Elan 310: Youngtimer with high entertainment value in the used boat test
Alexander Worms
· 08.07.2024
It's gusty on the test day on the IJsselmeer off Medemblik. Thick grey clouds hang low. The wind repeatedly jumps from 16 to over 20 knots in showers. The Elan struggles to hold its line in the wind. And then it happens: the tester's foot slips from the support bracket to windward in a strong heel and sails down the wide cockpit. The foot gets caught between the traveller rail and the line. The boat immediately goes through the wind and is heeled over. The helmsman lies there, feeling a little oppressed and suffering - like the boat - from maximum loss of control.
The owner is on board and reacts swiftly, casting off the mainsheet. The boat rights itself and the chaos slowly dissipates. It can happen. Nothing is broken, so it's no big deal, but it's clear that the Elan wants to be driven carefully. Sure, the conditions would certainly justify a reef in the mainsail, but as soon as you fall away from the wind enough, the stability of the Elan is perfectly adequate to carry the entire downwind wardrobe.
Used boat profile of the Elan 310
- Type: Elan 310
- Design engineer: Rob Humphreys
- Built: 2009-2013
- Quantity: 92 (+13 as 320)
- New price ready to sail: 90.000 €
- Price today: by € 100,000
A large width in relation to the length plus 1.1 tonnes of ballast at a depth of 1.90 metres (1.60 metres as an alternative) ensure a safe feeling on the Elan 310. The test boat is even equipped with a 2.15 metre deep performance keel. This lifts the leg a little to windward in every gust and converts the pressure into propulsion. However, at least one of the two rudders remains in the water even when the boat is heeling, which gives the helmsman a good feeling, even when there is a lot of pressure.
A boat with a learning curve
It sits comfortably on the coaming, with the tiller boom and mainsail controls sensibly draped around it. If only the foot stirrup wasn't so smooth. Nevertheless, the wind edge is easy to find, the pressure remains largely adjustable as desired and the trimming options are varied to suit the type of boat.
If you steer yourself, you can trim the pressure from the rudder as the learning curve increases. This makes sense for the autopilot anyway, as it then requires less power. The powerful backstay is used for this purpose, which is elaborately guided under the cockpit floor to a curry cleat next to the helmsman. The iron helmsman on the test boat comes from NKE, the finest product from the offshore regatta sector. As an IT entrepreneur, the owner obviously enjoys sophisticated electronics.
Also interesting:
The two displays in the cabin bulkhead show, for example, what percentage of the achievable speed according to the polar diagram is actually being travelled; this naturally spurs on the ambitious helmsman. And with a little concentration and full sensor technology for wind fields and the feel of the ship, this polar speed can certainly be teased out. According to the owner, this is also possible on most courses without weight on the edge and only with two people. Whether this is also the case with the versions with less draught remains to be seen.
The boat feels stiff and direct, although the twin rudders are a little less on point than a single blade would be. The lack of feel at the helm described in some forums for the Elan 310 could not be ascertained during the test; however, perhaps this is the case with less wind. The optional Jefa steering column, which can be folded from port to starboard and back, is not missed by anyone who seriously wants to move the boat fast.
When we tested the then new Elan ten years ago, the demonstration boat had this option. The consequences of this: reduced space in the aft chamber and cockpit as well as a less precise steering feel. The tiller is a different story, but it is made of carbon fibre and provides fine steering. That's fun. And the wide traveller also makes it easy to parry stronger gusts.
Accessories come in packages
It makes sense to look for a used 310 that was equipped with the performance package at the time. It included the obvious features for sporty yachts, such as folding propeller, traveller and recessed furling system, as well as an inhauler for the fore sheets. This is intended to help the sluggish upwind performance, which is reasonably successful.
The tacking angles remain quite generous, but this is almost irrelevant as the deeper courses are the Elan's superpower. So: Gennaker pole out, which is ORC-friendly and jibe-unfriendly short, and bladder up. And off you go. According to the owner, you need real waves to glide, but the test on the IJsselmeer was unsuccessful.
However, he can only sail very low with the big Genni. With around 20 knots of wind, it has reached the absolute limit of what is possible. Several shots of the sun during the trip bear witness to this. But, reports the visibly happy owner, on the way to England they had already left their own wave system and glided.
The two rudder blades ensure stable steering. However, if you overdo it, as in the test under gennaker, you will be penalised. However, the Elan 310 is by no means exclusive to this inbuilt sanction for overconfidence. It was precisely these challenges, these rides on the razor's edge, that attracted the new owner to the Elan 310.
He wanted a sporty boat that could show him new milestones of his own ability over the coming years, whose potential he would not be able to call on immediately and on which he would be able to grow as a sailor. So he was looking for a challenge. And, he says, he still finds plenty of them. An impressive attitude, as his sailing CV is surprisingly short. He only got on a boat for the first time in 2015.
In quick succession, the man completes various licences. Then, in 2018, he gets his own boat. He had professionals train him to move it as safely and quickly as possible. He succeeds, as trips to England and along the French coast prove. He has covered 4,000 miles in two years - always with an eye on the polar value on the displays. That's how he learns, he says. The ship repays the attention it receives in the form of the finest ropes and exquisite cloths with reliable, fun and fast sailing.
