Elan 333 News Page
Elan 333 Specification
Elan 333 Performance
Elan 333 : Above Decks
Elan 333 : Underneath
Elan 333 : Inside
Elan 333 : Nav Station
Elan 333 : Galley
Elan 333 : Saloon
Elan 333 : Fore Cabin
Elan 333 : Aft Cabin
Elan 333 : Heads
Elan 333 : Engine
Elan 333 : Electrical
Safety Note : Lewmar Hatches
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Saloon
The Elan's saloon, like the rest of the boat is very
practical, yet has a couple of niggles.
 | Moving around the interior of boat is generally safe. There are
strong handholds at deck level. |
| The starboard berth is readily accessible. |
| The port berth needs a wiggle of the hips to get past the table. |
| The starboard berth makes an excellent sea berth with the addition of lee
cloths, due to its straight nature. The front edge of the port berth
is not so straight! |
| The seat backs lift and hook up, to make the berth significantly wider for
sleeping. There is some room for stowage behind the seat backs, but
not as much as you would think. It works for sleeping bags, etc.
A full kit bag is too much. |
| Both berths are of a good size, particularly if corner cushions are
removed. The downside is where to put the cushions! The cushions
have to be removed to lift the seat back. |
| To make the boat sleep 7, the port side berth is converted by adding bits
to fill the hole between the table and the berth. Getting in is
interesting because it can all capsize! Once you are in it seems
stable .... until you need the loo in the middle of the night. |
| The table is effective, however it will after time need sorting out.
It is quite a tidy setup, but will not take the careless after dinner elbows
on the table without stressing the hinge screws. It is all fixable,
and the screws have been tightened several times. When eventually this
fails, bolts will come to the rescue! |
| The table is also too big for the hole. On lifting the table leaf,
it fouls with the seat cushion. Over time, the cushion will
wear. I believe they have magically shrunk the table on newer versions
so that it clears the table. Incidentally, elbows also have less
leverage! |
| The ships most important locker is nicely situated in the center of the
table. It is designed to allow 4 standing bottles. We manage to
squeeze an extra one in across the top, |
| There are lockers under both berths. However, at the end, the space
is entirely taken up with boat essentials, twin water tanks and the
compressor for the fridge. |
| For a communal space, it works well. The table has sensible
fiddles. The seats are generally comfortable, and everyone can reach
the table. |
| There are some nice features set into the floor, a dustpan and brush and
access to the bilge pump. The floor itself is pretty tough and takes
the pointed end of something heavy to mark it. |
|
The companion way steps hide the usual main engine
access. The lower part of the steps unbolt and slide away. Its a
tight fit! |
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