Design and Construction
The 32s follows the ETAP house approach of a hull within a hull, each skin of fiberglass in polyester resin laid up by hand, with closed-cell polyurethane foam injected between them hull-within-hull foam construction. That sandwich provides buoyancy and makes the boat unsinkable, and Cruising World noted it also insulates against condensation. The visible structure is predominantly glassfibre with wood trim, a low, lean hull topped by a stepped superstructure that reads almost as a deck saloon. Below the waterline she carries a shallow underbody with a flat run; the standard fin or Warwick Collins-style tandem keel gives a shoal draft of 4 feet 3 inches, while the optional deeper wing keel draws 5 feet 11 inches. At 32 feet 3 inches overall, 27 feet 6 inches on the waterline, and 11 feet 3 inches of beam, she displaces 8,575 pounds with the shoal keel and 8,157 with the deep, carrying 2,425 pounds of iron ballast.
Rig and Handling
Her Bermuda fractional rig carries 460 square feet of sail at 100 percent, and the mainsheet traveler sits across the cockpit just forward of the helm. Steering is the distinctive EVS — Etap Vertical Steering — a tiller that moves athwartships in a vertical plane, its vertical post linked to the rudderstock by Delrin rack-and-pinion gears; push the bar left and the boat steers left. Yachting Monthly found her quick and sporty yet easy to handle, tracking well under sail with plenty of feel and slipping easily into a steady groove. The big spade rudder can load the helm, but it keeps her going straight when other yachts begin to round up in gusts, and she stands up to her canvas well. Carol Hasse, judging for the Boat of the Year award, said she enjoyed steering the boat and found it responsive with a balanced helm.
Accommodations
Below, the 32s sleeps six. A double V-berth fills the bow cabin, two straight settees line the main cabin, and an aft cabin to starboard holds a double berth. The galley lies on the port side just forward of the companionway ladder as an L-shaped workspace with a two-burner stove, ice box, and double sink; opposite it to starboard sits the navigation station, with the head aft of that. Yachting Monthly praised the accommodation as generally good, with excellent ventilation and thoughtfully designed stowage for large items, though it allowed that there is less room inside than in the equivalent Bénéteau or Jeanneau. The stepped superstructure gives the saloon a near-deck-saloon feel without the full volume of those larger-production rivals.
Ownership Context
ETAP Yachting built the 32s in Belgium from 2003, and the design was supported at one time by a class club, the ETAP Owners Association. The builder’s double-skin method means a buyer inherits a structurally buoyant hull, and the Category A ocean rating speaks to the yard’s intended bluewater credibility for a 32-footer.
The Verdict
The ETAP 32s is a thoughtfully engineered small cruiser that pairs an unsinkable foam-sandwich hull with an unusual but effective vertical tiller steering system. She is quick under sail, steady in gusts, and practical below, if a touch tighter than her French production rivals. The EVS helm and shoal tandem keel make her approachable for short-handed cruising, and the Category A rating underscores a serious offshore intent unusual in this size range.
Pros
- Unsinkable hull-within-hull foam sandwich with condensation insulation
- Distinctive EVS vertical tiller steering, responsive and balanced
- Shoal 4-foot-3-inch draft tandem keel option for thin water
- EU Category A ocean rating on a 32-foot cruiser
- Roomy aft cabin and well-ventilated, smartly stowed interior
Cons
- Interior volume less than equivalent Bénéteau or Jeanneau
- Big rudder can put weight on the helm
- EVS system unfamiliar to many, fitted on many but not all boats
