Design and Construction
Elan built the 333 robustly in solid fiberglass, with a lead bulb keel drawing 6 feet 3 inches on the standard fin and a spade rudder aft. At 8,818 pounds displacement with 3,351 pounds of ballast, her 38 percent ballast-displacement ratio and 2.2 capsize screening number place her firmly in the modern performance-cruiser band rather than the heavy-displacement cruising camp. The builder describes the hull as able to withstand the worst the elements can throw at her, even at speed, and Yachting Monthly found her anchor solid and big-boat-like in a seaway. She is, in the manufacturer's words, a fine all-round player — well-balanced and good-natured rather than twitchy or demanding.
Rig and Handling
The 333's cockpit is spacious and ideally designed for short-handed crewing, with good-quality deck hardware close to hand and a layout thoughtfully arranged with the single-handed sailor in mind anchor. Yachting Monthly found her quick and close-winded, easy to keep in the groove and light on the helm, and very well-balanced, stiff and stable under a large sail plan that she stands up to well anchor. A tiller was standard, though many boats were fitted with a wheel; under power she manoeuvres sweetly. Young children can sit safely in the well of the cockpit if conditions require it, and the high coamings make the space comfortable for adult crew. The bridgedeck-mounted mainsheet traveller is a hazard for unwary crew moving through the cockpit anchor.
Accommodations
Below decks the 333 provides a level of comfort hard to find in this size of craft after a challenging day's racing. The main cabin feels open and roomy, with long straight settees either side of the table, plenty of hand-holds, and generous saloon headroom — though headroom is restricted in the forecabin. The accommodation layout is a good compromise between comfort in harbour and efficiency at sea, with an excellent nav-station and a seamanlike L-shaped galley. The aft cabin is big on berth size but small on stowage, a trade-off that keeps the boat spacious enough to accommodate a small family without bloating the hull.
Known Issues
Some owners say the wheel, where fitted, is mounted rather too far aft for comfort, isolating the helmsman and cramping movement behind the pedestal. The bridgedeck-mounted mainsheet traveller remains the principal ergonomic hazard for crew.
The Verdict
The Elan 333 is a genuinely dual-purpose 33-footer: quick and close-winded on the race course, yet roomy and composed for a small family living aboard or exploring coastlines. Humphreys' hull delivers a seakindly character under way while staying light on the helm and easy for an apprentice crew to manage. The only real caveats are ergonomic — the traveller placement and, on wheeled boats, the aft helm position.
Pros
- Quick, close-winded, and stiff under sail with a light helm
- Comfortable, roomy accommodation rare in this length
- Robust solid-GRP build with a seakindly big-boat feel
- Easily handled short-handed or by a couple
Cons
- Bridgedeck mainsheet traveller a trip hazard for crew
- Wheel (where fitted) mounted too far aft for some owners' comfort
- Restricted forecabin headroom; aft-cabin stowage limited
