1986 Westerly Oceanlord vs 2015 Elan 450 — Comparison

1986 Westerly Oceanlord
VS
2015 Elan 450

Specifications Side by Side

Specification1986 Westerly Oceanlord2015 Elan 450
General
ManufacturerWesterlyElan
Year1986–19922015–2019
TypeSloopSloop
CountryUKSlovenia
DesignerEd DuboisRob Humphreys
Dimensions
LOA12.04 m (39.5 ft)13.85 m (45.4 ft)
LWL9.75 m (32.0 ft)12.20 m (40.0 ft)
Beam3.81 m (12.5 ft)4.28 m (14.0 ft)
Draft1.83 m (6.0 ft)2.20 m (7.2 ft)
Weight
Displacement9,980 kg (22,002 lbs)10,800 kg (23,810 lbs)
Ballast3,629 kg (8,001 lbs)3,500 kg (7,716 lbs)
Sailing
Sail Area68.0 m² (732 ft²)95.0 m² (1,023 ft²)
Hull MaterialFiberglassFiberglass
Keel TypeFinFin
Engine & Tanks
Engine50 HP40 HP
Fuel Capacity182 L (48.1 gal)160 L (42.3 gal)
Water Capacity340 L (89.8 gal)350 L (92.5 gal)
Accommodation
Berths78
Cabins33

Performance Comparison

SA/D Ratio (Higher = more sail power per displacement)
1986 Westerly Oceanlord
14.90
2015 Elan 450
19.75
Ballast Ratio (Higher = more stability)
1986 Westerly Oceanlord
36.36
2015 Elan 450
32.41
Capsize Ratio (Lower = safer offshore)
1986 Westerly Oceanlord
0.71
2015 Elan 450
0.78
Comfort Ratio (Higher = gentler motion)
1986 Westerly Oceanlord
23.70
2015 Elan 450
14.84

Detailed Comparison

The 1986 Westerly Oceanlord and 2015 Elan 450 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The 1986 Westerly Oceanlord is a 1980s design by Westerly from UK, while the 2015 Elan 450 is a modern offering from Elan from Slovenia. The 1986 Westerly Oceanlord was penned by Ed Dubois. The 2015 Elan 450 was designed by Rob Humphreys.

In terms of size, the 1986 Westerly Oceanlord measures 12.04m (39.5ft) overall with a beam of 3.81m, compared to the 2015 Elan 450 at 13.85m (45.4ft) with a 4.28m beam. The 2015 Elan 450 is 1.81m longer than the 1986 Westerly Oceanlord. The 2015 Elan 450 displaces approximately 8% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.

Looking at performance, the 1986 Westerly Oceanlord has modest sail power for its displacement with an SA/D ratio of 14.90 and 68.0 m² of sail area. The 2015 Elan 450, with an SA/D of 19.75 and 95.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The 2015 Elan 450 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.

For comfort and safety, the 1986 Westerly Oceanlord offers a moderate motion comfort level (comfort ratio: 23.7) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.71). The 2015 Elan 450 has a comfort ratio of 14.8 and a capsize screening value of 0.78. The ballast ratios are 36.4% for the 1986 Westerly Oceanlord and 32.4% for the 2015 Elan 450, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.

Below deck, the 1986 Westerly Oceanlord provides 7 berths in 3 cabins with 340L of water capacity and 182L of fuel. The 2015 Elan 450 offers 8 berths in 3 cabins with 350L water and 160L fuel capacity.

Verdict

For cruising: The 1986 Westerly Oceanlord is the better choice for comfortable cruising thanks to its higher comfort ratio, offering a gentler motion at sea that crews will appreciate on longer passages.

For racing: The 2015 Elan 450 has the performance advantage with its superior SA/D ratio, meaning more sail power relative to its displacement for competitive sailing.

For liveaboard: The 2015 Elan 450 offers more sleeping accommodation, making it better suited for extended living aboard. Consider water and fuel capacity for extended stays away from marinas.

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Or view individual specs: 1986 Westerly Oceanlord · 2015 Elan 450