Elling E4 Ultimate, VENTURA

Broker’s Comments

A quite stunning Vessel. VENTURA is a sensationally well-presented Elling E4 Ulitmate. Built in 2013, she offers phenomenally proficient ship-building courtesy of Neptune Marine in the Netherlands, an exceptionally sea kindly hull with full length moulded keel to promote easy steering and tracking to the offshore and inshore potential of her semi-displacement hull. Not only does she offer relaxed cruising thanks to her easy gait, single hefty Volvo D6 and bullet-proof build – but she has the most superbly comfortable and well thought-out interior also.

So not only do you get an exceptionally cosy, sensible and practical deck house (with underfloor heating, sprung helm, double-glazed windows and powered sunroof), but you have a class-leading saloon with masses of stowage space, and easy access to her two guest cabins & heads, and also to the long, linear galley, which connects the aft Master suite to the saloon. Her aft Master is a proper home on water – with a separate heads compartment screened off to starboard, plenty of hanging locker and general locker space, and fantastic ventilation thanks to that big opening aft pane in her transom. The raised double berth a is lovely place to doze away, and hides both extra fuel tankage as well as the 29HP wing engine – all neatly insulated and carcassed in a nicely-manufactured piece of cabinetry. Main engine access is very good for a single engine of her ilk -so the entire port-side of the engine box neatly lifts away to give easy access to her filters, water pump and heat exchanger. It’s all clinically-clean in here – and she does not show any trace of her engine hours. For further access to her gearbox, primary fuel filters and raw water strainer, the aft panel also lifts away – all very smart and very well-engineered. Access is the one bugbear of most longer-distance motor yachties, and the generator, heater systems and seacocks are accessed through a large , well-insulated door forward of the Master heads, whilst battery charger and Mastervolt inverter, batteries and tank pipework are smartly concealed behind the Master WC.

All in all – a seriously competent motor yacht with an evidently experienced owning couple who have hugely enjoyed the new horizons that such a boat affords, and presented her quite beautifully for her next custodians.

Owner’s Comments

A lucky encounter in Guernsey provided our first introduction to the Elling E4 as a leading contender for a motor yacht to fulfil our plan to explore the coastal and inland waterways of Northern Europe over a 5 year period. From the Stockholm Archipelago to cosy winter weekends at Chichester, Ventura has not disappointed! After many years sailing we’ve enjoyed being warm and dry in the pilot house whatever the weather throws at us, having a roomy guest cabin for friends for to stay and some spacious social space down below and on deck. Fortunately, we’ve also had plenty of good weather to enjoy cooking and entertaining on deck. One thing we hadn’t expected was Ventura acting as an icebreaker in meeting other sailors on our travels, intrigued by her distinctive design. We hope her next owners have as much fun as we have.

PRESS COMMENTS

Heading into the Atlantic, we had hoped for rough conditions, but the wind had a definite westerly component to its northerly direction, so the seas within a mile of shore were no larger than three feet. Not a true test of her heavy-weather handling. The Skipper was anxious to demonstrate the turning ability of the E4, which has a semi-displacement hull. At wide-open throttle, he threw the helm all the way to port. The boat responded instantly and turned within in its own length. Round and round we went. The view out of the large front windscreen was like being on a circus ride as the horizon spun before our eyes. The most amazing thing, however, is that the boat stayed perfectly level without heeling either into or out of the turn.

The owner’s full-width stateroom occupies the after third of the interior and, in consequence, is very spacious. Even with a centreline queen bed, there is ample circulation space for dressing and making up the bed. There is an opening transom port above the bed, which provides good ventilation but eliminates a headboard surface upon which to stack the bed pillows. A large en-suite heads with an enclosed shower is located on the starboard side of the cabin. There are several well-located concealed doors in the head providing good access to plumbing and heating systems. Stowage drawers, cabinets and hanging lockers are plentiful.

The sturdy door hardware that allows access into the boat is typical of all doors and ports. Nicely finished anodized frames support rubber-glazed safety glass throughout the boat. The afterdeck covers the boat’s full beam and is large enough to contain two settees, an adjustable-height table and stair access to the stern platform. The boat can be easily accessed from the swim platform at a floating dock. Additional side access at deck level is available on both side decks through telescoping sections of the sturdy stainless rails. An interesting detail on each side are stainless steps directly below the entrance gates designed into the side of the hull, providing built-in steps at three levels. It would be hard to find a dock height that would make entrance to the E4 the least bit difficult.

The side decks are wide enough to provide easy passage forward and aft, full-length stainless double rails enhancing the feeling of safety. The foredeck incorporates two full-size sun pads and a hinged seat back, which, when deployed, interferes with the helmsman’s view. In spite of the sliding top section, there is a stainless rail holding radar and two communication domes. The fiberglass hull is reinforced with two layers of aramid fibres, a class of strong, heat-resistant synthetic fibres that are used in aerospace and military applications for ballistic-rated body armour fabric (Kevlar) and ballistic composites. In this case they provide an extra measure of protection for collisions.

In summary, the E4 is a proven, ocean-capable boat, but by virtue of her shallow draft and excellent handling she would be equally at home on the Great Loop or tooling down the Lauderdale waterways to look at the mansions and mega yachts.”

– The Elling E4: One Tough Dutch Craft – Bill Jacobs for “PASSAGEMAKER” – August 30, 2019.