Wow, they're really daring. That may have been some people's comment on the presentation round for Elan Yachts' GT5 project in 2017. In fact, the yacht builder's project in Slovenia to launch a new, third shipyard line was bold and committed. Despite the completely new concept for a bluewater-capable tourer, the shipyard has simply used the existing hull moulds of the E5 performance cruiser (formerly Elan 400). To compensate for the additional weight of the higher interior fittings, the shipyard has lengthened the hull slightly and raised the freeboards slightly.
Ultimately, it was a bold but successful plan, as it turned out. In just over two years on the market, 20 units of the GT5 were built and sold, not least because of its well-known and frequently tested good sailing characteristics, especially in windy conditions. These are solid sales figures for a blue water boat with a rather specialised orientation and for a rather small shipyard.
When the GT5 was launched, Elan Yachts was already thinking aloud about plans to build a new GT line and a larger boat. The GT6 project was then discussed from time to time, but concrete sales were still a long time coming. In 2020, the time had finally come; the GT6 was launched and YACHT was the first sailing magazine to go on board. Here is the impression from the test report in YACHT issue 21/2020.
Flat deck in the foredeck at the expense of headroom
The very first encounter on the jetty makes it clear: the hull of the GT6, completely redesigned by Rob Humphreys, appears significantly fuller than that of its two metre smaller sister GT5. In comparison, the freeboards are higher with a similar length to width ratio. However, the enormous volume is cleverly concealed visually by a long window strip, which also marks the transition to the almost continuous fuselage skimming. In addition, a striking recess has been moulded into the fuselage for the row of windows, which has many advantages. This measure visually stretches the lines, protects the glued-in windows when retracting into the box and serves as a stringer to stiffen the fuselage structures.
The background to the lavish hull shapes can also be found in the shipyard's endeavour to design the entire foredeck as a flat deck without any superstructures and with flush recessed hatches. The Elan GT6 was to be the smallest yacht with a so-called flush deck in front of the mast. "We worked on this for a long time, playing with centimetres and millimetres until it finally worked out," says shipyard CEO Marko Skrbin, looking back on the intensive planning phase. The compromise was a somewhat restricted headroom in the foredeck below deck. The headroom in the standing area is only 1.88 metres, which is low by comparison.
The Elan GT6 is difficult to categorise
The type designation GT6 actually suggests a boat with a length of around 60 feet. In fact, with a hull length of 14.30 metres, the new boat from Elan Yachts is only 47 feet long. Similarly, the smaller sister GT5 is only 40 feet long. Interested parties need to know this. It is also difficult to categorise the GT concept in the competitive environment. Comparisons with conventional cruising yachts are just as inadequate as parallels with upmarket boats with a deck saloon or luxurious fast cruisers. With its GT line, Elan Yachts has positioned itself somewhere in between.
And this also applies to the price. The GT6 currently costs just under 580,000 euros gross (as of May 2023) in the basic version without the sails. Extra costs add up to a final price of just under 650,000 euros for the comfort equipment ready to sail as defined by YACHT. In comparison: cruising yachts from the major shipyard series, such as Bavaria, Hanse, Jeanneau or Beneteau, are available from around 400,000 euros. Upscale offerings such as those from Wauquiez or X-Yachts, on the other hand, are significantly more expensive with base prices of around 700,000 euros or more.
For the Elan GT6, the shipyard worked together with Porsche
Elan Yachts has not changed its long-standing and proven collaboration with the designers at Rob Humphreys Yacht Design in England for its latest new build project. However, the collaboration with Studio F. A. Porsche Design in Zell am See is new for the development. The GT6 is the first time that the renowned Austrian designers have dared to work on a sailing boat. Their signature is recognisable in many areas on and in the boat.
