The Etap 38i Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Etap 38i is a sailboat that was designed by Mortain & Mavrikios as a cruiser and first built in 1989 by Etap Yachting, a Belgian company. The boat has a distinctive flush deck design and a wing keel that gives it stability and performance. The boat is also known for its double-skinned construction and foam core that makes it unsinkable.

An Etap 38i sailboat at anchor in Tyrell Bay, Carriacou in the West Indies.An Etap 38i

Published Specification for the Etap 38i

Underwater Profile: Wing Keel & Spade Rudder

Hull Material: GRP (Fibreglass)

Length Overall: 38'0" (11.6m)

Waterline Length: 32'0" (9.7m)

Beam: 12'9" (3.9m)

Draft: 5'1" (1.6m)

Rig Type: Masthead sloop

Displacement: 14,120lb (6,405kg)

Designer: Mortain & Mavrikios

Builder: Etap Yachting (Belgium)

Year First Built: 1989


Published Design Ratios for the Etap 38i

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 16.5

2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 34.4

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 193

4. Comfort Ratio: 21.9

5. Capsize Screening Formula: 2.1


The Etap 38i: A Few FAQs...

Based on published design ratios, how is the boat likely to perform under sail?

Based on these ratios, the Etap 38i is likely to perform well in light to moderate winds, but may need to be reefed early in stronger breezes. The boat is reasonably stiff and stable, but not very heavy or comfortable for long offshore passages. 

Is the Etap 38i still in production and, if not, when did production end and how many of these sailboats were built?

The Etap 38i is no longer in production. Production ended in 1997, after 95 boats were built.

What, if any, alternative versions of the Etap 38i were built and what are the differences between them?

There were no alternative versions of the Etap 38i built. The boat was only available with a wing keel and a masthead sloop rig.

How many people can sleep on board a Etap 38i?

The Etap 38i can sleep up to six people in three cabins. There is a double berth in the forward cabin, an L-shaped settee and a straight settee in the main cabin, and another double berth in the aft cabin on the port side.

What is the history of the builders of the Etap 38i and is the company still in business?

The builders of the Etap 38i are Etap Yachting, a Belgian company that was founded in 1970 by Norbert Joris. The company specialized in producing unsinkable sailboats with double-skinned construction and polyurethane foam filling. The company also developed innovative features such as flush decks, wing keels, deck saloons, and tandem keels. The company produced over 7,000 boats in various models ranging from 20 to 46 feet. The company went bankrupt in 2009 due to financial difficulties and was acquired by Dehler Yachts, a German company. The Etap brand was discontinued and the production facilities were closed.

Is the mast on the Etap 38i deck-stepped or keel-stepped?

The mast on the Etap 38i is deck-stepped.

What sailplan and rig options, if any, are available for the Etap 38i?

The Etap 38i has a standard sailplan and rig option, which is a masthead sloop with a fully battened mainsail and a furling genoa. The boat has a single spreader rig with stainless steel wire standing rigging and a rigid boom vang. The sail area is 600ft2 (56m2).

What keel options, if any, are available for the Etap 38i?

The Etap 38i has only one keel option, which is a fixed wing keel. The wing keel is designed to reduce the draft and increase the stability of the boat. The keel is made of cast iron and has a ballast of 4,850 lb (2,200 kg). The draft of the boat with the wing keel is 5.09 ft (1.55 m).

What is the average asking price of a secondhand Etap 38i?

The average asking price of a secondhand Etap 38i varies depending on the condition, age, equipment, and location of the boat. According to some online sources, the average asking price of a secondhand Etap 38i in 2021 was around $70,000 USD.

How does the Etap 38i compare to other similar sailboats in its class?

The Etap 38i can be compared to other similar sailboats in its class, such as the Beneteau Oceanis 381, the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 37, the Bavaria 37 Cruiser, and the Dufour 3800. These boats are all around 37 to 38 feet long and have similar design features and performance characteristics. Some of the differences between them are:

  • The Beneteau Oceanis 381 has a higher displacement, a larger sail area, and a deeper draft than the Etap 38i. It also has more interior space and comfort, but less speed and agility.
  • The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 37 has a lower displacement, a smaller sail area, and a shallower draft than the Etap 38i. It also has less interior space and comfort, but more speed and agility.
  • The Bavaria 37 Cruiser has a similar displacement, sail area, and draft as the Etap 38i. It also has similar interior space and comfort, but slightly less speed and agility.
  • The Dufour 3800 has a lower displacement, a smaller sail area, and a shallower draft than the Etap 38i. It also has less interior space and comfort, but more speed and agility.

The above answers were drafted by sailboat-cruising.com using GPT-4 (OpenAI’s large-scale language-generation model) as a research assistant to develop source material; to the best of our knowledge, we believe them to be accurate.


Other sailboats in the Etap range include:


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