Design and Construction
The GT5's performance hull, twin rudders, and hard active chine were all drawn by Humphreys Yacht Design to sharpen her behavior under way, and SAIL Magazine noted the hull includes chines in its aft sections and carries her beam well aft for volume and control. Both the hull and deck use vinylester resin in a vacuum-infusion process around a foam core, keeping a single skin only in high-stress regions; a sub-frame and laminated bulkheads are bonded and laminated into the hull to enhance stiffness, and composite bulkheads use vacuum-cured resin-impregnated biaxial fabric for compact structure. Elan's own literature describes the VAIL process as the sure way to prevent osmosis and ensure uniform lightness and safety. Belowdecks, corner posts, fiddles, and locker door edges are solid oak, and a pair of black trapezoid windows on either side of the hull plus a distinctive black fairing at the aft end of the coachroof give her a recognizably modern profile.
Rig and Handling
The GT5 pairs a conservative sail plan with a furling-rig layout that keeps her easily handled by a shorthanded or even single-handed crew, thanks to winch placement and furling sails. All lines except the headsail furling lines are led into ducting exiting just forward of the twin wheels; the genoa sheets to a winch slightly forward of the helm, while halyards and a German-style mainsheet go to a winch right next to it. Twin rudders set at a decent angle provide a good grip as she heels and reduce the tendency to broach, and the Jefa twin-wheel steering gives easy maneuvering from both sides without blocking cockpit movement. A fixed carbon bowsprit in the standard configuration lets her sail deeper downwind and carry an asymmetric gennaker or code sail. Test sailors found her making an honest 3 knots to windward in 6 to 8 knots apparent at a 30 to 35-degree angle, just over 4 knots on a close reach in 6.6 knots apparent, and 3 knots on a beam reach in 5 knots true or less; hoisting the gennaker on the fixed sprit took her past 5 knots in light air.
Accommodations
The raised coachroof forms a deck-saloon with a 180-degree panoramic skylight, window-in-window feature, two hatches, and a large central hatch for ventilation, and SAIL Magazine credited the black wraparound windows with giving the interior light in abundance and a 180-degree view. The layout is inverted, with the galley forward: an 8-foot seat to port stretches toward a galley running athwartships with stove to port and sink to starboard, and the saloon table drops to make a spacious double berth and carries a handy inboard grab handle. The standard plan is three cabins and one head, with options for two cabins and two heads, two cabins and one head, or three cabins and two heads; the three-cabin, two-head version is the only yacht of this size offering a separate shower compartment. A convertible navigation station is made by sliding the seat base up to become a work surface, and the forecabin hides LED strip lights behind fabric panels to show off the oak grain.
Cockpit and Deck Life
The cockpit is long and wide with L-shaped seating both sides and two cockpit tables alongside one another whose outer leaves lower to form sun pads; the split-twin table also widens the bench into a full sunbed. Cockpit boxes add storage and seating and can be upgraded with a grill and refrigerator, and a drop-down swim platform sits in the transom. A clean deck design gives fast, safe passage forward to dedicated foredeck sunbathing cushions, and an anchor windlass with chaincounter can be worked at the locker or by remote. Bow and stern thrusters are available as options, and an optional closed and covered cockpit protects the crew from the elements.
Power and Equipment
Standard power is a 38 hp Yanmar with saildrive, while the builder lists a Yanmar 4JH45 of 45 mhp as standard and a 4JH57 of 57 mhp as option, with Oceanvolt electric alternatives of 15 kW or twin 10 kW; the U.S. market was to see Yanmar options from 30 to 75 hp. The test boat's 55 hp engine with a two-bladed prop made 6.9 knots at 2,000 rpm. Ambient lighting with dimming, illuminated saloon light switches, and an emergency ladder trigger round out the detail level.
The Verdict
The Elan GT5 is a thoughtfully resolved grand tourer that borrows sports-car language and backs it with a Humphreys performance hull and a genuinely innovative interior. She is quick enough to satisfy a sailor yet laid out so a couple can run her alone, and her deck-saloon volume is rare in this length.
Pros
- Performance hull with hard chine and twin rudders for control and broach resistance
- Inverted saloon with forward galley and unique separate-shower three-cabin layout
- Easily shorthanded thanks to furling rig and well-placed winches
- Vacuum-infused foam-core construction with bonded sub-frame for stiffness
Cons
- Standard draft of 8 feet limits shallow cruising without the shoal option
- Complex deck-saloon glazing and optional systems add upkeep considerations