For example, the almost sculpted hull shapes at the rear, the steering columns, whose shape is reminiscent of the wings of seagulls or stingrays, or the beautifully designed storage boxes at the rear of the cockpit. The designers at F. A. Porsche have also set striking accents in the interior design, with an extremely modern, unaffected and at the same time high-quality appearance. The many windows in the hull and superstructure make it a pleasure to spend time below deck and enjoy the brightness.
Steering with a lot of feeling
In the bay off Portoroz in Slovenia, the fair weather thermals have now set in. This usually delivers between 10 and 12 knots of wind without swell. The GT6 likes these conditions, gets going quickly and well and crosses hard on the wind at an angle of 90 degrees at 6.7 knots. With a total weight of 12.4 tonnes, the Slovenian is quite light compared to similarly sized competitors. The boat reacts with corresponding agility and can be held directly and sensitively on the wind edge by the helmsman, despite the double rudder blades.
In general, the control system on the GT6 is impeccable, also technically. The Jefa system couples a steering wheel to the rudder quadrant on the corresponding side using two separate cables. The rudder shafts are then connected again below deck with a strong push rod. This ensures that the ship remains manoeuvrable even if one of the steering components should fail. Although these systems with two separate steering cables are complex to install and therefore expensive, this extra effort pays off in an emergency at the latest.
Easy sailing on the Elan GT6
Sailing the GT6 is easy even with a small crew. The mainsheet as well as all halyards and trim lines are led via the mast foot in wide channels below deck back into the cockpit to the aft winches. There are quite a lot of lines here on both sides. A little patience and a good overview are therefore required until the sails are set and trimmed properly. During the journey, the mainsheet, which is led aft on both sides, remains on the aft winch and can be operated by the helmsman without the need for contortions. In windy conditions, however, the capstan on the coachroof requires a great deal of effort because the sheet is attached quite far forward on the boom. On request, customers can opt for a carbon fibre targa bracket above the cockpit, which would allow the mainsheet to be operated more efficiently.
The front winch in the cockpit is only available for the sheets of the genoa or the additional space sails such as gennaker or code zero. As an alternative to the standard genoa with 106 per cent overlap, the Elan GT6 could also be equipped with a self-tacking jib. This option only makes sense for strong wind areas in the north, as the GT6's sail plan is not too generously defined as standard. Despite the comparatively light construction, the sail carrying capacity is only an average value of 4.6.
The Elan GT6 is not a deck saloon yacht, but still offers a good view
A nice wide and not too steep companionway with welcome handrails leads from the cockpit into the wide, open saloon area. However, you will search in vain for something to hold on to. In wind, waves and heeling, you feel lost and unsafe here. There are no handrails here, which have obviously been dispensed with in favour of the simple, no-frills design. Chic, yes, but unfortunately not particularly seaworthy.
The layout in the saloon is quite unusual. Elan has positioned the galley across the entire width of the boat at the front of the main bulkhead. This means that the seating area around the saloon table has to recede far aft. On the opposite side, much of the available space is taken up by the spacious wet room. Between the toilet room and the galley, Elan has installed a kind of chaise longue, a small seating area for relaxing and reading. Nice and cosy, but too short to sleep on. Instead, the centre section of this piece of furniture can be folded down as a chart table and work surface. The mechanism is technically sophisticated, but it is advisable not to store too many small items in the folding table, as these could quickly fall out when it is folded down.
The floor at the rear of the saloon is slightly raised. Although this does not yet make the Elan GT6 a deck saloon yacht, it still allows a beautiful harbour cinema when standing through the almost all-round window strip in the cabin superstructure. When seated, the view is guaranteed by the long hull windows. The saloon table can easily be converted from the large table into a small coffee table. Additional teak folding chairs can also be added so that up to seven people can sit comfortably at the table. Elan has even provided a separate storage space in the saloon for the chairs.
Space is tight here and there
The island bed in the foredeck is built relatively far into the bow with the headboard and is therefore only 1.37 metres wide at shoulder height. On the other hand, the forward cabin has its own bathroom with toilet and shower area. However, if you want to shower at the front, you have to slim down to be able to close the folding Plexiglas partition. The wet room aft offers more space and better showering facilities. There is only a relatively small deck hatch for ventilation in both toilets. In contrast, the ventilation options in the cabins and saloon are sufficiently good.
