Design and Construction
Etap built the 26i with a double-skin foam sandwich so the boat is unsinkable, and the hull form itself is conservative rather than radical. The tandem keel is the defining feature: one owner bought the boat specifically because that arrangement yields a shallow draught, listed at 2ft 11in. A scoop stern gives easy access on and off the boat both by dinghy and from the water, and the deck is covered in cork tiles rather than bare fiberglass. Period observers noted the stanchions are very low, which is worth knowing for anyone who trusts lifeline height at the rail.
Rig and Handling
The 26i carries a fractional sloop rig of 277 sq ft without a backstay. That omission allows a well-roached main, but it means the crosstrees are swept back to compensate for the missing backstay. A cockpit shelter provides access to the control lines, which keeps trim within reach from the helm. Under sail, the standard self-tacking jib is a weak point: owners report it is underpowered going to windward and completely ineffective off the wind. A code zero sets beautifully on a broad reach but is not designed for going to windward, and because it lacks a wire luff it tends not to furl properly. The 10hp Volvo Penta engine is clearly underpowered under motor, which limits her in calm-air docking and punching tides.
Accommodations
Below decks the 26i is brighter than many contemporaries thanks to large coachroof windows, a huge forward cabin window, a large foredeck hatch, and multiple portlights that together make her extremely light. The saloon extends all the way to the bow, and the layout places the saloon forward, with the galley and a standing chart table amidships and the heads and a cabin on either side of the cockpit moulding aft. The standing chart table is a useful feature, and the galley is decent for a boat this size though the hob is not gimballed. The bow-focused saloon with the table that slides down follows an era-typical pattern seen in other small cruisers of the period.
Known Issues
The self-tacking jib’s limited wind range and the code zero’s furling problem from its wire-less luff are the principal sail-handling complaints. Low stanchions are a built trait rather than a failure, but they bear on crew security.
The Verdict
The Etap 26i is a specialized pocket cruiser for shoal-water explorers who want a safe, buoyant hull and a light-filled interior over outright performance. She rewards the sailor who fits a larger reaching sail and accepts modest engine power, and her tandem keel opens anchorages closed to deeper fin-keel rivals.
Pros
- Unsinkable double-skin foam-sandwich hull
- Tandem keel gives 2ft 11in draught for thin water
- Exceptionally bright cabin with bow-to-stern saloon and standing chart table
- Scoop stern eases water and dinghy access
Cons
- 10hp Volvo Penta is underpowered under motor
- Standard self-tacking jib weak to windward and off the wind
- Code zero lacks wire luff and furls poorly
- Low stanchions reduce lifeline security
