Hardly any other shipyard strikes the compromise between good performance, pleasant cosiness and a balanced relationship between price and performance as well as Elan Yachts in Slovenia. This is not the only reason why the harmonious overall package of the Elan 350 (test in YACHT 14/2010) was awarded the title of "European Yacht of the Year 2011".
Now the shipyard is following up with a new Elan 400, bringing out the same concept in an enlarged version. In terms of external features, this means T-keel, double rudder blades with two steering wheels, pronounced chines and an extendable bowsprit for gennaker or code zero. The Slovenians are thus closing the gap between the 350 and the 450, the predecessor model Elan 410 (test in YACHT 8/2007) having been discontinued some time ago.
Despite the slightly shorter hull length (11.95 metres), the design by Elan's in-house designer Rob Humphreys should offer the same generous amount of space in the cockpit as the previous 410 model. In addition, a folding cockpit table is now built into the cockpit floor, and thanks to the double rudder wheels, passage through the cockpit is unhindered - the large rudder wheel of the 410 made climbing over the running deck unavoidable. The vertically sloping stern is now also equipped with a large, folding platform, and a spacious stowage box at the stern could accommodate a life raft, among other things.
Below deck, the tried-and-tested layout with three cabins and a choice of one or two heads compartments will be retained. The interior of the Elan 400 will have a completely new styling in cooperation with the Slovenian studio Gigo Design. This is certainly something to look forward to.
Elan is presenting its new performance cruiser as a world premiere at the boot trade fair in Düsseldorf (19 to 27 January 2013). However, the shipyard has not yet announced a specific price.
In comparison to the new Elan 400, YACHT tv has a video of its direct competitor, the Dehler 41:
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Michael Good
Editor Test & Technology
