ETAP 39S Buyer's Guide
Shopping for a used ETAP 39S means looking at a Belgian J&J Design cruiser built between 1998 and 2005, a foam-cored 39-footer that remains recognizable by its reverse transom, bulb fin keel, and deck-stepped fractional rig. These are boats whose original configuration centered on a three-cabin, eight-berth interior with a linear port-side galley.
Layouts on the Used Market
The predominant used layout is the three-cabin version with a forward double V-berth, a main saloon settee that converts to a double, and two aft double berths. A two-cabin arrangement was also offered, moving the head to the companionway-side location and keeping the galley as a long port-side run. Either way, the head includes a separate shower stall, and the navigation station sits opposite to starboard. Buyers should note the standard keel draws 6.4 feet, while the optional shoal keel reduces that to 4.92 feet — a meaningful difference for shallow Mediterranean or tidal berths.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Well-equipped examples commonly carry a Volvo Penta MD-2040s diesel, heating, teak decks, autopilot, chartplotter, bimini, radar, life raft, cockpit shower, and AIS. For buyer consequence, the heating and teak decks speak to comfort and deck maintenance, while autopilot, chartplotter, radar, and AIS form the core navigation and safety cluster that reduces single-handed workload. AIS and life raft together address offshore preparedness beyond the base coastal rig. Less common owner additions include an inverter, bow thruster, and EPIRB, which a buyer should treat as value-added rather than expected.
What to Inspect
The most documented service concern is tight access to the engine and through-hulls, which complicates routine maintenance and survey of underwater fittings. Because the construction is a foam-injected double skin with additional bow and stern flotation chambers, a buyer should still confirm the integrity of that closed-cell foam and the inner hull, as the unsinkable property depends on it. The standard Volvo Penta 40-horsepower installation should be run to verify maneuvering performance within its roughly 7-knot maximum.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats are typically found in Portugal, the Netherlands, Spain, the United States, and Italy. For a shopper, the checklist is brief: confirm keel type and draft for your cruising ground, verify the foam-core and flotation chambers are intact, budget for the tight engine and through-hull access, and treat heating, teak, autopilot, chartplotter, radar, AIS, and life raft as the expected comfort-and-safety baseline on a good example.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the ETAP 39S. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 10 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 25 | 1 | $136,281 | — |
| Apr 25 | 1 | $107,800 | -20.9% |
| Sep 25 | 1 | $90,286 | -16.2% |
| Oct 25 | 1 | $136,281 | +50.9% |
| Mar 26 | 2 | $79,671 | -41.5% |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $119,246 | +49.7% |
| May 26 | 2 | $107,606 | -9.8% |
| Jul 26 | 1 | $136,281 | +26.6% |
| Aug 26 | 1 | $136,281 | 0.0% |
| Sep 26 | 1 | $107,889 | -20.8% |
Where they're listed
ETAP 39S listings appear across 3 countries. Portugal has the most listings with 4 (50.0%), followed by Italy and Netherlands.
Country view
8 listings · 3 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal | $136,281 | 4 | 2 | 50.0% |
| Italy | $113,568 | 2 | 1 | 25.0% |
| Netherlands | $79,671 | 2 | 0 | 25.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
10 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lagoon 39 | 38.4' | $ 303,515 | 108 | 30 |
| Jeanneau Sun Sun Odyssey 39 DS | 38.92' | $ 125,043 | 56 | 10 |
| Leopard Catamarans 39 | 37.5' | $ 269,000 | 47 | 4 |
| Hallberg-Rassy 39 | 38.88' | $ 179,900 | 29 | 8 |
| ETAP 37s | 36.94' | $ 110,266 | 21 | 7 |
| Feeling 39 | 38.39' | $ 143,592 | 16 | 4 |
| Comfortina 39 | 38.88' | $ 272,503 | 15 | 5 |
| Moody 39 | 38.58' | $ 52,936 | 10 | 1 |
| ETAP 39SYou are here | — | $ 119,360 | 9 | 3 |
| Bavaria 39 | 39.86' | $ 114,163 | 8 | 5 |