1995 Beneteau Oceanis 461 vs 2014 Elan 400 — Comparison
2014 Elan 400
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | 1995 Beneteau Oceanis 461 | 2014 Elan 400 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Beneteau | Elan |
| Year | 1995–2000 | 2014–2018 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | Slovenia |
| Designer | Groupe Finot | Rob Humphreys |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 14.02 m (46.0 ft) | 12.07 m (39.6 ft) |
| LWL | 12.19 m (40.0 ft) | 10.50 m (34.4 ft) |
| Beam | 4.37 m (14.3 ft) | 3.90 m (12.8 ft) |
| Draft | 1.90 m (6.2 ft) | 2.10 m (6.9 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 11,340 kg (25,000 lbs) | 8,200 kg (18,078 lbs) |
| Ballast | 3,629 kg (8,001 lbs) | 2,600 kg (5,732 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 88.3 m² (951 ft²) | 76.0 m² (818 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 55 HP | 30 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 200 L (52.8 gal) | 120 L (31.7 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 400 L (105.7 gal) | 250 L (66.0 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 8 | 7 |
| Cabins | 4 | 3 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The 1995 Beneteau Oceanis 461 and 2014 Elan 400 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The 1995 Beneteau Oceanis 461 is a 1990s design by Beneteau from France, while the 2014 Elan 400 is a modern offering from Elan from Slovenia. The 1995 Beneteau Oceanis 461 was penned by Groupe Finot. The 2014 Elan 400 was designed by Rob Humphreys.
In terms of size, the 1995 Beneteau Oceanis 461 measures 14.02m (46.0ft) overall with a beam of 4.37m, compared to the 2014 Elan 400 at 12.07m (39.6ft) with a 3.90m beam. The 1995 Beneteau Oceanis 461 is 1.95m longer than the 2014 Elan 400. The 1995 Beneteau Oceanis 461 displaces approximately 38% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the 1995 Beneteau Oceanis 461 has good sail power for versatile performance with an SA/D ratio of 17.77 and 88.3 m² of sail area. The 2014 Elan 400, with an SA/D of 18.99 and 76.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The 2014 Elan 400 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the 1995 Beneteau Oceanis 461 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 15.1) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.78). The 2014 Elan 400 has a comfort ratio of 17.1 and a capsize screening value of 0.77. The ballast ratios are 32.0% for the 1995 Beneteau Oceanis 461 and 31.7% for the 2014 Elan 400, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the 1995 Beneteau Oceanis 461 provides 8 berths in 4 cabins with 400L of water capacity and 200L of fuel. The 2014 Elan 400 offers 7 berths in 3 cabins with 250L water and 120L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 2014 Elan 400 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 2014 Elan 400 has the performance advantage with its superior SA/D ratio, meaning more sail power relative to its displacement for competitive sailing.
For liveaboard: The 1995 Beneteau Oceanis 461 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: 1995 Beneteau Oceanis 461 · 2014 Elan 400