The hull carries its beam well aft, while black automotive-style wraparound windows distinguish the GT5 from a conventional cruiser-racer. With its raised coachroof and semi-deck-saloon layout, Elan pitched the boat from the outset as a ground-breaking sailing concept.
Design and Construction
The GT5’s performance hull, twin rudders, and hard active chine were drawn by Humphreys Yacht Design to sharpen her behavior under way. SAIL Magazine noted that the hull has chines in its aft sections and carries its beam well aft for volume and control.
Both hull and deck are foam-cored and built with vinylester resin using vacuum infusion, with single-skin construction retained only in high-stress areas. A sub-frame and laminated bulkheads are bonded and laminated into the hull to improve stiffness. The composite bulkheads use vacuum-cured, resin-impregnated biaxial fabric to create a compact structure. Elan describes its VAIL process as the sure way to prevent osmosis and ensure uniform lightness and safety.
Belowdecks, the corner posts, fiddles, and locker-door edges are solid oak. Outside, two black trapezoid windows on each side of the hull and a distinctive black fairing at the aft end of the coachroof give the GT5 its recognizably modern profile.
Rig, Handling, and Performance
The GT5 combines a conservative sail plan with a furling-rig layout intended for easy handling by a shorthanded or even single-handed crew. Winch placement and furling sails are central to that arrangement.
All lines except the headsail furling lines run through ducting that exits just forward of the twin wheels. The genoa sheets lead to a winch slightly forward of the helm, while the halyards and German-style mainsheet run to a winch immediately beside it.
Twin rudders, set at a decent angle, maintain a good grip as the boat heels and reduce the tendency to broach. Jefa twin-wheel steering allows easy maneuvering from either side without obstructing movement through the cockpit. In the standard configuration, a fixed carbon bowsprit allows the GT5 to sail deeper downwind and carry an asymmetric gennaker or code sail.
In light-air testing, sailors recorded an honest 3 knots to windward in 6 to 8 knots apparent at an angle of 30 to 35 degrees. The boat made 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. With the gennaker hoisted from the fixed sprit, she exceeded 5 knots in light air.
Interior and Accommodations
The raised coachroof creates a deck saloon with a 180-degree panoramic skylight, a window-in-window feature, two hatches, and a large central hatch for ventilation. SAIL Magazine credited the black wraparound windows with bringing abundant light into the interior and providing a 180-degree view.
The layout is inverted, placing the galley forward. An 8-foot settee to port extends toward the athwartships galley, which has the stove to port and the sink to starboard. The saloon table drops to create a spacious double berth and incorporates a useful inboard grab handle.
The standard plan has three cabins and one head. Optional arrangements include:
- Two cabins and two heads
- Two cabins and one head
- 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 formed by sliding the seat base upward to create a work surface. In the forward cabin, LED strip lights hidden behind fabric panels highlight the oak grain.
Cockpit and Deck
The cockpit is long and wide, with L-shaped seating on both sides. Two cockpit tables sit alongside each other, and their outer leaves lower to form sun pads. The split-twin-table arrangement also widens the bench into a full sunbed.
Cockpit boxes provide additional storage and seating and can be upgraded with a grill and refrigerator. A drop-down swim platform is built into the transom.
The clean deck layout provides a fast, safe route forward to dedicated foredeck sunbathing cushions. An anchor windlass with a chaincounter can be operated at the locker or by remote control. Bow and stern thrusters are optional, as is a closed and covered cockpit intended to protect the crew from the elements.
Engine and Equipment
The published engine specifications vary. Standard power is described as a 38 hp Yanmar with saildrive, while the builder lists a 45 mhp Yanmar 4JH45 as standard and a 57 mhp 4JH57 as an option. Oceanvolt electric alternatives are available in 15 kW or twin 10 kW configurations. The U.S. market was expected to receive Yanmar options ranging from 30 to 75 hp.
The test boat’s 55 hp engine, driving a two-bladed propeller, produced 6.9 knots at 2,000 rpm.
Other details include dimmable ambient lighting, illuminated saloon light switches, and an emergency-ladder trigger.
Verdict
The Elan GT5 is a thoughtfully resolved grand tourer. It borrows sports-car styling cues but backs them with a Humphreys performance hull and a genuinely innovative interior. She is quick enough to satisfy a sailor, yet arranged so that a couple can handle her alone. Her deck-saloon volume is also rare at this length.
Pros
- Performance hull with a hard chine and twin rudders for control and resistance to broaching
- Inverted saloon with a forward galley, plus a distinctive three-cabin layout with a separate shower
- Well suited to shorthanded sailing, thanks to the furling rig and well-placed winches
- Vacuum-infused, foam-cored construction with a bonded sub-frame for stiffness
Cons
- Standard draft of 8 feet restricts shallow-water cruising unless the shoal option is chosen
- Complex deck-saloon glazing and optional systems bring additional upkeep considerations
