ETAP 23 Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview

The Etap 23, designed by the prolific Jac. de Ridder, represents a pivotal evolution in the Belgian yard's quest to dominate the trailerable cruiser market. Launched in the early 1980s as a successor to the legendary Etap 22, the 23-foot model integrated the brand’s signature unsinkable technology into a hull that offered significantly more volume and stability than its predecessor. The boat was specifically engineered to meet the stringent safety standards of the time, famously achieving an "unsinkable" rating through its closed-cell polyurethane foam injected between two glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) skins. This construction doesn't just provide emergency buoyancy; it acts as an effective thermal and acoustic insulator, making the vessel a preferred choice for Northern European sailors facing condensation and cold climates. Throughout its production run, the Etap 23 served as a bridge between the minimalist daysailers of the 1970s and the more sophisticated "i" series—such as the Etap 23i—which featured a redesigned deck mold and updated interior layouts in the early 1990s.