Sometimes you draw the long straw with a boat test and get the chance for a multi-day delivery to really put the boat through its paces and see it in a variety of conditions. I was excited to hop on Elan’s brand new Impression 43 for the trip from Annapolis up to Connecticut and get a chance to see her in action.
Unfortunately it’s practically a rule that when you’re on a timeline, the weather is not, and somehow we were skunked for nearly the entirety of the passage. There was sketchy wind for about the first half hour out of Back Creek in Annapolis, but that was it. The good news is that in that short, gusty moment, I was able to make a few first impressions about how the boat sails.
The twin helms are well sized and positioned. I had great visibility, even though I’m on the smaller side. Though our brief window of breeze only gave us time for a tack or two, I felt that the boat was responsive and fairly nimble. I did find myself fighting the helm a little bit as the breeze blew out, but that seemed more due to the shiftiness and sail setup we happened to be delivering with than anything else.
The cockpit is comfortable and felt very safe and cozy, even during the chilly early mornings. In a seaway, the boat was a little bit wet due to a trickle of water being funneled back to the cockpit through line channels in the cabintop, though this is something the builders were aware of and are making adjustments to improve. The cockpit is outfitted with two folding tables that were well sized for the space and made for a perfect spot to journal or read while underway.
Photo courtesy of Elan YachtsOne head scratcher on the Impression 43 was the coaming setup. They’re high forward and angled down for a sporty, aerodynamic look that also adds to the aforementioned sense of security. However, I often found that I was propping myself up to sit on the coaming so that I could I have a clear line of sight around the dodger. But because they’re angled, the coamings are more of a banister to slide down than an appropriate seating option. You can’t really split the difference between cockpit and side decks unless maybe you’re small and all the way aft. Perhaps a small thing, but if you’re in the habit of monkeying around the boat, it will not escape your notice.
The coziness—and I don’t mean that as a polite euphemism for cramped, there was space aplenty—continues belowdecks. The paneling and joinery has a unique natural wood grain, and true to Elan’s Slovenian roots, it gives the distinct feeling of a cabin in the Alps rather than a cabin on a boat. Though many builders have trended to Euro-minimalist styling, this unique, almost rustic wood pattern gives the Elan’s salon more warmth than most.
The inline galley has plenty of clever storage options and an impressive amount of usable counter space. It doesn’t have any real brace points and—absent any kind of fiddles on the counters or table and grab points on the ceiling—one would expect this boat to be primarily be used for shorter coastal trips rather than getting into big seas offshore.
A well sized nav desk is aft of the C-shaped settee, and all the systems are managed by an ultra-sleek panel mounted conveniently above it. I was stationed in the aft port cabin, which is a mirror of the aft starboard cabin on our hull. Both a three-cabin, two-head and a four-cabin, two-head version are available. In each cabin, there were enough portholes to let in light, easy outlet access for charging, and good storage.
The heads are compact and functional with high-sided cylindrical vessel sinks that would be right at home in any sleek modern condo. Because they aren’t recessed into the counter, they also provide a little extra security to tuck things in place on the countertop. However, since we were motoring the whole way, I didn’t have a chance to see it in action at a heel, and I did wonder how far the boat would have to be on its ear before the 90-degree corners prevented the sink from draining fully.
I always like to see a manufacturer trying new things, and you have to hand it to Elan for imagining such a comfortable and spacious design with so much unique character. Some ideas are more functional than others, but industry leaders are the ones who aren’t afraid to innovate, and Elan has undoubtedly designed the Impression 43 with a vision.
LOA 43’8”
Beam 13’11”
Draft 6’5” (std) 5’7” (shoal)
Air draft 65’3”
Displacement 24,471 lbs (std)
Ballast 7,807 lbs (std)
Sail Area 869 sq ft upwind (std main and jib)
Power Yanmar 4JH45 45 hp
Designer Humphreys Yacht Design & Elan Design Team
Builder elan-yachts.com
Base Price $486,845
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