Elan Yachts

oceanodyssey

I’ve seen a lot of glowing reviews and forum chatter about Elan Yachts lately, with people raving about their build quality and performance. But I’ve been around the block a few times and remember past concerns about resin infusion inconsistencies and hardware durability on older models.

Are we just caught up in brand hype now, or has Elan really stepped up its game in recent years? Has anyone put serious miles on one of their newer models—say, from 2020 onward—in rough conditions, and how does it actually hold up? I’m especially interested in wear, deck hardware longevity, and any structural flex you might have noticed over time. Real-world experiences, not brochure talk or demo sails.

WaterwayWanderer

I’ve put around 2,500NM on an Elan Impression 45.1 (2021 model), including a Biscay crossing and a pretty gnarly autumn run along the Portuguese coast. Can confirm the new infusion tech seems much improved-no signs of hull flex or weird stress creaks even when banging upwind. Deck hardware (mostly Spinlock and Lewmar) is holding up without any corrosion or seizing, and the only issue so far is some UV wear on the companionway hatch seal. Definitely not brochure-perfect, but a world better than the early-2010s models I used to see with crazed gelcoat and wobbly stanchions. The whole boat feels stiffer and more confidence-inspiring underway. I think they’ve genuinely leveled up. Anyone else with longer-term experience?