1990

2 år, Familje & kappsegling

2 person(er)

I was looking for a reasonably priced quality boat (thus had to be older) and considered only Nordic manufacturers. But when i came across the Elan 43 with a huge cabin in the aft and another in the fore with one in the middle with two bunks I had found my boat! Mostly Lewmar (winches 48 t0 52) and Harken (jib roller furler) well-sized quality equipment onboard. Double the strength than in equal size German and French boats. Twin fittings and booms for the spinnaker - good in a aboat of this size. The boat is superior in all winds except the lightest (top rigged) then some lighter boats passed us. Excelling in close haul. Very stable, leans up to 20 deg but not more. Reefing only at 12 ms or so. All ropes to the cockpit, very handy.

Spacious, huge single aft cabin in my version, roomy dining, navigation and pentry in middle, two normal size double cabins in fore and middle. Fore toilet is small and is more of a spare one normally used as a closet. Huge refridgerator (I thought too big), but is seems to fill itself always. Has a number of great innovations like a heated closet for wet clothing (boiler and the fridge compressor are there.)

Surprised all along after I had started renovating the boat last winter. The build is of superior quality, beating all non-Scandinavian boats I've seen, it's better than Diva 39 and almost up to my friend's Swan 46. But better yet, the Elan 43 is very spacious, I am 193 and can stand straight, yet sleek outside with a sporty low roof. Very heavy build, not saving materials and cost like today, safe. But then, those days Elan had likely the world's best know-how in GRP technology. Added a teak deck and now its better than anything I can see around the harbors! Yanmar engine is no different from new after these years, and I do appreciate a simple axle drive to the folding prop.

The basic teak covering was opening up in one corner down the swimming platform where it is always wet - but that's not bad in 20 years! Big jib (60 m2) is a bit laborious when tacking all the time..

Nothing major except the teak deck added, checked and overhauled everything last winter but all bigger equipment is still as good as can be after these years including a few Gotland Runts and all.