Heraclitus
Member
Any views on the Etap 30? Do they sail well? How do they compare, say, to the Sadler 29? Thanks
Etap 30
- Thread starter Heraclitus
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Sans Bateau
Well-Known Member
Never owned one, but have known several people who have through the owners assoc.
By todays standards they are fairly heavy with a displacement/ballast ratio of about 38%.
Biased I might be, and the Sadler is a very good boat, but close inspection like for like will most likely show the Etap to be better built. Go look for yourself.
Two people that I know well, one an Enlish couple sail their 30 all over the place in all sorts of weather. The other was replaced about 3 years ago by an Etap 34s. This was owned by a (mad) Dutchman who sails mainly single handed and sails extensively in all sorts of weather.
The Etap 30 has always looked after these people and they always sing the praises of its sea keeping.
However. If you find a realy nice Sadler 29 and only rough Etap 30's. Go for the Sadler!
By todays standards they are fairly heavy with a displacement/ballast ratio of about 38%.
Biased I might be, and the Sadler is a very good boat, but close inspection like for like will most likely show the Etap to be better built. Go look for yourself.
Two people that I know well, one an Enlish couple sail their 30 all over the place in all sorts of weather. The other was replaced about 3 years ago by an Etap 34s. This was owned by a (mad) Dutchman who sails mainly single handed and sails extensively in all sorts of weather.
The Etap 30 has always looked after these people and they always sing the praises of its sea keeping.
However. If you find a realy nice Sadler 29 and only rough Etap 30's. Go for the Sadler!
johnalison
Well-Known Member
Both good boats. the Etap must have been the last traditional one they did before they went all peculiar and though I've not sailed one I thought it was a decent design. I had a Sadler 29 for 15 years (fin) and found it quite practical. the galley is a bit small but usable. We kept up with Sadler 32s most of the time until it got to force 5. It pays to reef early, but easy to handle and solidly fitted out.
Oldhand
Well-Known Member
If you can find a rare deep fin keeled Etap 30 you will find it an excellent sailing vessel with terrific windward performance with decent sails. It's a bit slow off the wind compared with lighter modern designs but I would still expect it to out sail a Sadler 29 thanks to the larger mainsail of the fractioanl rig. The huge advantage of an Etap is it can still be sailed to safety when flooded when a Sadler might just about keep you afloat. The downside is you lose stowage space as a result of the buoyancy foam.
Heraclitus
Member
[ QUOTE ]
If you can find a rare deep fin keeled Etap 30 you will find it an excellent sailing vessel with terrific windward performance with decent sails.
[/ QUOTE ]
And one with 4'7'' draft?
If you can find a rare deep fin keeled Etap 30 you will find it an excellent sailing vessel with terrific windward performance with decent sails.
[/ QUOTE ]
And one with 4'7'' draft?
Oldhand
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
And one with 4'7'' draft?
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Doesn't go to windward nearly as well. When Semaphore Yachts were the Etap agent they held an Etap meet in the Eastern Solent, including a pursuit race. I had the dubious honour of handicapping the fleet. A deep finned Etap 30 started second last, only a 38 was later. However, the deep finned 30 was ahead of all but 3 boats by the windward mark and alongside the best sailed 28i at the next mark after a fetch. The 28i was fractionally faster downwind under kite and won by about a boat length. Shallow fin 30's were thumped by the rest of the 28i fleet as they didn't catch up on the beat.
And one with 4'7'' draft?
[/ QUOTE ]
Doesn't go to windward nearly as well. When Semaphore Yachts were the Etap agent they held an Etap meet in the Eastern Solent, including a pursuit race. I had the dubious honour of handicapping the fleet. A deep finned Etap 30 started second last, only a 38 was later. However, the deep finned 30 was ahead of all but 3 boats by the windward mark and alongside the best sailed 28i at the next mark after a fetch. The 28i was fractionally faster downwind under kite and won by about a boat length. Shallow fin 30's were thumped by the rest of the 28i fleet as they didn't catch up on the beat.