Croatian Elans

W

wanzap1

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 Sep 2018
Messages
87
Visit site
Hi All,

During these times I'm spending too much time in dreamland, browsing boats in foreign lands that I'll never be able to afford.

However, I have noticed that Elans based in Croatia seem to be markedly cheaper than the Bene / Jene alternative of the same year. Whilst I realise that they are probably ex-charter and well used, some seem extraordinarily good value - £25K asking, with room to wriggle I'm sure, buys a fairly fresh boar (i.e. in the 2000s). It has got me dreaming down a whole different path...

Any particular reason for this?
 
Check VAT status? But clearly you can allow for that.

Can't help you on the elan-specific question. In general, boats used for charter in the med may not have enjoyed the constant sunshine. Teak, for me, would be a particular watch-out if fitted, charter guests not known for being careful with their footwear.
 
Activity Yachting in Murter, Croatia has been selling off its Elan flotilla fleets for the last few years.

A friend bought an Elan 33 for 15k after VAT paid and although the interior was tired and sails a little baggy it was a well maintained and good boat for her. I was impressed.
 
Elans are built in Slovenia. And the Elans from around 2000 era, such as Elan 333, 36/362 and 40 are superb sailing cruisers, with sturdy and practical wood interiors.

But any 20 year old ex charter boat is likely to be very tired. Caveat emptor.
 
It was the Elan 333 that I was looking at. If I could get a price of £15k I would be very, very tempted.
 
wanzap1 said:
It was the Elan 333 that I was looking at. If I could get a price of £15k I would be very, very tempted.
Click to expand...

The Elan 333 is indeed a superb boat. But watch out that all the ones I see for sale in Croatia seem to be VAT unpaid, so depending on where you plan to take the boat may need to add on VAT. Most are £25k or so also.

We hired a 333 from Zadar many years ago. Enjoyed it, though the furling mainsail seriously redUced the performance compared to a standard main (but still probably better than most average 33 footers, as the standard 333 is very quick).
 
When I see the rows of 5 or 6 year old boats parked up outside the main charter bases in Croatia at the end of every season, I can't help but wonder how they are all going to be sold? The Sunsail base manager told me that they will all be shifted eventually but I suspect that they would probably take £50 just to get rid of the damn things. :oops:

Richard
 
RichardS said:
When I see the rows of 5 or 6 year old boats parked up outside the main charter bases in Croatia at the end of every season, I can't help but wonder how they are all going to be sold? The Sunsail base manager told me that they will all be shifted eventually but I suspect that they would probably take £50 just to get rid of the damn things. :oops:

Richard
Click to expand...
Well that’s how we got ours although alas a lot more than £50 it was about a third of the price of a UK one of a similar age.
 
I bought an ex-charter boat in Craotia that was 11 years old around 2010/2011. As long as you do your due diligence, and give the boat a really good going over there are bargains to be had. Not an elan, but well used with cosmetic issues on the interiour and exterior. Almost 10 years later and I've now spent way more on marina fees than the boat cost me.

Best way is to ask the charter company for a week long charter with the cost of the charter deducted from the price if you choose to buy. That way you can get a real feel for the boat, and even haul it out during the charter (which I did to mine) to check the bottom, rudder, keel and saildrive.

Photograph everything in case they carry out any "maintenance" and swap parts out before you take delivery though. ;)
 
We moored next to a couple in Greece with an ex-Sunsail Jeanneau, 36 foot or so. It was immaculate. They had spent a fair bit on cosmetic maintenance, but said that the guts of the boat had been superbly looked after and all things considered added up to a good deal.

This made sense to me. These boats are used hard, but they are also professionally maintained, by people with a keen interest in not having mid-charter gear failures (which lead to remote callouts, claims and potentially accidents from less-experienced punters). On a couple of Sunsail charters I've done, I've found the "front of house" staff to be pretty average, but the engineers to be impressive and helpful. Then you consider Sunsail, unlike many sellers, have an interest in their reputation as sellers.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top