ETAP 38i Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for an used ETAP 38i means chasing one of just 95 hulls built between 1989 and 1997, a flush-deck Belgian cruiser whose unsinkable foam-core construction and wing keel make it a recognizable, if uncommon, used proposition. Because the brand ceased and production facilities were closed after the builder's 2009 collapse, buyers are dealing with a fixed and finite population rather than a continuing line.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every 38i carries the same plan: a masthead sloop on a fixed wing keel, sleeping six in three cabins with a forward double, a port aft double, and saloon settees. The raised wheelhouse places galley and chart table opposite each other around a central island, dropping one step to a saloon that loses headroom forward. No alternative versions were built, so differences among used 38i boats come only from owner refit, not from factory option packages.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Well-equipped examples commonly carry radar, autopilot, chartplotter, and a cockpit shower, with dodgers, cabin heating, solar, inverters, and wind generators also frequent. Power and energy systems are where buyer attention should focus: solar and wind generation paired with an inverter suggest a self-sufficient anchoring setup, while a watermaker and hot water, often seen, point to longer independent stays. For sail handling, an often-seen asymmetric spinnaker broadens light-air range beyond the standard furling genoa, and a bimini extends cockpit livability. Less common but worth noting as owner upgrades are electric winches and dinghy davits, which ease short-handed docking and tender handling respectively.
What to Inspect
The single documented design caveat is the low boom, which can be a hazard on heel or in active motion; check boom height relative to your own headroom tolerance and any aftermarket rigid vang or gooseneck modifications. Otherwise the foam-core double skin and cast-iron wing keel are the structural story—verify the keel bolts and ballast joint as you would on any fixed-keel cruiser.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Typical markets for the 38i include the United States, France, Ireland, and the Netherlands. For a buyer, the checklist is short and concrete:
- Confirm the wing keel and deck-stepped mast are unmodified from standard
- Mind the low boom if you or crew are tall
- Favor examples with solar, inverter, and autopilot for cruising autonomy
- Expect scarce spares due to the discontinued brand
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the ETAP 38i. 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. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 25 | 1 | $36,000 | — |
| Sep 25 | 4 | $51,771 | +43.8% |
| Apr 26 | 7 | $35,900 | -30.7% |
| May 26 | 1 | $67 | -99.8% |
Where they're listed
ETAP 38i listings appear across 3 countries. United States has the most listings with 4 (57.1%), followed by France and Ireland.
Country view
7 listings · 3 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $35,900 | 4 | 0 | 57.1% |
| France | $66,546 | 2 | 0 | 28.6% |
| Ireland | $50,372 | 1 | 0 | 14.3% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
11 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lagoon 380 | 37.89' | $ 212,680 | 345 | 60 |
| Island Packet 38 | 38' | $ 99,000 | 58 | 12 |
| Siltala 38 | 37.5' | $ 105,981 | 55 | 13 |
| Robertson and Caine 38 | 37.5' | $ 219,000 | 53 | 17 |
| Lagoon 38 | 43.04' | $ 509,313 | 36 | 11 |
| Elan Impression 384 | 37.89' | $ 92,627 | 31 | 6 |
| Prout 38 | 38' | $ 134,825 | 15 | 0 |
| ETAP 35I | 34.84' | $ 58,711 | 12 | 3 |
| Kadey-Krogen 38 | 38.16' | $ 74,900 | 9 | 1 |
| ETAP 38iYou are here | — | $ 35,900 | 8 | 0 |
| ETAP 46 DS | 47.44' | $ 233,948 | 7 | 0 |