zefender
Active member
My brother's interested in one of these - 1988. I'd much appreciate any comments from forumites with experience of them....quality/sailability/known faults etc etc
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ETAP 38i - experiences?
- Thread starter zefender
- Start date
Sybarite
Well-known member
Super boat and designed by late Philippe Harlé ( >14000 boats). Comforting to know that if a ship happens to cut you in half both halves will still float !
The only caveat is that the buoyancy reduces stowage space a little.
Would be on my short list of serious boats to consider.
John
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The only caveat is that the buoyancy reduces stowage space a little.
Would be on my short list of serious boats to consider.
John
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Koeketiene
Well-known member
Hi,
I've got an Etap 38i for just over a year now.
In that time I've taken her toBelgium and France - as far as Brest - in all kinds of weather. Below my remarks based on 1 year sailing.
1. Handles very well at sea - got caught once in a 9 Bft. While I wasn't having much fun, I was never really worried/scared. With 2 reefs & the genua furled 1/2 she just kept going. Considering she only has a draught of 1.65m, not bad at all.
2. As previously posted, the stowing space below is a bit less then you would expect for a boat this size. Under the aft cabin bunk -> fuel tank. Under the saloon bunks -> water tanks. Space under the forward cabin bunks taken up by foam.
We just put up extra lockers/shelves in the saloon & aft cabin.
3. Galley is a dream - plenty of "working space" and huge fridge. Central sink great - something to hold on to in rough weather.
4. Chart table well laid out, all instrument you could want. Great orientation. With the panoramic forward window you never lose touch with the outside world when you're inside.
5. Under sail - reef early! High topsides lead to a fair bit of weather helm. Remember - it's a cruiser, not a racer. She doesn't really like sailing close to the wind. Best I got her was 28° off the wind.
6. Main point of concern - the engine! The Volvo Penta 2003 was IMHO the most crap engine Volvo ever made - don't take my word for it, plenty of reviews about on the Internet. Having a Yanmar fitted this spring.
All in all - the ideal family cruiser is still to be built; but the Etap 38i is as close you're going to get at the moment.
<hr width=100% size=1>Fair winds.
If not... reef early!
I've got an Etap 38i for just over a year now.
In that time I've taken her toBelgium and France - as far as Brest - in all kinds of weather. Below my remarks based on 1 year sailing.
1. Handles very well at sea - got caught once in a 9 Bft. While I wasn't having much fun, I was never really worried/scared. With 2 reefs & the genua furled 1/2 she just kept going. Considering she only has a draught of 1.65m, not bad at all.
2. As previously posted, the stowing space below is a bit less then you would expect for a boat this size. Under the aft cabin bunk -> fuel tank. Under the saloon bunks -> water tanks. Space under the forward cabin bunks taken up by foam.
We just put up extra lockers/shelves in the saloon & aft cabin.
3. Galley is a dream - plenty of "working space" and huge fridge. Central sink great - something to hold on to in rough weather.
4. Chart table well laid out, all instrument you could want. Great orientation. With the panoramic forward window you never lose touch with the outside world when you're inside.
5. Under sail - reef early! High topsides lead to a fair bit of weather helm. Remember - it's a cruiser, not a racer. She doesn't really like sailing close to the wind. Best I got her was 28° off the wind.
6. Main point of concern - the engine! The Volvo Penta 2003 was IMHO the most crap engine Volvo ever made - don't take my word for it, plenty of reviews about on the Internet. Having a Yanmar fitted this spring.
All in all - the ideal family cruiser is still to be built; but the Etap 38i is as close you're going to get at the moment.
<hr width=100% size=1>Fair winds.
If not... reef early!
zefender
Active member
Re: ETAP 38i
Thanks for that (and Sybarite too).
Have you had any experience of moisture creeping into the sandwich and/or the bouyancy? A survey (the seller's at this stage) has raised this although they say that a couple of bore holes and a de-humidifier should sort it. The cause of the ingress was the bow roller bolts, now sorted apparently.
Thanks again
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Thanks for that (and Sybarite too).
