ETAP 21i Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used ETAP 21i means weighing a 21-foot foam-cored cruiser built from 1997 through 2009 by ETAP Yachting, with a shallow tandem keel and a reputation for staying afloat even when holed. The 21i shares its double-skin, unsinkable construction with the broader Etap 21 line, and a German family famously circled the globe on the type — useful context when a broker describes one as a “bluewater pocket boat.” On the pre-owned market the boat appears in two versions, fixed-keel and trailable, with the fixed-keeler more commonly seen in reviews.
Layouts on the Used Market
Charter four-cabin layouts are the more common on the used market, but both are available; ex-charter examples are common. The standard Etap 21 interior is open-plan with a forward vee-berth and aft quarter berths, a compact galley, and a portable chemical head tucked under the forward berth cushions alongside a two-burner metho stove. The 21i owner’s account matches this spirit: a sleeping area, table, kitchen, and sea toilet, with one or two people the realistic live-aboard limit. Removable fabric storage bags and a table that moves between cabin and cockpit define the compact social plan.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Spinnakers are commonly fitted, and autopilots are commonly fitted as well. Often-seen gear includes chartplotters, solar, asymmetric spinnakers, and dodgers. For a buyer, the consequential clusters are sail-handling (spinnaker or asymmetric plus autopilot for short-handed steering) and power (solar to feed electronics without shore power). Navigation usually means a chartplotter, while canvas generally includes a dodger for cockpit shelter. The 21i itself has appeared with a 10 hp Yamaha outboard, and the Etap 21 with a 5 hp Yamaha and fine-pitch prop.
What to Inspect
The twin rudder system on the 21i is quite exposed, so check the blades and the connecting linkages for impact damage or play anchor. One owner’s lug fitting broke in two-metre seas during a strong wind event in the Golfe du Lion, so examine the standing rigging and lug fittings closely anchor. The foam-filled hull should be sound; the construction makes the boat very quiet and condensation-free, but verify linings and aluminium backing pads where aftermarket deck gear has been drilled.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats turn up across the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Germany, France, Switzerland, and Belgium. For a shopper, the checklist is short: confirm keel version (fixed or trailable), inspect exposed twin rudders and lug fitting, verify foam-core integrity, and decide if charter history matters. A 21i with sound rudders and a winch-free reefing rig makes a low-fuss coastal cruiser.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the ETAP 21i. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 11 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 5 | $13,189 | — |
| Nov 25 | 1 | $14,669 | +11.2% |
| Jan 26 | 3 | $13,918 | -5.1% |
| Feb 26 | 2 | $11,923 | -14.3% |
| Mar 26 | 3 | $21,037 | +76.4% |
| Apr 26 | 5 | $15,575 | -26.0% |
| May 26 | 4 | $17,453 | +12.1% |
| Jun 26 | 3 | $17,057 | -2.3% |
| Jul 26 | 3 | $18,137 | +6.3% |
| Aug 26 | 4 | $20,687 | +14.1% |
| Sep 26 | 1 | $18,557 | -10.3% |
Where they're listed
ETAP 21i listings appear across 6 countries. United Kingdom has the most listings with 13 (44.8%), followed by Netherlands and Germany.
Country view
29 listings · 6 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | $13,918 | 13 | 3 | 44.8% |
| Netherlands | $18,137 | 10 | 4 | 34.5% |
| Germany | $21,037 | 3 | 0 | 10.3% |
| Austria | $24,335 | 1 | 0 | 3.4% |
| Belgium | $19,331 | 1 | 0 | 3.4% |
| France | $16,356 | 1 | 1 | 3.4% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
6 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beneteau First 211 | 20.5' | $ 14,382 | 36 | 15 |
| ETAP 21iYou are here | — | $ 16,356 | 29 | 8 |
| Beneteau First 21.7 | 21' | $ 22,193 | 24 | 9 |
| ETAP 26I | 25.75' | $ 31,271 | 11 | 1 |
| Parker Boats 21 | 21' | $ 4,971 | 7 | 2 |
| Hunter Boats Horizon 21 | 20.93' | $ 5,468 | 4 | 1 |