries, helping to keep your Swift Trawler 54 in excellent condition throughout your ownership.

Why Choose Fox’s Yacht Sales for Your Beneteau Swift Trawler 54?

At Fox’s Yacht Sales, we’ve been helping people get on the water for over 50 years. Our team knows boats inside and out, and we’re passionate about matching customers with the right boat for their needs. Whether you’re new to boating or moving up to your next boat, we’re here to offer straightforward advice, answer questions and support you long after handover day.

• Over 50 years of trusted marine expertise
• Fair and transparent pricing
• Options to sell your boat
• Expert guidance on specifications and options
• Friendly support the whole way through
• Access to marine finance and insurance solutions

As part of Fox’s Marina & Boatyard in Ipswich, you’ll also have access to one of the UK’s most established boating facilities. From servicing, maintenance and refits to our fully stocked chandlery, everything you need is in one place.

If you’d like to find out more about the Beneteau Swift Trawler 54, call us on 01473 971971. We’re available Monday to Saturday and always happy to talk boats.