Elan Yachts: 70 Years of Boat Building

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Pinnacle Marine

Ingemar Stenmark is considered one of the greatest ski champions of all time. When he won the Alpine Ski World Cup in the 1970s, he did so with skis made by Elan. But Elan don't only make skis. They also produce a superb range of sailing yachts that have earned industry-wide praise for their speed, craftsmanship and technological excellence. Pinnacle Marine is New Zealand's sole appointed dealer for Elan Yachts.

Elan was founded in 1945 in the Slovenian Alps, the northwestern part of what was formerly Yugoslavia. Initially calling itself the Workers' Ski Cooperative, the company diversified into boat building in 1949 with a range of kayaks and canoes. When Yugoslavia imploded in 1990 and civil war decimated the country, Elan was the nation's only well-known brand to survive. Of the many awards the company's yachts have won (including European Yacht of the Year), one of the most recent was in 2021 when the Elan GT6 won the prestigious Red Dot Design Award.

The photos below, along with the one above, show the Elan E4. The light oak trim lends this yacht an attractive, homely feel that's contemporary, stylish and practical.

Elan Yachts: the Evolution of a Winning Brand

Elan's initial foray into the world of boat building was way back in 1949. Soon after, the company began exporting a range of small boats to the USA. The venture was a success and heralded the start of Elan's aspiration to build bigger and better yachts for a global market.

Elan's first sailboats were introduced in the 1970s, the most successful of which sold more than 10,000 units. In the 1990s Elan recruited the services of internationally renowned yacht designer, Rob Humphreys. The partnership began in 1995 and resulted in the 31-feet Elan 295. Several award-winning yachts followed. The Elan 340 and 350, for example, were voted European Yacht of the Year in 2007 and 2011. Both were designed by Rob Humphreys.

Rob's approach to design is summed up by what he refers to as the 60/60 rule, a philosophy that attempts to optimize the racer-cruiser balance. The idea is that race-oriented buyers will look at the yacht and immediately see its sportiness and competitive potential. Cruise-orientated customers, however, will consider the boat is designed with comfort in mind and therefore geared to their needs. In other words, races and cruisers will both believe the boat's design is biased 60% in their direction. It's a philosophy that works well and underpins Rob Humphreys' successful relationship with Elan.

Marko Škrbin

Attending the Southampton Boat Show in 2018 was Marko Škrbin, Director of Elan's Marine Division. Marko was interviewed by Sail World magazine and spoke enthusiastically about the latest range of Elan yachts, the E3, E4 and E5. According to Marko, feedback from customers has been extremely positive, especially with regards to the modern, stylish interiors. Marko also commented on the new range's clean lines and sleeker appearance. Superior equipment and improved materials are also important features of this collection.

Our customers have often owned two or three boats and might have compromised before. When they come to own an Elan, their days of compromising are over.

Marko Škrbin, Marine Division Director, Elan Yachts

The Gran Turismo

As well as the E-series of yachts, Elan offers the Impression and GT (Gran Turismo) collections. The GT5 is the latest model to represent the Gran Turismo range. Blending luxury, comfort and sporty performance, it's an elegant, 43-feet deck-saloon yacht that's guaranteed to turn heads. The yacht is easy to handle and can even be sailed single-handed.

It's also a very safe boat. Water and fuel tanks are kept low at the center, thereby lowering the center of gravity and improving stability. Advanced materials and construction techniques result in a tight, stronger yacht that offers greater safety at sea.

Elan claim that with the GT5 they are taking interiors to a new level of excellence. The evidence bears this out. Instead of the conventional cockpit-galley-saloon arrangement, the GT5's galley is forward and the saloon situated amidships. This configuration allows the saloon to make full use of the yacht's width. The saloon and galley are both illuminated by generous portholes and 180-degree panoramic coachroof windows.

Creative use of space is everywhere and the finishings are superb. Several color schemes are possible. Furniture, for example, is available in shades of natural oak and teak, while options for upholstery include walnut, beige, savannah and lavender.

The Impression Collection

Elan's Impression collection is characterized by cruising comfort and world-class quality. Hull and deck-saloon windows create bright, airy interiors that are homely and welcoming. The feeling of space and luxury is akin to what's usually only found in much larger boats. Three models are available: the 40, 45 and 50, each available with a number of different configuration options. The photos below are exterior shots of the Impression 50.

Elan Yachts in New Zealand

Elan Yachts has enjoyed a long, colorful history of boat building. Thanks to its enduring partnership with Rob Humphreys, the company's boats have earned a reputation for performance, quality design, tasteful interiors and technological innovation. Elan's award-winning yachts appeal to competitive sportsmen and cruise enthusiasts alike.

Pinnacle Marine is New Zealand's exclusive dealer for Elan Yachts. If you would like more information about this fine European brand, please get in touch.