Besides its elegance and length Swede 55 comes with an introvert Scandinavian shape. The slightly curved spoon bow reminds on the Twenties, when the Square Metre Boat found its final shape for racing in the Skerries, as the archipelago of the Stockholm Skärgård is known. The fine entry separates the water effortless. A closer look underneath the bow reveals how Reimers reduced the length with a rounded stem at deck level.
The midship section indicates a bit of Tumblehome. The wine glass shape once had various purposes. In times when cargo was shipped aboard sailing vessels, it reduced tax for ships and later the rating of race boats. Later at some race boats the beam was measured at deck level, so it was clever to give them the max. beam below. On battleships, it advanced the weight distribution, thanks to the heavy cannons placed closer to the centreline. On sailing yachts it contributed to the righting moment with the max. beam placed at the ideal level. Finally, aboard the pleasure craft the constricted section towards the deck adorns the hull with sculptural elegance.
A quarter of the entire length extends in the forward and aft overhang. The domed fore- and side decks add structural strength and volume. The forward raked transom gives Swede 55 the modern tone of the seventies, while its rounded shape adds finesse to the design.
Slightly curved sheer line
Another interesting detail and refinement is found at the sheer line. Linking bow and rear, it can’t be straight, as this would lead to ennui. Thus, the boat obtained a barely noticeable bent sheer line with some inherent tension. When Reimers designed Swede 55he looked back on five decades varying this detail with a fleet of square metre boats since he began as draftsman at Henry Rasmussens office of Abeking & Rasmussen yard in the 1920s.
Reimers’ plough shaped cabins
You find two deckhouse patterns aboard Reimers’ boats. First the spray cap of his Daysailers and race boats. Second the stretched and stepped version aboard his cruisers.
The dollhouse sized deckhouse of the classy Reimers race boat matches to the low freeboard. With his 8-Metre class design Glana, built in 1946 for Lake Geneva, or the 30 sqm boat Vanja VI, Reimers went a little further.
8-mR Class Glana on Lake Geneva – Foto James R. Taylor/sealens.com
To reduce windage and to break water washing across the deck, Reimers gave the cabin a pointed front. This deckhouse is demanding to build and add a pleasing look. You can’t really see through the tiny portholes. They are mostly there to complement the look.
Recent 30 Square Metre Boat launched with pointed deckhouse – Photo Rolf Winterhalter/Bootswerft Beck & Söhne
It is nice to see this trademark being built occasionally today at recent 30 square metre boats by Bootswerft Beck & Söhne on Reichenau Island/Lake Constance. Here sophisticated craftsmanship merges with rare and classy shape.
The desire for a sheltered cockpit and full headroom below deck of longer square metre boats like Bacchant or Fidelis lead to another, Reimers’ stretched and stepped deckhouse pattern. This shape incorporates headroom near the companionway and galley of the popular S30, a 41 ft square metre boat variant developed in 1972 for families and the cruising sailor. The window shapes give the deckhouse a traditional and homely touch.
The boxy and edged shape of the stretched Swede 55 deckhouse resembles a wooden construction. The tiny step reminds on Reimers’ tradition of his 75 square metre boats. The small windows match the introvert elegance of one on his last designs. The porthole sized windows in the fore and aft cabin are there to complement the look.
Low profile and stretched superstructure of Swede 55 – Photo Wolfgang John for Swedesail
Photo on top: Rendering of the Swede 55 hull with appendages of keel fin and rudder by Swedesail. Published July 1, 25, updated October 26, 25.→ Subscribe Newsletter and you won’t miss future articles.
