ETAP 28S Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used ETAP 28S means looking at a 29-foot pocket cruiser built from 2007 with a distinctive unsinkable double-skin hull and a Bertone-styled interior. These boats were a later ETAP design from Von Ahlen Yacht Design, aimed at coastal and short-hop offshore cruising, and they stand out on the used market for their foam-filled construction and easy-handling rig rather than for any racer pedigree.
Layouts on the Used Market
The 28S was offered with either a standard 5-foot-7-inch keel or a shoal-draft 3-foot-6-inch tandem keel that gives access to shallow gunkholes without surrendering windward ability. Below, the open-plan saloon holds berths for six, and buyers will find a separate enclosed head and a minimal galley as standard; an option to close off the forepeak for storage was available. Ventilation comes from opening ports and a large foredeck hatch, but the big forward coach-roof window is fixed, so boats bound for hot climates will feel stuffy without aftermarket airflow.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Most 28S boats on the market carry a practical modern cruising kit. Commonly fitted items of real consequence include lithium batteries with an inverter for house power, a self-tacking jib that matches the original track, hot water for the head and galley, a bimini for cockpit shade, an autopilot, and a chartplotter at the helm. Together these mean a buyer gets a boat ready for short-handed weekend use without immediate electrical or navigation upgrades.
What to Inspect
The 28S uses a semi-balanced spade rudder with a self-aligning needle bearing that can exhibit prop-wash flutter when the propeller is close to the blade anchor, so check the rudder bearing play and the surrounding structure. The saildrive should be inspected for seal condition given its smooth-running design. Note that the head discharge and intake through-hulls were observed near the deck fills anchor; confirm their separation and seacock integrity. The anchor locker floor sits at mid-freeboard rather than at the waterline, but verify it drains clear and the double bow roller is intact.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The ETAP 28S appears most often in the United Kingdom, France, and the Netherlands. For a shopper, the checklist is brief: confirm keel type matches intended waters, verify the self-tacking rig and saildrive condition, test the rudder bearing for flutter, and check the through-hull layout near the deck fills. A well-kept example delivers unsinkable security and easy handling with modern equipment already aboard.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the ETAP 28S. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 4 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 25 | 1 | $58,254 | — |
| Jan 26 | 1 | $57,524 | -1.3% |
| Mar 26 | 1 | $57,290 | -0.4% |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $51,665 | -9.8% |
Where they're listed
ETAP 28S listings appear across 3 countries. United Kingdom has the most listings with 2 (50.0%), followed by France and Netherlands.
Country view
4 listings · 3 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | $57,889 | 2 | 0 | 50.0% |
| France | $51,665 | 1 | 0 | 25.0% |
| Netherlands | $57,290 | 1 | 0 | 25.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
6 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thames Marine 28 | 27.5' | $ 11,448 | 22 | 4 |
| ETAP 28i | 27.99' | $ 24,684 | 22 | 6 |
| ETAP 37s | 36.94' | $ 111,366 | 21 | 9 |
| One-Off 28 | 28.18' | $ 40,184 | 14 | 2 |
| ETAP 32S | 32.25' | $ 58,496 | 12 | 4 |
| ETAP 28SYou are here | — | $ 57,407 | 4 | 0 |