Design and Construction
De Ridder's 22i is built predominantly of fiberglass with wood trim, both hull and deck being solid glass rather than cored laminate. What sets the structure apart is the closed-cell foam sandwich compartmentation that renders the boat unsinkable, a feature Steve Henkel noted in a 2010 review as a double hull sandwich with closed-cell polyurethane in the middle that also lends added stiffness anchor. That same double skin, he observed, keeps the interior cool under direct sun and warm on cold nights. The keel itself is a 518-pound cast-iron weighted bulb on a lifting arrangement raised and lowered by a worm gear operated from on deck, allowing the hull to be ground-transported on a trailer or worked into shallow water. With an 8.1-foot beam and 2,149-pound displacement, the 22i carries a 24-percent ballast ratio and a capsize screening value of 2.51, figures that place her among light-displacement racer-cruisers rather than offshore passagemakers.
Rig and Handling
The 22i sports a Bermuda fractional sloop rig with a raked stem and plumb transom. Sail-area-to-displacement with the ISO reference sail is 17.6, rising to 20.2 with a 135-percent genoa, and a review on yachtdatabase.com found she carries more rig than 96 percent of comparable sailboats — significantly overrigged for her length anchor. Her theoretical hull speed sits at 5.7 knots. The transom-mounted rudder on a tiller and the on-deck keel worm gear make trailering and shallow-water operation straightforward, though the lifting-keel geometry is the boat's defining handling compromise rather than a defect.
Accommodations
Below, the 22i sleeps four: a double V-berth occupies the bow cabin with the head tucked beneath it, while the main cabin holds two straight settee quarter berths and a folding table at the center. Cooking spaces are arranged on each side just behind the bow cabin and include a two-burner stove and a sink. Henkel rated her headroom and maximum speed at the top of her peer group, and noted a trailer towing weight within striking distance of 3,000 pounds — light enough for a family SUV and a standard trailer.
Equipment and Refits
As delivered the 22i normally carries an outboard mounted in a stern well, with good-quality clutches and winches as standard hardware. Henkel cited optional "legs" for drying out on the hard as a thoughtful extra. The builder's fit and finish drew his praise as very good, and the boat was at one time supported by a class club, the ETAP Owners Association.
Known Issues
The lifting keel is the one configuration Henkel flagged as a potential weak point. He wrote that all is well as long as the 518-pound cast-iron keel slides easily on its nylon guides and no knocking against the casing is perceived; if knocking is heard, the boat may require major fixing anchor. A buyer or owner should cycle the keel fully and listen for casing contact before committing.
The Verdict
The ETAP 22i is a clever small cruiser that trades offshore ambition for trailerable flexibility and genuine unsinkability. Her overrigged fractional sloop, lifting bulb keel, and foam-sandwich hull make her a standout among light racers of her size, while the four-berth interior and split galley give her real cruising utility. The lifting keel demands attentive inspection, but the boat's build quality and road-going weight keep her appealing.
Pros
- Unsinkable closed-cell foam sandwich construction with added stiffness
- Trailerable with on-deck worm-gear lifting keel for shallow draft
- Overrigged fractional sloop delivers top-of-class speed potential
- Four-berth layout with head and split galley in 22 feet
Cons
- Lifting keel can knock in its casing and may need major repair if heard
- Light displacement and 2.51 capsize screen limit offshore scope
