Design and Construction
The 295 has a solid fibreglass hull and carries either a deep-fin keel or a fin-with-bulb keel. She displaces 6,834 pounds, with a beam of 9 feet 9 inches and a waterline length of 26 feet 7 inches.
Her fine entry, U-shaped bow sections, and narrow waterline beam help her slice smoothly to windward. Humphreys added an inch or two to the coachroof, providing 6 feet 1 inch of headroom at the after end of the saloon.
Rig, Deck, and Sailing Performance
Humphreys gave the 295 a tall, well-raked fractional rig. Well-specified Lewmar and Spinlock deck hardware includes jamming headsail foot blocks and cockpit-controlled genoa cars.
On the water, the boat proved remarkable for her lack of pitching and good directional stability. In 12 knots of true wind, testers accelerated to 6 knots on a beam reach. In 15 knots, she maintained 5.5 knots hard on the wind, then reached 6.7 knots after bearing away onto a broad reach. She tacked through 60 to 70 degrees by the compass. Even when the wind faded to 8 knots, she continued reaching at an easy 5 knots.
There were some shortcomings in the sail controls. The mainsheet purchase lacked power, and the traveller cleats were awkwardly positioned for control from the windward side. The headsail tracks were too far aft for easy trimming.
Performance Under Power
The test boat had the optional Yanmar 2GM engine, driving a two-bladed fixed propeller. It produced an impressive 7.4 knots at 4,000 rpm and a comfortable 6.6 knots at 3,000 rpm. The boat received full marks for manoeuvrability under power, though slightly fewer for sound insulation.
The theoretical hull speed is 6.9 knots, while the calculated maximum under power is about 5.6 knots. A D/L ratio of 180 places the 295 among light racers.
Accommodation and Stowage
Below, the 295 provides four to six berths. The saloon gives up some volume in return for finish and brightness: it’s less roomy than those of many rivals, but the mahogany interior is light, airy, and generally neatly finished.
Headroom reaches 6 feet 1 inch at the after end of the saloon. An 18-gallon stainless-steel water tank sits beneath each saloon berth, a practical use of the available space. The shallow bilge, however, limits general stowage.
Known Issues
The principal concerns noted in period testing were:
- A mainsheet purchase that lacked power
- Traveller cleats awkwardly mounted for use from the windward side
- Headsail tracks positioned too far aft for easy trimming
- Limited stowage because of the shallow bilge
- Sub-par engine sound insulation on the test boat
The Verdict
The Elan 295 is a thoughtfully balanced small racer-cruiser: quick, steady, and easy to drive, with a clean Humphreys hull and a bright interior that makes the most of its modest volume. The deck-trim shortcomings are real but addressable, while limited stowage is the price of the shallow bilge and sporting hull.
Pros
- Smooth windward manner from the fine entry and narrow waterline beam
- Remarkable lack of pitching and good directional stability
- Strong light-air and powered performance for a 30-footer
- Light, airy mahogany interior
- Useful under-berth water tanks
Cons
- Weak mainsheet purchase
- Awkward traveller and headsail-track placement
- Limited stowage because of the shallow bilge
- Less roomy below than many competitors
- Sub-par engine sound insulation on the test boat
