Elan E6 Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

The E6 was sold with a three-cabin, two-heads arrangement or a four-cabin, two-heads plan, and on the used market the charter four-cabin version is the more common of the two, though both turn up and ex-charter examples are common. The three-cabin layout gives a large forward owner’s cabin and en-suite; the four-cabin adds a Pullman bunk cabin and smaller forward cabin sharing a heads. A technical tunnel between the aft cabins houses optional systems, and the saloon can be optioned as a double berth for larger crews.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Prevalence on the used market runs in clear tiers. Commonly fitted items include bow thruster, autopilot, heating, electric winches, chartplotter, AIS, air conditioning, inverter, cockpit shower and bimini — the bow thruster is a factory option that eases close-quarters handling, while electric winches matter because one tester noted a single electric winch demanded more physical effort than typical for a boat this size. Often-seen are life raft, freezer, hot water, swim platform and teak decks; the swim platform is worth checking since standard inventory lacked one from new. Less common are furling main and EPIRB, the latter a genuine owner upgrade rather than standard. For buyer consequence, focus on power and energy (inverter, generator in the technical space, heating), canvas and sail handling (bimini, electric winches, optional furling main), and comfort (air conditioning, teak decks, swim platform).

What to Inspect

The deck layout is crew-oriented rather than short-handed, and testers found that in windier conditions there was not enough purchase for the traveller car or the towable headsail sheet cars anchor, a point to verify on any boat sailed hard. The steering uses a twin wire system from each wheel with no emergency tiller required, so check both runs for wear. Galley fiddles were noted as disappointingly low and may not retain items when well heeled, and aft cabins have restricted natural light and ventilation regardless of layout. Standard tankage drew a note as ample for normal use but limiting for extended cruising, so confirm actual capacities and any added systems in the technical tunnel.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

Used Elan E6s are typically found in Croatia, New Zealand, France, Australia and Slovenia. For a buyer, the practical checklist is: confirm whether the hull is the three- or four-cabin charter layout and its provenance; verify the traveller and headsail sheet car purchase for windy-weather handling; confirm electric winch count and any furling-main or EPIRB upgrades; inspect both steering wires and the galley fiddles; and assess tankage against intended cruising range.