The Elan Yachts E6 Standard/Deep draft 2017 vs Elan Yachts Impression 45.1 Standard/Shoal draft 2019 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 5,8 additional feet of deck space compared to the Elan Yachts Impression 45.1 Standard/Shoal draft 2019 at 44,4 feet (2019). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Elan Yachts E6 Standard/Deep draft 2017 tips the scales at 24 802 lbs — 1 015 lbs more than the Elan Yachts Impression 45.1 Standard/Shoal draft 2019 at 23 787 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 23-hp advantage over the Elan Yachts Impression 45.1 Standard/Shoal draft 2019's 57-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 56 gallons in the Elan Yachts Impression 45.1 Standard/Shoal draft 2019. 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 Impression 45.1 Standard/Shoal draft 2019 caps at 13. 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.
Both boats sit in a similar displacement bracket — 24 802 lbs for the Elan Yachts E6 Standard/Deep draft 2017 and 23 787 lbs for the Elan Yachts Impression 45.1 Standard/Shoal draft 2019. Comparable displacement means broadly similar seakeeping behaviour and load capacity, though hull form and ballast ratio will still produce noticeably different sailing characteristics.
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 6,3 ft for the Elan Yachts Impression 45.1 Standard/Shoal draft 2019. That 2,9-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 E6 Standard/Deep draft 2017 uses Sloop rigging. For auxiliary power the Elan Yachts E6 Standard/Deep draft 2017 carries a 80-hp engine against 57 hp on the Elan Yachts Impression 45.1 Standard/Shoal draft 2019. 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 8,2 knots for the Elan Yachts Impression 45.1 Standard/Shoal draft 2019. For extended cruising, water capacity matters: the Elan Yachts Impression 45.1 Standard/Shoal draft 2019 carries 151 gallons versus 98 gallons on the Elan Yachts E6 Standard/Deep draft 2017 — a significant advantage on longer passages where watermaker or provisioning stops aren't guaranteed.
Bottom line: The Elan Yachts E6 Standard/Deep draft 2017 at 50,2 ft offers more living space, greater range, and a more substantial offshore capability. The Elan Yachts Impression 45.1 Standard/Shoal draft 2019 at 44,4 ft is the easier, lower-cost option — simpler to crew and a strong choice for coastal and day sailing.