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ELAN 35 - DESIGNERS COMMENTS It is a very rare
opportunity to have the chance to develop a brand from the very
beginning. As expected this has been a very exciting project.
From the very early discussions we had all identified the lack of
any proper Hard Top boats in the size range 30 to 50 Ft . It sounded
easy at first but we soon realised why it had not been done before!
The Elan 35 is based on the concept of offering a sporting
experience, weather protection from a hard top and spacious
accommodation. We have incorporated a number of features that no one
in its class offers, such as a central steering position and
en-suite bathroom for the owner's cabin.
The hull of the 35 is a development of a number of previous designs
with extra beam to accommodate our spacious interior. Particular
attention was given to the design of the spray rails, for effective
spray deflection. The hull shape has a deep V to reduce slamming and
give smooth ride in a head sea. The configuration has been balanced
and optimised to produce a hull with excellent sea keeping
properties, to ensure a safe and comfortable ride over a wide range
of conditions. As this was going to be built by a new name in the
Industry we decided that we should do a full scale prototype to
prove its handling characteristics. This was in fact a huge success
and a very worthwhile experience, as it allowed us to go on
developing the rest of the boat knowing it performed faultlessly. It
is not often a boat is designed that does not need trim tabs or even
active leg trim and adopts the right running trim with ease at
various displacements.
The engines are Volvo KAD 44’s on Volvo stern drives giving a max
speed of 35 Knots. In addition this boat carries 750 Litres of fuel
and endurance of about 10 hours which is more than her competitors.
A very large hatch gives good access to the engine room.
Another very satisfying aspect of this project was that we had
Design meetings involving both the future Dealers and the Production
personnel so everyone was involved and contributing with their
experience.
The structure is GRP and isophtalic polyester with sandwich topsides
and solid bottom, nowadays a fairly standard method for this size of
boat, but in this case built to Germanischer Lloyd rules.
The design, Exterior and Interior, was carried out using all the
modern CAD tools to develop it and see that 3D shape in the screen.
This latest design technology affords everyone the chance to see
what it is going to look like before it is built. The interior
accommodation is one of the most spacious of its type and by careful
space planning incorporates an en-suite Bathroom with the Owner's
cabin.
The aft guest cabin also with standing room is arranged in a
Twin configuration. This is complemented by a panoramic saloon and
galley opposite. The decoration is modern with a mixture of wood and
fabric coverings of high quality materials with a distinguished
ebony looking edging to the furniture.
The deck is no least important as so much time is spent outside. The
dinghy garage was abandoned early on because we can never get a big
enough dinghy inside and a much more suitable size is possible if
carried on the transom platform. Whilst arguably less elegant it is
much more practical and useful to have a big dinghy.
The cockpit area aft is very spacious and extends across the boat so
you can have a sunbed on one side and seats on the other at the same
time. Another permanent sunbed is fitted on the foredeck. The
outside galley on Port also contains a fridge, sink unit and an
ice/bottle container on Starboard side.
The most prominent feature of this deck design is the central
helmsman position which provides the best location to steer the
boat. On Starboard side there is a complete navigatorium for your
charts and Radar Plotter ergonomically positioned for best viewing
angle. Above it a large sliding roof opens to give the feeling of an
Open sportsboat.
A variant of the Elan 35 HT without the hard top and lower profile
windscreen is also available as an option.
Altogether we believe this is a very complete design, with several
features not found on its competitors and with a very docile hull
that should provide its owners with endless fun and enjoyment.
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