Why ETAP ?

10 Things you need to know about Etap

Etap is Belgian niche builder of double-hulled unsinkable Sailing Yachts. They have been at it for over 35 years now and are certified by the French Merchant Marine and Lloyd’s of London. Every Etap has 2 solid fiberglass hulls with closed-cell foam in between.
To get “certified” unsinkable, every new model is tested. The test requires the boat to stabilize after a knock down in fully flooded condition, so that it can be sailed back to port, from wherever it happens to be. The “inside” water level in case of a hull breach will be about knee deep. Since the V-berth and all cooking related hardware is above that level, a multi day passage under sail in a flooded condition can be undertaken.
Safety is of primary concern for Etap. Many features highlight that : the non skid decks, which are unequalled in the US market, the open aluminum toe rail that lets water get off the deck as soon as it gets on, plenty of handholds inside and outside and a comfortable interior, because comfortable equals safe.
Etaps are built with sailing in mind. All Etaps come with end-boom sheeting as it is the only way to truly control the main sail. A removable traveler is installed just before the pedestal, making it an easy to sail boat for shorthanded crew, and by making the traveler removable, dockside livability increases dramatically. A clever find !
Etaps are very dry and comfortable boats. The double hull construction virtually eliminates condensation as the boat is very well thermally and acoustically insulated. Combined with a deck-stepped mast and Volvo Saildrive, the boat is totally dry inside. No need for a bilge..
The ship-in-ship method allows for stiff boats. The outer hull and inner hull are both chemically and mechanically bonded, leaving with a very strong boat.The inner hull provides for a smooth and maintenance friendly interior.
Etap Yachting has developped a shoal draft keel, the Etap Performance Tandem keel. It consists of 2 keels one in front of the other, providing for superior lift, while maintaining stability and reducing draft. The Tandem keel is available on all Etap models.
Etap follows the CE classification of yachts. Starting from the Etap 32s onwards, the yachts are "A" rated : ready for the open sea. Transatlantic passages of Etaps are testimony to their superior construction.
Because of their high quality, Etaps retain a good second hand value. There are 7000 Etaps sailing in Europe and significant market data support our claim.