Elan Owners Association?

roblpm

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Dufours have offset forward berths on some models. Actually a 3 cabin has a lot going for it for a liveaboard. You can convert one aft cabin to storage workshop. Once you get over 36' most forecabins even with V berths make good double in port berths and aft cabin good seaberths. If you are budget constrained then a good bet is a 2 cabin early 2000s Bav 37. If I had the choice when I bought mine that would have been it, but had to earn money chartering and berth numbers count! Has a decent size loo and two armchairs in the saloon opposite a C shaped dinette, good size galley and loads of storage. Between £40-50k.

Not sure why you think publishing stability curves is desirable - you will never get anywhere near the point where these have any meaning. Equally with weight - you are going to stuff 2 tons minimum into the boat to go cruising. Any of the mainstream boats from the 2000s will do your job as has been shown by all the folks who have done it. You will spend up to 90% of your time in port or at anchor, out of the moving time 40-50% will be under motor and 95% will be in winds under 20 knots. Success in such a venture is more down to the crew, choosing the right type of gear and planning rather than the boat.

Having run a charter boat in the Med have a pretty good idea of what is what with buying one for cruising. 15 years ago it was good to do what you planned, but in my view not now. In those days fleets were renewed after 5-6 years because the market was expanding and builders were churning out new boats at low prices. The year I bought mine (2001) just the one fleet added 63 boats almost all on fixed 6 year operating contracts with a 4 year refit. I took my boat over after 7 years (last one was on a different arrangement) and I spent less than £3k to get it ready to sail back to UK. Things went downhill after 2009 and turnover is much slower and costs much higher. As you can see the Elans for sale in Croatia are 15 years old and now asking prices higher than a privately owned similar boat in the UK.

You are right that a UK boat will need quite a lot of prep, but if you buy right you will be starting with a much better basic boat which you can get sorted at your own speed. Having watched your posts on this subject over the years I suspect you are falling into the trap of overthinking the issues. Too much thinking and not enough doing is why so many such projects stall - just a few more things to do and... next year we will be gone! You will find most likely that when you are actually in a position to buy, have the money, that your outlook will change. Buy the best condition boat you can afford - don't be fussy about getting the ideal - it does not exist - and go for it.

Thanks for the post. I love the stuff about over thinking! ? But you are totally right about getting on with it.

Anyway I am getting to the point that I am gonna do this in just over two years time. Divorce put a bit of a dent in the plans in the financial sense but not in the practical sense. So I think the best idea is to buy a UK boat in two years. Whatever is available. 3 years sailing in UK. Sell the business. And then have a go.......
 

LorenzoC

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We have an Elan 36 and can't fault it. They are solidly built and the quality of finish is excellent.

The support from Elan for older boats is really good, they are always eager to help if they can.

Why Yachts who are UK dealers have a few for sale:
Boats for Sale – Why Boats

I think that the private ones don't come on the market very often and they are sought after.

If you buy one in Croatia I would be up for helping with the delivery trip :)
I want to do an offer for an Elan 36 pre 2000. Is it same as yours?
Could you send me some manuals or give me some tips about what to check on the boat?

Regards
 

dolabriform

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I want to do an offer for an Elan 36 pre 2000. Is it same as yours?
Could you send me some manuals or give me some tips about what to check on the boat?

Regards

Hi

Yes that's the same as mine. There isn't anything in particular that I am aware of, obviously get a good surveyor!
Check the teak decks, have a look at the keel bolts, inspect the rigging, the usual stuff really.

I have a printed version of the manual, but not an electronic one. I won't be able to scan it for a couple of weeks. Where is the one you're interested in?

Regards

David
 

LorenzoC

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The cockpit's teak has to be replaced, but I saw that it is the same in many Elan of that years.
I wrote to Elan, I hope they will send me some pdf.
I'll make a survey for sure ;)
It is in Croatia.
Are you happy with your 36? Did you make some customization for a better living/sailing?

Regards,
Lorenzo
 

dolabriform

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freewheeling.world
The cockpit's teak has to be replaced, but I saw that it is the same in many Elan of that years.
I wrote to Elan, I hope they will send me some pdf.
I'll make a survey for sure ;)
It is in Croatia.
Are you happy with your 36? Did you make some customization for a better living/sailing?

Regards,
Lorenzo

We love our boat!

I modified the wiring, updated the electronics and added some extra batteries. Added USB sockets to all cabins.
Replaced the sink plumbing as the two sinks were joined close together so the water emptying from one filled the other!
Added a new gas alarm and smoke detectors
Added a stack pack, replaced some of the running rigging.
Added a couple of mast steps to be able to reach the top of the stack pack.
Replaced the bunk cushions with memory foam mattresses, this made a big difference.
Added a clutch on the port side for the furling line to make handling easier.
Added a clutch for a semi-permanently rigged preventer on the starboard side.
Replaced the bulbs with LEDS. Added some LED lights in the engine compartment.

There were more little things that I've done, but nothing really major as they are well set up boats.

Elan are really helpful, every time we've had a question they have answered really quickly.

Good luck with the purchase. Are you going to keep her in Croatia?

Regards

David
 

LorenzoC

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We love our boat!

I modified the wiring, updated the electronics and added some extra batteries. Added USB sockets to all cabins.
Replaced the sink plumbing as the two sinks were joined close together so the water emptying from one filled the other!
Added a new gas alarm and smoke detectors
Added a stack pack, replaced some of the running rigging.
Added a couple of mast steps to be able to reach the top of the stack pack.
Replaced the bunk cushions with memory foam mattresses, this made a big difference.
Added a clutch on the port side for the furling line to make handling easier.
Added a clutch for a semi-permanently rigged preventer on the starboard side.
Replaced the bulbs with LEDS. Added some LED lights in the engine compartment.

There were more little things that I've done, but nothing really major as they are well set up boats.

Elan are really helpful, every time we've had a question they have answered really quickly.

Good luck with the purchase. Are you going to keep her in Croatia?

Regards

David
Congtratulation for the works! I'll remember them.
We'll prefer to keep the boat in Italy, no more then 1:30 from home. So that we could enjoy it also in the weekend.
I don't know if we'll put a websato or other heating system, there are more important works to do first.

Thank you very much for the suggestion,
Lorenzo
 

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