The Elan Yachts 340 Standard/Deep draft 2006 vs Elan Yachts E6 Standard/Deep draft 2017 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Elan Yachts E6 Standard/Deep draft 2017 measures 50,2 feet overall (2017), giving it roughly 18,1 additional feet of deck space compared to the Elan Yachts 340 Standard/Deep draft 2006 at 32,1 feet (2006). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Elan Yachts E6 Standard/Deep draft 2017 tips the scales at 24 802 lbs — 13 580 lbs less than the Elan Yachts 340 Standard/Deep draft 2006 at 11 222 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 80 hp, the Elan Yachts E6 Standard/Deep draft 2017 has a 50-hp advantage over the Elan Yachts 340 Standard/Deep draft 2006's 30-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Elan Yachts E6 Standard/Deep draft 2017 carries 63 gallons versus 25 gallons in the Elan Yachts 340 Standard/Deep draft 2006. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Elan Yachts E6 Standard/Deep draft 2017 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Elan Yachts 340 Standard/Deep draft 2006 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Elan Yachts E6 Standard/Deep draft 2017 could be the deciding factor.

Displacement is where these two sailboats genuinely part ways. The Elan Yachts E6 Standard/Deep draft 2017 displaces 24 802 lbs — a 13 580-lb difference over the Elan Yachts 340 Standard/Deep draft 2006 at 11 222 lbs. That gap separates two entirely different categories of sailing: the heavier boat is built for offshore passage-making and load-carrying, while the lighter hull rewards performance sailing and easier handling in lighter air.

Draft is a practical consideration that many buyers underestimate until they're already at the marina. The Elan Yachts E6 Standard/Deep draft 2017 draws 9,2 ft, compared to 6,5 ft for the Elan Yachts 340 Standard/Deep draft 2006. That 2,7-foot difference affects which anchorages you can access, which haul-out facilities will take you, and how carefully you need to read the tide tables in shallower cruising grounds.

The Elan Yachts 340 Standard/Deep draft 2006 uses Sloop rigging. Helm style differs too: the Elan Yachts 340 Standard/Deep draft 2006 uses a Single helm wheel versus a Twin wheels on the Elan Yachts E6 Standard/Deep draft 2017. Wheel helms give better leverage and visibility on larger boats; tillers offer direct feedback and simplicity on smaller ones. For auxiliary power the Elan Yachts E6 Standard/Deep draft 2017 carries a 80-hp engine against 30 hp on the Elan Yachts 340 Standard/Deep draft 2006. Motoring range and ability to punch through a foul current or enter a tight marina under power will favour the more powerful installation.

Hull speed is rated at 8,6 knots for the Elan Yachts E6 Standard/Deep draft 2017 and 7,4 knots for the Elan Yachts 340 Standard/Deep draft 2006. For extended cruising, water capacity matters: the Elan Yachts E6 Standard/Deep draft 2017 carries 98 gallons versus 53 gallons on the Elan Yachts 340 Standard/Deep draft 2006 — a significant advantage on longer passages where watermaker or provisioning stops aren't guaranteed.