ETAP 28i Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

The standard interior arrangement is consistent across the production run, which makes shopping straightforward. A forward V-berth cabin serves as the owner's stateroom or children's quarters; amidships a U-shaped saloon with a fixed table doubles as occasional sleeping space, though the settee berths are narrow enough that two adults sharing requires genuine goodwill. The galley is compact but functional, positioned to port in the main cabin. The defining feature of the 28i layout — the one that separates it from the earlier Etap 28 — is the dedicated aft cabin to port, a genuine double berth that gives couples a private sleeping space well separated from guests forward. To starboard of the companionway sits a wet room with toilet and basin, unusually generous for the size class and a real convenience for family use. Headroom in the saloon runs just under six feet, which is workable for most crews. The layout note is almost universal: examples on the market are overwhelmingly the same arrangement, so keel option and overall condition matter far more than hunting for an alternative floorplan.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

The 28i's fractional sloop rig was sourced from Seldén, a supplier whose parts remain available, which keeps standing rigging replacement a manageable proposition. Autopilots and chartplotters are commonly fitted across the used fleet — owners sailing coastal Dutch, German, or Croatian waters tend to have prioritised basic electronic navigation, and most boats you encounter will carry both. Heating systems appear frequently as well, a practical response to northern European sailing seasons that extend into cooler months. Inverters and furling mainsails show up as owner upgrades on better-equipped examples; a furling main in particular suits the short-handed emphasis of the design and is worth seeking out if ease of sail handling matters to you. Spirit stoves are not uncommon in older examples, though the galley layout can accommodate a proper two-burner cooker if a gas system is installed — a common refit when owners plan extended use. The TBS non-slip deck covering was a factory option and is still available as a prefabricated spare part, which means tired decks are a cosmetic problem rather than a structural headache.

What to Inspect

The 28i's double-shell construction — solid GRP outer and inner skins with injected foam between them — is the source of both its greatest selling point and its most important survey question. The foam filling must be dry and intact; water ingress into the foam layer is not merely a comfort or weight issue but undermines the buoyancy reserve that defines the design concept. A moisture survey using a calibrated meter on both skins, combined with a careful inspection of any chainplate or deck fitting penetrations, is essential. Rudder bearings wear over time and will eventually need replacement; the good news is they remain available and an owner with moderate skill can carry out the work, but a bearing that has been neglected introduces slop in steering and accelerates wear on the surrounding structure. The saildrive sleeve age must be verified at purchase and replaced according to manufacturer intervals; a failed sleeve is a sinking risk, and given the 28i's unsinkability claim, the irony is not lost — an otherwise watertight hull can be compromised by a perished saildrive boot. Single-circuit cooling on the inboard diesel is noted as a limitation, so inspect the cooling system carefully and ask about maintenance history. The Seldén standing rigging is straightforward to assess and should be replaced on a regular schedule; look for signs of fatigue at the swage terminals. On deck, check the locker-lid locking mechanism — a useful factory feature that prevents access from outside when a line is cleated inside the wet room — and confirm it functions correctly, as it relies on simple hardware that can corrode or seize.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The 28i trades actively across northern Europe, with the Netherlands and Germany representing the deepest pools of inventory, reflecting both the boat's inland-water versatility and Etap's historical dealer presence in those markets. Ireland, Switzerland, Croatia, and France also carry examples with some regularity, making the boat accessible to buyers across a wide Mediterranean and Atlantic arc. The fixed-keel version with the deeper 1.60-metre fin is generally considered the better windward performer; the shallower 0.90-metre lifting keel gives access to tidal harbours and shallow coastal waters and suits buyers who prioritise range over pointing ability. Given that used prices track condition rather than year of manufacture, the right strategy is to spend your budget on the best-maintained boat available rather than the newest one.

Before committing, run through this checklist:

• Foam-core moisture survey on both hull skins, all penetrations
• Saildrive sleeve inspection and documented replacement history
• Rudder bearing play — check for slop under load at the helm
• Standing rigging age and condition, especially swage terminals
• Engine cooling system service history and condition
• Deck fitting integrity and signs of water tracking below deck
• Autopilot and chartplotter function (commonly fitted; verify they work)
• Heating system operation if fitted (frequent in northern-European examples)
• Keel option confirmed (lifting vs fixed, and which draft variant)
• Seldén rig components — mast base, boom vang, backstay tensioner