Few weak points
The Elan owner is pleased to report that little has been broken so far. The collar on the mast is broken and the mast had to be pulled out to replace it. Its rubber sleeve leaks from time to time, but this is not unusual.
Furthermore, the locks on the lockers are not always able to cope with the load; they also open when they are not supposed to. The ventilation of the diesel tank is unfavourably solved, which leads to problems when refuelling. There is slight gelcoat damage on deck in areas subject to heavy loads. Nothing that causes real and expensive trouble, because otherwise the Elan is solid.
The hull is a sandwich with a foam core and is built in a vacuum. The outer layers are made of vinyl ester resin, so it is unlikely to cause any osmosis problems. The deck is also a sandwich with foam, but it is built using the hand lay-up method.
When installing new deck fittings, it is therefore important to ensure that the drill holes are reinforced and sealed with resin towards the foam before installation. Even though foam is not as sensitive to water ingress as a balsa core, it should still be kept as dry as possible.
The twin rudder system also requires a little attention. The tie rod must be precisely adjusted so that the two rudders have the correct angle of attack to each other. The rudder is also a real cost driver when buying a used boat: the autopilot. It should be suitable for the boat and its potential. A tiller pilot is not enough for ambitious sailing with a small crew, and certainly not if a gennaker is involved. If the autopilot is missing, you will have to spend several thousand euros on a sufficiently fast linear drive plus control unit before you can sail with a small crew at sea with support.
The keel structure, on the other hand, appeared to be very solid; large, rounded chock plates and cradles that are quite high for the size of the boat ensure rigidity. Nevertheless, pay very close attention to the hairline cracks in the cradles. These can indicate rough grounding that has caused damage to the structure - which is quite common with slim and deep profiles such as on the Elan.
The shrouds are attached to the outside of the deck, so there are no complex beams installed that could become a weak point. In general, the boat looks well finished, right down to the interior. The dimensions match the size of the boat: the headroom is always just under 1.80 metres, except in the foredeck, and the berths are adequately sized. Only the inner berth in the aft cabin is too short at 1.83 metres. If wheel steering is installed, there is also a lack of height above the feet.
The wet cell even has space for a small oil locker. Navigation and galley are also available. The latter is not huge, but sufficient for a crew of up to four people. In terms of quality of life below deck, the Elan is therefore fully suitable for touring if the interior package was ticked at the time. This is because the removable lockers in the saloon are included, as are the fridge and a hot water system - almost indispensable amenities. A warm air heating system was also installed in the test boat. This is great, especially if you need to dry your oilskins after a long journey at sea.
Broad target group
So who was the Elan built for? She has capabilities for a wide range of sailors. Slightly advanced sailors will find the wind edge good and quickly enjoy sailing, but are unlikely to achieve a rating in regattas. For those who want to grow on the boat, the Slovenian has enough potential up her sleeve. Almost incidentally, she is also suitable as a family touring boat on holiday without any major compromises.
If you want one, you should calculate around €100,000 for it. You can also get a very good used Winner 10.20, First 30 or Dehler 32 J/V for that. A Bavaria 42 Match is even cheaper, with the corresponding scope for investment in sails or other equipment and much more spacious.
The Elan, on the other hand, is fun to sail because of its manoeuvrability, complete interior and good sailing characteristics. It is therefore an ideal starter boat for young families who perhaps want to grow into a shared passion for regattas and still don't want to do without a warm shower on holiday.
The Elan 310 in detail
Technical data of the Elan 310
- CE design category: A
- Torso length: 9,25 m
- Width: 3,22 m
- Draught/alternative: 1,60/1,90, 2,15 m
- Weight: 3,3 t
- Ballast/proportion: 1,1 t/33 %
- Mainsail: 30,1 m2
- Furling genoa (112 %): 23,5 m2
- Machine (Volvo): 13 kW/20 hp
Hull and deck construction
Hull: foam sandwich in vacuum, exterior vinylester, deck: foam sandwich in hand lay-up process, iso-resins
YACHT review of the Elan 310
"Versatile" best describes the Elan 310: sporty, cosy, well-built. For its size and layout, it offers plenty of space on and below deck and is ambitious to drive. Ideal for sporty families or couples
Design and concept
- + Still modern design
- - Slight weaknesses in the wind
Sailing performance and trim
- + Active sailing required
- + Useful trimming devices
Living and finishing quality
- + Amazingly cosy
- - Aft bunk too short inside
Equipment and technology
- + Good fittings
- + Useful equipment packages
Ship history
Between 2009 and 2013, 92 were built. After the facelift to the 320, which was given a double helm station, a further 13 were built. Only very few were built with a draught of 1.60 metres, with the rest of the number of units split roughly equally between 1.90 and 2.15 metres. Only 20 boats were equipped with the swivelling steering wheel, the remaining 72 were fitted with a tiller
Market situation
The Elan 310 is also in great demand second-hand. Many boats, including the test boat, are moored in France. If you are specifically looking for a 310, you should not hesitate if you see an offer on the market. Depending on the area of use and planned utilisation, the draught and equipment are decisive. A conversion from wheel to tiller is possible and can be worthwhile if all other criteria fit.
The article first appeared in YACHT 15/2020 and has been updated for the online version.