Have you had any experience of moisture creeping into the sandwich and/or the bouyancy? A survey (the seller's at this stage) has raised this although they say that a couple of bore holes and a de-humidifier should sort it. The cause of the ingress was the bow roller bolts, now sorted apparently.
Thanks again
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Koeketiene
Well-known member
Re: ETAP 38i
Hi,
Sorry about the lateness of my reply - been away.
On the whole I have found our boat to be very dry indeed. The "double hull" leads to no, or very little, moisture inside the cabins.
Your story makes me want to make an educated guess - your brother is looking at "Lady in Red" for sale on the Hamble. We looked at her ourselves before we decided on Yanita.
Before spending my life's savings I wanted to trace the history of my boat all the way back - or as far back as possible.
Here's what we found, and why we decided not to buy:
- water in the hull/foam - an educated guess (confirmed by ETAP in Belgium) - she's run into something bower first. Not properly repaired water in the sandwich/buoyancy could develop into a very serious problem indeed. When at the time I pressed the yard over the repairs all I got was waffle but no proof (yard, what was done, etc...)
- the yard lists this boat as a 1988 boat, with 2 previous owners having only sailed the UK South Coast. Again, documentary proof of this was not supplied, or unsatisfactory. Also, we now own the first ever Etap 38i - laid down 1989, and commissioned by Etap 1990. I had checked with Etap at the time, and sure enough there are no 1988 38i's.
- your brother should be aware that this boat has been on the market for over 18 months now. Should he still decide to go for her, bargain & bargain HARD. She will need a lot of TLC and money spent on her.
At the time the reason for sale was listed as "owner moving abroad". We will be moving to Spain in a couple of years - I don't see why I shouldn't take Yanita with me.
In the end, it came down to a gut feeling - something did not feel right about this boat. My advice is to pass on this one.
Fox in Ipswich have one for sale at the moment - I did not look at her, she came on the market when we had already bought Yanita.
It would be a good idea for your brother to contact the Etap yard in Belgium. They are very friendly, keep an interest in all their boats and are very helpful. It was them that in the end pointed us towards Yanita.
<hr width=100% size=1>Fair winds.
If not... reef early!
Hi,
Sorry about the lateness of my reply - been away.
On the whole I have found our boat to be very dry indeed. The "double hull" leads to no, or very little, moisture inside the cabins.
Your story makes me want to make an educated guess - your brother is looking at "Lady in Red" for sale on the Hamble. We looked at her ourselves before we decided on Yanita.
Before spending my life's savings I wanted to trace the history of my boat all the way back - or as far back as possible.
Here's what we found, and why we decided not to buy:
- water in the hull/foam - an educated guess (confirmed by ETAP in Belgium) - she's run into something bower first. Not properly repaired water in the sandwich/buoyancy could develop into a very serious problem indeed. When at the time I pressed the yard over the repairs all I got was waffle but no proof (yard, what was done, etc...)
- the yard lists this boat as a 1988 boat, with 2 previous owners having only sailed the UK South Coast. Again, documentary proof of this was not supplied, or unsatisfactory. Also, we now own the first ever Etap 38i - laid down 1989, and commissioned by Etap 1990. I had checked with Etap at the time, and sure enough there are no 1988 38i's.
- your brother should be aware that this boat has been on the market for over 18 months now. Should he still decide to go for her, bargain & bargain HARD. She will need a lot of TLC and money spent on her.
At the time the reason for sale was listed as "owner moving abroad". We will be moving to Spain in a couple of years - I don't see why I shouldn't take Yanita with me.
In the end, it came down to a gut feeling - something did not feel right about this boat. My advice is to pass on this one.
Fox in Ipswich have one for sale at the moment - I did not look at her, she came on the market when we had already bought Yanita.
It would be a good idea for your brother to contact the Etap yard in Belgium. They are very friendly, keep an interest in all their boats and are very helpful. It was them that in the end pointed us towards Yanita.
<hr width=100% size=1>Fair winds.
If not... reef early!
