Nautor Swan Arrow Review (2024 Edition)

Designed by Jarkko Jämsén, of Navia Design and Axopar fame, the Arrow has taken its design cues from the shipyard's sailing heritage and the Med lifestyle. Nautor Swan also aimed to put superyacht features into a smaller package.

The Arrow is Pointing Outdoors

At 23m (75ft 4in), the Arrow has a full walkaround design, with a beam extending over 6m (20ft) and this has allowed for an amazing aft deck.  The drop-down platforms on the aft deck expand the already spacious outdoor living area. Steps lead up to a mezzanine cockpit area, and then through to the main deck interior, which is just an extension of the outdoors, thanks to almost floor-to-ceiling glass, a massive opening sunroof, and aft doors that slide open and pivot away completely.

The interior of the Arrow has a very distinct nautical feel. Rich mahogany and teak underfoot and overhead deliver a genuine "boaty" feel that has become increasingly rare. Stainless steel inlays in the teak floor and the metal handles that look like knots are lovely tactile details.

It's a good job that leather softens areas where you might accidentally catch your head (especially in the galley). This nautical theme is a refreshing change from the usual white, grey, or sand with classic blue and white stripes adding a nice touch of character to the upholstery on deck.

Swan wanted to create an inside-outside experience on the Arrow. Massive sliding doors on both sides open up to the cockpit, allowing you to drift from the saloon to the terrace and to the side decks, enjoying the breeze everywhere - the levels of natural ventilation are outstanding. 

The decor is gorgeous in a glossy mahogany finish - outside the uprights are just a wood-effect wrap, which looks convincingly real - but inside it's the real deal. The teak overhead is a nice touch, complementing the warmth of the mahogany. The detailing is absolutely lovely, especially where the wood curves up into the ceiling, and the custom sofas and bespoke Theodora lights are the finishing touches requested by the owner of this particular boat. 

Perhaps the most interesting feature is the bar. You can move the entire piece of marble to reveal the sink, rather than the usual sink cover. On a Swan, even doing the washing up is an event. When it's time to say goodbye to the sink, the marble slides back into place, leaving a flush surface behind. It's an over-the-top solution but delicious in its execution. 

The galley is located on the lower deck and on this boat, has a dinette opposite finished in yet more luscious mahogany. It has a fridge and a freezer, while on the other side, you'll find an integrated washer/dryer. The Corian worktop flows down into the sink, a high-quality detail that looks lovely. It's an interior peppered with playful details and it feels one of a kind.

There are good-sized hull windows that have twist-to-close blinds - so there's manual ventilation alongside the built-in extraction to push out cooking smells. The seating area is opposite with a TV hidden behind a mirror.  This area could also be a twin cabin - although the galley area would feel a lot smaller with the cabin bulkhead looming over it.

Owner's Cabin

The owner's cabin has ocean liner/art deco vibes. There's the teak running down the length of the cabin which curls towards the bottom of the cabinets - a detail that's no mean feat and looks absolutely lovely. This is complemented by more mahogany and leather surrounding the bed.

Headspace is generous, with plenty of room to move around without feeling cramped. Storage is integrated, with cabinet space running along one side and a double bureau. The lighting is a key feature with lamps mounted on either side of the bed and one on the bureau that looks like the anchor light of a steam ship. It's an evocative space. 

The bathroom, especially for a 75-footer, is very impressive. It spreads across the full beam of the boat with identical separate sinks and toilet cubicles all beautifully decked out in white marble. A particularly nice touch is the pebbles set under glass in the shower trays. The only shared area is a vast shower between the two sink/toilet compartments, which features yet more marble and a huge rain shower fixture overhead. 

Looking at the VIP cabin of the Arrow, it's clear that careful thought has been put into making this space on par with the owner's cabin. While there isn't an overhead hatch, the light deckhead compensates enough, so the cabin still feels bright and welcoming. Even with the lights off, the light panelling and decent-sized portholes on either side allow plenty of light in.

At the end of the bed, space is a bit limited, but the bed itself is a good size, and lovely details at the top echo those found in the master cabin. 

The bathroom's layout is particularly smart, with the toilet on one side of the entranceway and the shower on the other, so two people can use the facilities without feeling cramped. The shower compartment also has white pebbles underneath a glass floor, and marble accents all around.  

The helm station feels like it's floating up on these really solid-looking steel pods and it has the largest Garmin screens available to provide a complete display of all navigational information. It’s lovely how the helm remains uncluttered, with its teak-topped surfaces and a wide-diameter, wooden-rimmed wheel.

The leather seats are both beautiful and convertible, adjustable for sitting, leaning, or standing, and they offer fabulous views forward. Powering the Arrow are triple Volvo Penta IPS engines providing 3,000hp, pushing the yacht to an impressive top speed of 37 knots, remarkable for a 75ft yacht. 

Positioned right at the waterline, two L-shaped lounge areas provide a lovely spot for relaxing, surrounded by carbon fibre poles. The platforms drop down to extend the space when at anchor, and when on the move, the platforms neatly fold up behind the loungers.

Ahead of the seating is the transformer platform, which rises, extends, and lowers into the water. This function allows it to launch the tender, connect up to a quayside, or function as a swim platform. There's also an up-and-down passerelle, full-height transom shower, and swim ladder. The tender garage has a crane that can lift the tender onto this platform into the sea and then back out again. 

The connection to the mezzanine via broad stairs between the sofas is wonderful and you’ll notice how clean and uncluttered the space is - with the mooring gear concealed under squabs, leaving only a couple of cleats in sight.

Side Decks & Foredeck

You can get back and forth to the foredeck using full walkaround side decks on the Arrow. Forward, you'll notice the hull's shape has a distinct sailing boat look, guarded by cords instead of railings.  

On the foredeck, there is a seating area positioned to offer shelter when seated. The canvas shade is a bit low but it provides decent protection from the sun when seated or reclining on the sun pads. There's a fridge, great as this is probably the furthest spot away from the galley, and the table neatly expands to accommodate more guests.

As you look out over the forward area, the beautiful mahogany finish catches the eye, and the anchor mechanism is hidden away in the anchor locker when not in use, keeping the bow uncluttered and those lines as sharp as possible.

There is a ladder that folds away into the cockpit overhang which leads up to the sun deck. This is an area that does what it says on the tin really, with a bug sun pad mounted forward of the navigation equipment. It feels like maybe a bit more could have been done here but it meets the brief if you want somewhere to catch the sun.