Design and Construction
ETAP Yachting built the 30i predominantly of polyester glassfibre-foam cored sandwich with wood trim, and that foam-cored construction renders the boat unsinkable. The hull carries a raked stem and a walk-through reverse transom, while the keel is a fixed fin with a weighted bulb, offered in several wing keel options including a shoal 3ft 3in draught and a deeper 5ft 7in draught. Displacement runs 7,937lb with the shoal keel and 7,716lb with the deep keel, paired with an iron ballast of 2,425lb. The 10ft 4in beam and 26ft 3in waterline give her the volume of a larger boat without stretching the LOA.
Rig and Handling
The 30i carries a 7/8 fractional sloop rig on aluminum spars, deck-stepped, with wire standing rigging and a single set of swept spreaders. A removable mainsheet track was one of the novelties Yachting Monthly noted at launch, and the boat also featured 'EVS' steering. Under sail she is stiff and sea-kindly, well-suited to short-handed or family cruising, though the standard rig — built around a non-overlapping, self-tacking headsail — leaves her decidedly undercanvassed in light to moderate winds. An internally mounted spade-type rudder controlled by a tiller gives direct handling response.
Accommodations
Below, the 30i sleeps six: a double V-berth forward sealed off from the main cabin by two sliding doors, two straight settee quarter berths in the saloon, and an aft cabin with a port-side double berth measuring a generous 6ft by 5ft. The saloon itself is bright and cosy, spacious for a 30-footer, with plentiful stowage in gunwale lockers and a centrally mounted dining table. The L-shaped galley sits on the port side just forward of the companionway ladder, while the head opposite on starboard is surprisingly roomy and includes a hanging locker with ample space for wet oilskins. A good-sized chart table rounds out the working spaces with room for instruments.
Refits and Ownership
The 30i was at one time supported by a class club, the ETAP Owners Association, which speaks to a maintained owner community even after the model went out of production. The double-skin construction that makes the boat unsinkable also means any breached hull demands more involved repair than single-skin glass, a consideration for long-term ownership rather than a daily concern.
The Verdict
The ETAP 30i is a thoughtfully engineered small cruiser that trades outright light-air speed for safety, predictability, and a roomy interior. She suits a couple or young family who value unsinkability and easy handling over racing pedigree, and her modest size keeps her manageable in a tight marina.
Pros
- Foam-cored double-skin hull renders her unsinkable
- Stiff, sea-kindly motion well suited to short-handed cruising
- Spacious, practical interior for a 30-footer with a 6ft by 5ft aft berth
- Self-tacking headsail and removable mainsheet track ease handling
Cons
- Standard rig leaves her undercanvassed in light to moderate winds
- Double-skin hull complicates any breach repair
- Limited offwind canvas without owner-added genoa or spinnaker
