The Etap 28i Sailboat

The Etap 28i is a sharp performer, largely due to her generously roached, fully-battened mainsail and working jib set on a sporty fractional rig together with a deep-fin keel,

High performance sails on this Etap 28i

Published Specification for the Etap 28i

Hull Type: Fin keel with spade rudder

Hull Material: GRP (fibreglass)

Length Overall: 28' 0" / 8.5m

Waterline Length: 23' 9" / 7.2m

Beam: 10' 3" / 3.1m

Draft: 5' 0" / 1.5m

Rig Type: Fractional Sloop

Displacement: 6,173lb / 2,800kg

Designer: Harle & Mortain

Builder: Etap (Belgium)

Year First Built: 1988

Year Last Built: 1997

Number Built: 450

more about the Etap 28i...

Published Design Ratios for the Etap 28i

Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 17.1

Less than 16 would be considered under-powered;
16 to 20 would indicate reasonably good performance;
Over 20 suggests relatively high performance.

Ballast/Displacement Ratio: Not published

Under 40: less stiff, less powerful
Over 40: stiffer, more powerful

Displacement/Length Ratio: 205

Under 100: Ultralight
100 to 200: Light
200 to 275: Moderate
275 to 350: Heavy
Over 350: Ultraheavy

Comfort Ratio: 17.2

Under 20 indicates a lightweight racing boat
20 to 30 indicates a coastal cruiser
30 to 40 indicates a moderate offshore cruising boat
40 to 50 indicates a heavy offshore boat
Over 50 indicates an extremely heavy offshore boat

Capsize Screening Formula: 2.2

Under 2.0 (the lower the better): Better suited for ocean passages
Over 2.0: Less suited for ocean passages

Summary Analysis of Published Design Ratios for the Etap 28i

1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 17.1 suggests that the Etap 28i will, in the right conditions, approach her maximum hull speed readily and satisfy the sailing performance expectations of most cruising sailors.

2. In the absence of a published Ballast/Displacement Ratio for the Etap 28i we are unable to make an assessment of the boat's stiffness.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 205, tells us the Etap 28i is a moderate displacement cruiser, which means she'll carry all your cruising gear without it having a dramatic effect on her performance. Most of today's sailboats intended for offshore cruising fall into this displacement category.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 17.2 suggests that the Etap 28i will have the motion underway to that of a lightweight racing boat. Crew comfort will often be memorable for all the wrong reasons. Upwind in lively conditions the Etap 28i will slam enough to shake your fillings out with a motion that most cruising sailors have no desire to get used to.

5. The Capsize Screening Formula (CSF) of 2.2 indicates that a Etap 28i would not be the wisest choice of sailboat for ocean passage-making owing to the lower resistance to capsize in strong winds and heavy seas that is associated with sailboats with a CSF of 2.0 and above.