BoatsEtap 38i

Etap 38i

Masthead Sloop · Wing Keel · 1989–1997

A masthead sloop featuring a shallow-draft wing keel, designed for stable cruising and built between 1989 and 1997

Designed by Mortain & Mavrikios.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Wing Keel

See her sail

The Etap 38i, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from VOILIER ODIN

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her moderate displacement on a moderate beam gives 22 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 22
CoastalBluewater

2.11 — right around the 2.0 line, the edge between coastal and offshore.

Capsize screening 2.11
LightHeavy

193 — moderately heavy for her waterline, a balanced cruising weight.

Displacement / length 193
EasygoingPowered-up

16.4 — moderate power for her weight; steady, all-round performance.

Sail area / displacement 16.4
TenderStiff

34% of her weight is ballast — on the tender side; she'll heel readily and want a reef sooner.

Ballast 34%

A balanced, easily-driven cruiser — comfortable and forgiving for coastal work.

  • Draws less than ~81% of boats her size on file
  • Beamier than ~76% of boats her size on file

Compared with 2907 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Etap 38i, as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The Etap 38i is a 11.6-meter Masthead Sloop designed by Mortain and Mavrikios, built by Etap Yachting between 1989 and 1997, featuring a wing keel and a displacement of 6404 kg. Aboard VOILIER ODIN, the crew sailed an Etap 38i from France to Santander, Spain, relying on its Beta Marine 50H engine in light winds and heavy swell, noting the engine's accessibility for maintenance. The vessel proved stable in 3- to 4-meter swells during a passage between the Azores and Spain, despite being under-canvassed for light air, and its electrical system, including autopilot and refrigeration, functioned well on solar power. The crew undertook a six-week custom galley renovation, installing a seawater tap and reinforcing cabinetry with aluminum brackets for durability.13:52 They also replaced a staysail halyard, installed a new VHF radio with a custom aluminum mounting plate, and added a fixed 220V power strip and a 61cm television.17:05 The crew applied Wadgrip non-slip deck paint, finding its fine-grained texture comfortable for bare feet.23:34 They explored La Gomera in the Canary Islands and São Miguel in the Azores, noting the availability of mooring buoys in Cape Verde and straightforward immigration procedures.19:29

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

The channels sailing this model, and where they were last seen.

VOILIER ODINThe crew of the steel sailboat Odin documents their long-term liveaboard journey, focusing on rigorous vessel maintenance, offshore passage planning, and coastal cruising.

Seen 54 times across one channel of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

On the water

The Etap 38i on video

HOW I MAINTAIN MY BOAT / HOW I STORE MY FOODPhosphoric acid at 25% removes heavy rust from a dinghy chain when galvanizing is fully gone.VOILIER ODINWHY CAPE VERDE SURPRISED MEA FOB HP 32 kg anchor on 50 m of chain held firm through 35-knot gusts in Cape Verde sand.VOILIER ODINLIFE IN CAPE VERDE is so coolCape Verde offers straightforward three-month visa stays and accessible gas refills for screw-on propane bottles.VOILIER ODINDISCOVERING EL HIERRO AND JAPANESE INVASIVE ALGAEGratelupia turuturu, a Japanese invasive alga, turns up at El Hierro and gets pressed into a herbarium aboard Odin.VOILIER ODINA BEAUTIFUL SHIP El HierroA snubber hook failure at anchor prompts a review of rigging setup and potential material defects.VOILIER ODINTHE MYSTERIOUS RUINED VILLAGE and we avoid the gust of windRelocating to the southern lee of La Gomera provides essential shelter from strong northerly gale winds.VOILIER ODINIron Fist is out of commission, we're avoiding the worst...A 20 mm snubber shackle snaps overnight at Pasito Blanco while the anchor holds firm.VOILIER ODINTHE NEW TEAM MEMBERSAn ETAC 38 crew conducts coastal shakedown sails and anchor testing near Gran Canaria before an Atlantic crossing.VOILIER ODINI DIDN'T THINK I'D SEE THAT...A crew explores the mountainous terrain and ports of La Gomera while cruising on an Etap 38i.VOILIER ODINFROM ANCHORAGE TO ANCHORAGE, IT'S DISCOVERYSix nights at anchor with marina shower access costs €17, diesel €1.19 per liter.VOILIER ODINMADEIRA: SAILING FROM 0 TO 35 KNOTSAn unforecast 35-knot squall tears the staysail head and rips the genoa on passage to Madeira.VOILIER ODINCRAZY TRICKS IN SÃO MIGUELThe crew of an Etap 38i performs mast maintenance and tests geothermal cooking methods on São Miguel.VOILIER ODIN

What broke, what changed

Gear aboard, as the crews told it

Moments from individual boats of this model that the fleet has filmed — one crew, one piece of kit, one day on the water. Not a review of the class, and not a count of anything.

