Design and Construction
The 32I's defining trait is its double-skinned foam-cored hull, a construction that delivers real thermal and acoustic insulation below and makes the boat functionally unsinkable. At 30 feet 8 inches overall with a 26-foot 3-inch waterline, an 11-foot 2-inch beam, and a displacement near 9,760 pounds, the design carries 2,866 pounds of lead ballast for a ballast-displacement ratio of about 29 percent. The solid fiberglass deck and hull shell, paired with the injected foam core, give the boat a quiet, modern feel without resorting to exotic materials.
Rig and Versions
Etap offered the 32I in two distinct configurations. The standard version carried a mast of 47.7 feet with a 280-square-foot mainsail and a keel drawing 4.60 feet. The performance version traded up to a 50-foot mast, a 301-square-foot main, and a deeper 5.25-foot keel for more stability and drive. Both share a fractional sloop rig and a spade rudder.
Accommodations
Below, the 32I sleeps six across three cabins. The forward cabin holds a double V-berth flanked by storage lockers and shelves, while the port-side aft cabin adds a second double berth with a hanging locker and shelf. In the saloon, two straight settee berths sit either side of the table, and the main cabin stands 72 inches tall, lit and ventilated by numerous ports, hatches, and windows. The interior reads bright and contemporary thanks to white oak veneer and stainless steel fittings. The L-shaped galley to port near the companionway ladder pairs a three-burner stove, a 17.2-gallon ice box, and a pressurized double sink, while the starboard head opposite contains a marine toilet, sink, and shower.
The Verdict
The ETAP 32I is a well-resolved small cruiser whose foam-cored unsinkable hull and clean Harlé-Mortain-Mavrikios interior still appeal to couples and small families. The standard and performance versions let a buyer choose between shoal draft and taller-rig performance, and the award record confirms the design was respected in its era.
Pros
- Unsinkable double-skin foam hull with good insulation
- Two-version range (standard shoal keel, performance tall rig/deeper keel)
- Six-berth, three-cabin layout with 72-inch saloon headroom
- Award-winning design (European Yacht of the Year 1993, French Boat of the Year 1994)
Cons
- Performance version's 5.25-foot draft restricts some shallow anchorages