The two aft cabins are not identical in size. The separating technical duct, which also accommodates a generator, is shifted laterally to starboard by around 20 centimetres. This means that the berths at the rear are also different sizes. The double bed on the port side is a good size at 1.53 metres wide, while on the starboard side it is cramped at 1.32 metres wide for double occupancy.
Elan continues to push ahead in terms of quality
The above-average build quality of the GT5 was already recognised in the YACHT test. With the new GT6, Elan seems to be able to improve on this and set itself apart from the quality standards of many large series shipyards. The workmanship of the interior fittings is impeccable down to the smallest detail. The beautiful woodwork is evidence of accurate boatbuilding craftsmanship, and the on-board technology is not only beautifully installed, but also of the best quality in terms of materials. In terms of quality, Elan Yachts confidently orientates itself towards the upper market segments and cites brands such as X-Yachts, Solaris Yachts or Grand Soleil for comparison - and not without good reason.
With the Elan GT6, the yacht builders in Slovenia have once again made it clear that they are willing and able to take on the established premium brands at any time. The concept is well-rounded, the sailing characteristics are good, the qualities are harmonious and the pricing policy is attractive.
Measured values Elan GT6
Sailing performance, without drift and current
Wind speed: 10 kn (3 Bft), wave height: smooth water, * With gennaker
Potential STZ*
Despite its sporty airs and graces, the GT6 is above all a touring boat. The sail carrying capacity with genoa is only slightly increased
* Dimensionless number. Calculation: 2√S/3√V. The higher the value, the more sail area (S) the ship has in relation to the displacement (V).
Berth dimensions
Standing height
Sound pressure
Measured at cruising speed (80 % of maximum speed): 8.2 kn, 2,400 min -1
YACHT review Elan GT6
Solidly built and beautifully finished tourer from Elan Yachts with surprisingly sporty sailing characteristics. The independent boat allows few direct comparisons. Despite the high-quality basic equipment, the prices remain attractive
Design and concept
- + Independent and individual
- + Attractive pricing
- - Little headroom in the foredeck
Sailing performance and trim
- + Solid performance on the wind
- + Simple handling
- + Sensitive control
Living and finishing quality
- + Beautiful, cosy interior design
- + High processing quality
- - Narrow berth in the foredeck
Equipment and technology
- + Redundant control system
- + Targa bracket available as an option
- - Less efficient mainsheet guidance
Technical data Elan GT6
- Designer: Humphreys Yacht Design
- CE design category: A
- Torso length: 14,32 m
- Total length: 15,14 m
- Waterline length: 13,49 m
- Width: 4,49 m
- Draught/alternative: 2,45/1,99 m
- Theoretical torso speed: 8.9 kn
- Weight: 12,45 t
- Ballast/proportion: 3,9 t/31 %
- Mast height above waterline: 21,9 m
- Mainsail: 62,6 m²
- Genoa (106 %): 49,14 m²
- machine (Volvo Penta): 44 kW/60 hp
- Fuel tank (stainless steel): 300 l
- Fresh water tank (plastic): 500 l
- Holding tank (plastic): 2x 70 litres
Hull and deck construction
GRP sandwich construction built using the vacuum infusion process. Hull laminate with vinyl ester resin. Bulkheads laminated to the hull and deck
Base price ex shipyard (as of May 2023)
- 578,220 €, ex shipyard, gross incl. 19 % VAT
Shipyard and distribution
- Shipyard: Elan Yachts, 4274 Begunje na Gorenjskem (Slovenia); www.elan-yachts.com
- Distribution: Blue Yachting, D-28237 Bremen; www.blue-yachting.de
This article appeared in YACHT issue 21/2020 and has been revised for this online version.
