Grand tour
Elliott Marine’s popular Tourer range goes from strength to strength as it celebrates 21 years since the launch of the first Tourer model.
Photography by Lissa Photography
24 February 2020
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Ranging from 12.5-metres to 20-metres, the Tourer range of performance-focused pilothouse offshore cruising yachts are fully designed by Greg Elliott and built in yards around the world including in New Zealand – options vary depending on customer location, budget and the chosen design.
Sold directly by Elliott Marine Ltd, a key advantage of a Tourer is the ability for owners to make their mark on the base design with plenty of options for customising the interior layout and the styling. Designer Greg Elliott is hands on with all projects, ensuring that each client is treated as an individual.
Current new builds include a 1350 Tourer that is underway for New Zealand clients at Hutchesons Boat Builders in Tauranga, and a 1550 Tourer in China.
The very first Tourer was an Elliott 1550, Kotick, built by Darren Schofield – Custom Yachts in Silverdale, New Zealand, and launched mid-1998.
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Since that inaugural project, Tourers quickly established themselves as a popular choice for both New Zealand-based and offshore buyers. Particularly favoured by live-aboard cruisers, there is a wide range of Tourer models: as they go up in size, extra volume and length delivers added comfort levels and greater capacity.
“The original concept for the Tourer range was to blend performance, comfort and seaworthiness and although over the years we have redefined the models, it’s that blend that has made them so successful,” says Greg Elliott, founder of Elliott Marine. Improved materials, and styling changes, have all been incorporated into the designs over the years, but the core style of the range remains true to its origins.
“I believe the whole Tourer range was ahead of its time back in the 1990s, and still is; I haven’t seen anything else around the world that has matched it in terms of performance in relation to comfort.”
Each design has been developed to be simple to operate with just one or two people, with easily handled sail plans. The pilothouse configuration has proved extremely popular thanks to its ability to offer protection from the elements while also delivering a large living space to enjoy. The integration of the cockpit and pilothouse on a similar level ensures excellent indoor/outdoor flow together with sweeping views of the ocean from the interior saloon.
But the real point of difference of the Tourers is their exceptional performance, with huge gains on their nearest competitors. Elliott cruising yachts have proven themselves time and time again on the race circuit, with designs regularly appearing on the podium in national events and around the world.
“For those who want the perfect combination of performance and comfort, the Tourer range ticks all the boxes,” says Elliott.
Although there are no current plans to expand the range, which covers most popular sizes, the option is there should a customer seek a bigger Tourer. “All our designs are customer led, and market driven, so if the demand was there we absolutely could take the range bigger if required,” adds Elliott.
The enduring popularity – both at home and offshore – for Elliott-designed boats has seen the Tourer fleet continually expanding year on year, and second hand Tourer designs are also quickly snapped up.
“We are extremely proud of our Tourer models and the entire Elliott fleet,” concludes Elliott. “It is gratifying seeing the Tourer range continue to grow and we look forward to a busy 2020. Here’s to the next 21 years.”
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