Hull, Deck, and Construction
The unsinkable-boat concept shapes every structural decision on the 38i. The double-skinned construction with foam core means water cannot flood the hull to the point of foundering, a genuine claim that set Etap apart from mainstream production builders of the era. The hull is moulded in GRP, and the wing keel in cast iron keeps draft to a shallow five feet and one inch — an unusual combination that trades some upwind bite for marina accessibility and reduced grounding consequences. The flush deck is a deliberate design choice, eliminating the coamings and raised cabin tops that can catch boarding seas and restrict movement; as one reviewer noted, flush deck designs work better on larger hulls and the 38i was the largest of its type, vindicating the approach at this length. The spade rudder is paired with the wing keel to give a tight turning circle and responsive feel at the helm.
Rig and Sailing Performance
The 38i carries a masthead sloop rig with a single spreader arrangement, stainless steel wire standing rigging, and a rigid boom vang. The standard sailplan couples a fully battened mainsail with a furling genoa, giving the boat low-maintenance passagemaking capability without requiring a large crew. Yachting Monthly's test described a robust masthead rig and noted the boat performs and handles well on all points of sail. The design ratios reflect a moderate performer: a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 16.5 is adequate rather than brisk, suggesting reasonable performance in light to moderate winds with an incentive to reef promptly as conditions build. One well-documented ergonomic issue is the low boom, which can be a hazard on a flush-decked boat where crew movement across the coachroof is encouraged.
Accommodation and Interior
Below decks, the 38i offers a six-berth, three-cabin layout organized around a striking visual theme. Yachting Monthly described contrasting light-and-dark stained veneers in an interior some called prefabricated and modern, others likened to high-quality flat-pack furniture. The wheelhouse is the organizing feature of the upper living space: beneath the bright wheelhouse, the galley sits on one side, the chart table on the other, and an island unit in the middle contains sinks and stowage. Dropping a step into the saloon provides separation between the navigation and social zones, though headroom diminishes going forward in the saloon. Sleeping accommodation divides into a spacious double berth in the aft cabin, a smaller double in the forepeak, and two sea berths in the saloon. A large heads compartment is positioned aft, convenient to the aft cabin. The source confirms six berths across three cabins total.
Known Issues and Limitations
The capsize screening value of 2.1 sits on the boundary that many offshore passage-makers treat as a threshold, placing the 38i in the category of boats better suited to coastal and moderate offshore work than sustained bluewater passages. The comfort ratio of 21.9 reinforces this: the 38i is not a heavy ship, and in a seaway the motion will be livelier than aboard heavier contemporary designs. The boom hazard mentioned in the Yachting Monthly test warrants attention whenever crew are moving around the deck, particularly during sail handling. The deck-stepped mast means the compression load is carried by the deck structure rather than transmitted to the keel, a design that requires the partners and partners area to remain in sound condition. Prospective owners should verify the integrity of this area and the foam-core structure during survey.
Refits and Upgrades
The mast on the Etap 38i is deck-stepped, a configuration that simplifies mast removal and re-stepping for owners who cruise coastal waters with bridge restrictions, but demands periodic inspection of the deck collar. The wing keel, while shallow, accumulates growth in areas inaccessible to a standard bottom brush; owners typically address this with a long-handled tool or by tipping the boat on a suitable cradle. The furling genoa and fully battened mainsail are the standard sailplan, and because the company no longer exists — Etap Yachting went bankrupt in 2009 — replacement sails and rig hardware must be sourced from generic suppliers rather than a factory network. The foam-filled hull construction, while excellent for safety, complicates osmotic blister treatment if the outer skin is breached: any repair protocol must account for the foam layer and potential moisture ingress between the skins.
The Verdict
The ETAP 38i is a coherent, thoughtfully engineered coastal cruiser built around a safety concept that remains genuinely unusual in production sailing. Its flush-deck design, unsinkable double-skin construction, and shallow wing keel make it distinctive among Belgian production boats of its era, and Yachting Monthly's assessment of a sea-kindly hull that handles well on all points of sail holds up as the defining character of the boat. It is not a passage-making heavy-weather machine, and its moderate ratios reflect a design optimized for shorthanded family cruising rather than offshore endurance. With the builder long gone, ownership is a self-sufficient affair, but the simplicity of the masthead rig and the universality of GRP repair make that manageable for a competent owner.
Pros
- Unsinkable double-skin foam-core construction is a genuine safety advantage
- Shallow wing keel opens shoal anchorages inaccessible to deeper-drafted rivals
- Flush deck provides a clean, uncluttered working platform
- Performs and handles well across all points of sail
- Three-cabin, six-berth layout with a practical wheelhouse arrangement
- Fully battened main and furling genoa suit shorthanded sailing
Cons
- Low boom is a genuine on-deck hazard
- Capsize screening value and comfort ratio limit confidence on extended offshore passages
- No factory support; spares and sails sourced entirely from generic suppliers
- Deck-stepped mast requires diligent inspection of partners and deck structure
- Wing keel recesses can trap growth and complicate antifouling
- Foam-core construction complicates blister repair if the outer skin is compromised
