The Etap 38i Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Etap 38i, an aft-cockpit masthead sloop, was designed by Mortain & Mavrikios and built in Belgium by Etap Yachting.

An Etap 38i sailboat at anchor in Tyrell Bay, Carriacou in the West Indies.An Etap 38i

Published Specification for the Etap 38i

Underwater Profile: Wing Keel & Spade Rudder

Hull Material: GRP (Fibreglass)

Length Overall: 38'0" (11.6m)

Waterline Length: 32'0" (9.7m)

Beam: 12'9" (3.9m)

Draft: 5'1" (1.6m)

Rig Type: Masthead sloop

Displacement: 14,120lb (6,405kg)

Designer: Mortain & Mavrikios

Builder: Etap Yachting (Belgium)

Year First Built: 1989

Year Last Built: 1997

Number Built: 95


Published Design Ratios for the Etap 38i

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 16.5

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

2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 34.4

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

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 193

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

4. Comfort Ratio: 21.9

  • 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

5. Capsize Screening Formula: 2.1

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

read more about these Key Performance Indicators...


Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Etap 38i

1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 16.5 suggests that the Etap 38i will, in the right conditions, approach her maximum hull speed readily and satisfy the sailing performance expectations of most cruising sailors.

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 34.4 would usually mean that the Etap 38i would have a tendency to heel uncomfortably in a gust, and need to be reefed early to keep her sailing upright in a moderate breeze.

However, as she has much of her ballast concentrated in her wing keel, she's likely to be considerably stiffer than her published Ballast/Displacement Ratio might suggest.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 193, tells us the Etap 38i is a light-to-moderate displacement sailboat. If she's loaded with too much heavy cruising gear her performance will suffer to a degree.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 21.9 suggests that crew comfort of a Etap 38i in a seaway is similar to what you would associate with the motion of a coastal cruiser with moderate stability, which is not encouraging news for anyone prone to seasickness. 

5. The Capsize Screening Formula of 2.1 tells us that a Etap 38i would not be a good choice of sailboat for ocean passage-making, owing to the increased risk of capsize in strong winds and heavy seas when compared to a sailboat with a CSF of less than 2.0.


Other sailboats in the Etap range include:


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