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Elan 40
Designer: Rob Humphreys  ·  Builder: Elan (Slov)  ·  First built: 2001
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About the Elan 40

Designed by renowned naval architect Rob Humphreys and launched in 2001, this Slovenian-built cruiser strikes an appealing balance between performance and comfort. With its fractional sloop rig and modern fin keel with bulb configuration, the Elan 40 delivers spirited sailing characteristics while maintaining the stability needed for serious coastal and offshore cruising. The boat's hull speed of 7.77 knots and sail area-to-displacement ratio of 19.83 indicate a design optimized for responsive sailing without sacrificing seaworthiness. The relatively low comfort ratio of 23.92 reflects a contemporary approach that favors performance over extreme interior volume, while the capsize screening value of 2 demonstrates good offshore capability for extended passages. Elan's reputation for quality fiberglass construction shines through in this model, which became popular among cruising sailors seeking European build quality at competitive pricing. The spade rudder configuration provides excellent maneuverability in tight quarters, making marina handling straightforward. This versatile platform suits sailors planning anything from weekend coastal adventures to longer passages, offering the reliability and sailing ability that has made Elan a respected name in the cruising sailboat market throughout the early 2000s and beyond.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 39.04 ft / 11.90 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 33.60 ft / 10.24 m
Beam 12.57 ft / 3.83 m
Max Draft 6.56 ft / 2.00 m
Displacement 15,873.00 lb / 7,200 kg
Ballast 5,633.00 lb / 2,555 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 780.00 ft² / 72.46 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/bulb & spade rudder
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Rob Humphreys
Builder Elan (SLOV)
First Built 2001
Related Sailboats ["Dehler 39" · "Etap 39S" · "Sun Odyssey 39 Ds Perf Jeanneau" · "Scanner 392" · "Grand Soleil 38 Finot"]
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
 66
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 19.83
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 35.49
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 186.81
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 23.92
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 2
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 7.77 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 3.2
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 1,509.11 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 19.82
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 50.59 ft / 15.42 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 14.20 ft / 4.33 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 48.82 ft / 14.88 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 17.22 ft / 5.25 m
SA Fore 359.19 ft² / 33.37 m²
SA Main 420.34 ft² / 39.05 m²
SA Total (100%) 779.53 ft² / 72.42 m²
Est. Forestay Length 52.55 ft / 16.02 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Volvo
Engine Model 2040S
Engine Type Diesel
Fuel Capacity 40 gals / 151 L
Water Capacity 66 gals / 250 L
How It Compares

vs. Etap 39S, Scanner 392, Sun Odyssey 39 Ds Perf Jeanneau

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Elan 40 ★
39.0 ft
Etap 39S
39.0 ft
Scanner 392
39.1 ft
Sun Odyssey 39 Ds Perf Jeanneau
38.9 ft
LWL
Elan 40 ★
33.6 ft
Etap 39S
33.5 ft
Scanner 392
31.5 ft
Sun Odyssey 39 Ds Perf Jeanneau
35.2 ft
Beam
Elan 40 ★
12.6 ft
Etap 39S
12.6 ft
Scanner 392
11.8 ft
Sun Odyssey 39 Ds Perf Jeanneau
12.8 ft
Displacement
Elan 40 ★
15 lbs
Etap 39S
14 lbs
Scanner 392
13 lbs
Sun Odyssey 39 Ds Perf Jeanneau
17 lbs
Ballast
Elan 40 ★
5 lbs
Etap 39S
4 lbs
Scanner 392
5 lbs
Sun Odyssey 39 Ds Perf Jeanneau
5 lbs
Sail Area
Elan 40 ★
780 sq ft
Etap 39S
649 sq ft
Scanner 392
—
Sun Odyssey 39 Ds Perf Jeanneau
829 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Elan 40 ★
66 s/nm
Etap 39S
90 s/nm
Scanner 392
—
Sun Odyssey 39 Ds Perf Jeanneau
—
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Elan 40 ★
19.8
Etap 39S
17.1
Scanner 392
—
Sun Odyssey 39 Ds Perf Jeanneau
19.9
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Elan 40 ★
35.5 %
Etap 39S
33.1 %
Scanner 392
40.2 %
Sun Odyssey 39 Ds Perf Jeanneau
29.0 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Elan 40 ★
23.9
Etap 39S
22.5
Scanner 392
—
Sun Odyssey 39 Ds Perf Jeanneau
24.9
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Elan 40 ★
2.00
Etap 39S
2.05
Scanner 392
—
Sun Odyssey 39 Ds Perf Jeanneau
1.97
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Elan 40 ★
186
Etap 39S
178
Scanner 392
192
Sun Odyssey 39 Ds Perf Jeanneau
178
Hull Speed
Elan 40 ★
7.8 kts
Etap 39S
7.8 kts
Scanner 392
—
Sun Odyssey 39 Ds Perf Jeanneau
8.0 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Elan 40 ★
3.2
Etap 39S
3.0
Scanner 392
—
Sun Odyssey 39 Ds Perf Jeanneau
3.1
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