  • FailedWindy

    The weather forecast service provided inaccurate wind direction and failed to predict a squall.

    aboard VOILIER ODINseen November 20252:48

  • ComparedSunbrellaweighed against fabric we bought to make awnings

    The crew plans to replace worn-out portlight covers with Sunbrella fabric, acknowledging its superior UV resistance.

    aboard VOILIER ODINseen August 202514:48

  • ComparedVolvoweighed against Beta Marine

    The speaker compared Beta Marine favorably to Volvo, noting Volvos reliance on complex electronics.

    aboard VOILIER ODINseen June 202521:46

  • ComparedYanmarweighed against Beta Marine

    The speaker compared Beta Marine favorably to Yanmar, noting Yanmars reliance on complex electronics.

    aboard VOILIER ODINseen June 202530:03

  • WorkingGoPro

    The speaker uses a single GoPro camera for all filming, acknowledging its limitations.

    aboard VOILIER ODINseen March 202616:55

  • WorkingStarlink

    The speaker notes that Starlink consumes too much power and has to be unplugged to save battery.

    aboard VOILIER ODINseen December 2025watch

  • WorkingNavionics

    The marina entrance was difficult to spot visually despite being clearly marked on the navigation system.

    aboard VOILIER ODINseen August 202525:34

  • WorkingRaymarine

    The speaker praises the Axiom Raymarine chartplotter for its reliable anchor alarm and consistent GPS signal.

    aboard VOILIER ODINseen July 202526:17

Each line is one crew's account of their own boat. Another Etap 38i may be fitted out entirely differently.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
34.4%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
16.4
Displacement / length
193.1
Comfort ratio
21.9
Capsize screening
2.11
Hull speed
7.6 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1450
Hull
Hull type
Wing Keel
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Iron
Production
Years built
1989–1997
Units built
95
Designer
Mortain, Mavrikios
Builder
Etap Yachting

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Beneteau Oceanis 39011.68 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Philippe Briand-designed masthead sloop featuring a spacious beam and an optional wing keel for shoal draft versatility
Manwë Odyssey EP02 - Grenada Underwater Sculpture Parkfrom Manwë Odyssey
Ericson Yachts 3811.48 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Bruce King-designed masthead sloop with a high sail area-to-displacement ratio for spirited performance
Update: Sailing After the Palisades Firefrom Christian Williams
Sabre Yachts 3811.53 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA masthead sloop designed for performance, featuring a fin keel and spade rudder for responsive handling
Sabre 38's Cored Hull - Excellent sailboat, or one to stay away from? - Lady K Sailing - ep 330from Lady K Sailing
Bavaria Yachts 3611.55 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 1998-2000 production cruiser featuring a high 21.12 sail area-to-displacement ratio for its 11.55-meter hull
FORT NAPOLÉON - Îles des Saintes - GUADELOUPEfrom Sailing Nova Vita
Bavaria Yachts 3711.55 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA short-lived production model from 2000-2001, formerly marketed as the Bavaria 36, featuring a masthead sloop rig
Camping On Boat With My Girlfriend - Sailing and surviving the BIG swell12:48from The Paper Boat Project (Stefan Heiberg)
Jeanneau Sun Shine 3811.66 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthAn extended-stern evolution of the Sun Shine 36, this masthead sloop balances a 38% ballast ratio for offshore stability
It seems that this time we did find our boat!! 🤩💪 | Ep. 34 - Chez Team11:58from Chez Team

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

Etap 28iA fractional sloop designed by Harle, Mortain, and Mavrikios, offering a stable and balanced platform for coastal cruisingEtap 32iA fractional sloop designed for stability and ease of handling, featuring a moderate displacement and fin keelEtap 35iA fractional sloop with a double-skinned unsinkable hull, designed for stable cruising and introduced in 1992Etap 37SA Mortain-Mavrikios fractional sloop with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio, designed for spirited performanceEtap 39sA J&J-designed fractional sloop with a 33% ballast ratio, built for performance cruising between 1998 and 2005

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