Design and Construction
The 50.1 is a relatively conservative modern hull with maximum beam carried amidships rather than pushed far aft, which keeps the sectional shape predictable and the motion easy. Humphreys’ CFD work gives the hull a low centre of gravity and great stability, while the classic L-shaped keel is credited by the builder with easier navigation. Elan builds the hull using Vacuum-Assisted Infusion Lamination, a method the yard adopted fleet-wide in 2003, and the raised deck-saloon centre section opens a large volume for the diesel and vital systems. Inside, the joinery is finished in Iroko veneer with solid wood trim, which period reviewers found attractive rather than merely serviceable.
Rig and Handling
On the water the boat is set up for a small crew. The tall fractional rig carries powered winches and roller furling, with a self-tacking jib that testers praised to windward; one pair of the powered winches is reachable from the helm and the other is not, making the arrangement ideal for a couple but less so for single-handed work. Twin Jefa wheels drive twin rudders that reduce the tendency to broach and gave positive helm control when SAIL Magazine short-tacked up the Severn at Annapolis through 80 degrees at 6.5 knots in a 12-knot breeze. Under power the handling was exemplary: writing in SAIL Magazine, testers found a turning circle of less than one boatlength, immediate stopping, and controllable backing, with a 2400 rpm setting yielding 8.4 knots and a moderate 74 dBA in the cabin.
Accommodations
The deck saloon’s raised centre brings a far brighter and more spacious interior than an ordinary yacht, and the inverted saloon layout optimises the maximum beam for living space. Three layouts are offered: standard three cabins and three heads, or options of four cabins with three heads, or five cabins with two heads. Two of the three layouts place a unique forward cabin that can be split by a movable solid partition like a Shoji screen, and the saloon itself can convert to a double berth for larger crews. The forward transverse galley surrounds the cook at the point of minimum motion, a proper nav table sits amidships, and the cockpit is split into an aft working zone by the wheels and a larger forward lounging area with twin tables that drop to pads.
Equipment and Outdoor Living
Elan offers an anchor windlass with remote and chain counter for straightforward single-handed anchoring, and a bow thruster to ease close-quarters docking. The cockpit is served by a split-twin table that keeps movement open, while cockpit boxes can be upgraded to carry a grill and refrigerator. At the stern the 50.1 is unusual in offering two drop-down platforms — a small teak-covered one and a large bathing platform that extends the living area and closes the transom for safety — plus ambient lighting with dimming for evenings aboard.
The Verdict
The Impression 50.1 is a thoughtfully engineered mid-size cruiser that trades radical hull shape for predictable, family-friendly performance and a genuinely roomy deck-saloon interior. Its short-handed rig, twin-rudder control, and exemplary powered handling make it a confident coastal and moderate offshore vessel, while the multiple cabin layouts and split forward berth suit both private and charter-style ownership.
Pros
- Unique inverted deck saloon with bright, spacious interior and CFD-derived stability
- Twin rudders and Jefa twin-wheel steering with excellent close-quarters power handling
- Self-tacking jib and powered winches suit a couple; multiple cabin layouts including a partitionable forward cabin
- Forward transverse galley at minimum motion with proper amidships nav table
Cons
- One pair of powered winches not reachable from the helm limits single-handed sail handling
- Shoal-draft option adds ballast but still carries meaningful draft for some harbours
