Design and Construction
ETAP Yachting built her in Belgium predominantly of fibreglass using closed-cell foam injected between inner and outer skins, making the boat unsinkable built predominantly of glassfibre. At just over 27 feet long with a 10-foot beam, about 6,600 pounds displacement, and 2,557 pounds of lead ballast, she carries a ballast ratio near 39 percent. The fixed fin keel and internally mounted spade rudder on a tiller reflect mainstream late-1970s European cruiser thinking.
Rig and Handling
The masthead sloop rig pairs with 319 square feet of sail for a modest sail-area-to-displacement ratio around 14.5. The spade rudder on a tiller keeps steering direct and mechanical. The Volvo Penta MD7A diesel of 13 horsepower was fitted for docking and manoeuvring only. A spinnaker may be equipped for offwind sailing.
Accommodations and Cruising Profile
As a cruiser she suits short-handed coastal use. The plumb transom maximizes hull length; the 22-foot-7-inch waterline gives a hull speed just over six knots. The ETAP Owners Association once supported the class.
Known Issues
No source flags a recurring structural defect specific to this model. The 13-horsepower MD7A is strictly a docking aid, not a passage-maker.
Refits and Ownership
The Belgian builder later passed to Dehler and then MIC Industries after a 2009 insolvency. The MD7A is a simple small diesel; the spinnaker option is the most likely worn item at resale.
The Verdict
A small, sensible van de Stadt cruiser trading power for safety and simplicity via her foam-injected hull and tiller steering.
Pros
- Unsinkable double-skin foam construction from new
- Direct tiller steering on an internally mounted spade rudder
- Van de Stadt cruiser proportions with a 39 percent ballast ratio
- Former class-club support through the ETAP Owners Association
Cons
- 13-horsepower auxiliary is for docking and manoeuvring only
- Modest sail-area-to-displacement ratio limits light-air performance
