The Etap 24i is a rare small boat that tries to do everything: it is light enough to trail, comfortable enough for a week or two of coastal cruising, quick enough to do well in club racing, and, thanks to its foam-filled double hull, designed to stay afloat even when holed. More than two decades after it was launched, it remains one of the most interesting 24-footers on the used market.

This review covers the 24i’s history, construction, keel options, sailing performance, accommodation, specifications and what to check when buying one.

A Short History of Etap

Etap Yachting was founded in Belgium in 1970 and became known for one big idea: unsinkable boats. Every Etap was built with an inner and outer skin and closed-cell foam injected between them, giving enough buoyancy to keep the boat floating, and in many cases still sailable, if the hull was breached.

The 24i was introduced in 1999 as a bigger sister to the popular Etap 21i, sharing its twin rudders, backstay-free fractional rig and distinctive styling. It was designed by Marc-Oliver von Ahlen.

Etap was bought by Dehler in 2008, and the business ran into insolvency soon afterward during the financial crisis. The brand and molds later changed hands, but series production of the classic range effectively ended. Today, if you want an Etap 24i, you will be buying a used boat.

Construction and Unsinkability

The double-skin, foam-cored construction is the 24i’s defining feature. Beyond buoyancy, it brings some useful side effects:

• Stiff hull: the sandwich construction makes for a rigid, durable structure.
• Insulation: the foam provides good thermal and acoustic insulation, which helps reduce condensation and noise.
• Smooth interior: lockers and interior moldings have smooth, wipe-clean gelcoat surfaces.
• Good osmosis record: Etaps have a reputation for holding up well, although any older GRP boat should still be checked by a surveyor.

There are well-known accounts of Etaps staying afloat after serious collisions and groundings. The foam is mostly hidden in the ends of the boat and under the cockpit, so its impact on interior and storage space is smaller than you might expect.

Design and Character

Many small cruisers of this era chased interior volume at the expense of looks and sailing performance. Etap took a different approach with the 24i: it is sporty without being a stripped-out racer, with balanced proportions and a fractional rig without a backstay. The trade-off is that there is no standing headroom below, but the boat sails well and looks good doing it.

That combination has made it popular with owners who want a boat they can trail to new cruising grounds, race on weeknights and still take across open water. Plenty of 24is have made coastal and short offshore passages, such as English Channel crossings, with couples aboard for a couple of weeks at a time. Being small also means you can tuck into corners of marinas and shallow anchorages that larger boats cannot reach.

Keel Options: Fin or Tandem

The 24i was offered with two keels:

• Fin keel with lead bulb: about 1.50 m (4 ft 11 in) draft. Better for stiffness, upwind performance, acceleration and maneuverability.
• Tandem shoal keel: about 0.85 m (2 ft 9 in) draft. Designed by von Ahlen to give good efficiency for its depth, it lets you explore shallow water and makes trailing and launching easier, as the boat sits lower on the trailer.

The tandem keel works surprisingly well for its draft, but as usual there is no substitute for depth: the fin-keeled boats are noticeably more lively and point higher. Choose based on where you sail. For a broader look at the trade-offs, see fin vs full keel and our guide to sailboat keel types.

Sailing Performance

The 24i is fun, responsive and forgiving. In light airs it needs attention to crew weight and sail trim to keep it moving, but it comes alive as the breeze builds, and owners often say it really starts to perform from around 12 to 15 knots of wind.

Key points from owners and reviewers:

• Crew weight matters: as on any light boat, moving crew to the windward rail and forward makes a noticeable difference to speed upwind.
• Upwind: sailing slightly freer than maximum pointing often gives better speed and better progress overall.
• Downwind: under spinnaker it is quick, and in strong winds it can plane, which is exciting but demands a competent crew when dropping the kite.
• Twin rudders: they keep a firm grip when the boat heels, and the helm stays light in normal conditions. Rudder bearings should be checked for play and the bushes replaced when needed.
• Well behaved: it heaves to calmly and sails acceptably under main alone or headsail alone.

The full-width mainsheet traveler gives good control of the mainsail and can be removed to open up the cockpit at anchor. Because there is no backstay, mainsail shape is controlled with the vang, outhaul, cunningham and traveler rather than backstay tension. Deck hardware is from mainstream suppliers such as Lewmar and Seldén.

Power comes either from an outboard in a well or, more commonly, a Yanmar 1GM 9 hp diesel with a saildrive. A folding propeller helps sailing performance.

Accommodation

For a sporty 24-footer, the interior is well thought out:

• V-berth in the bow.
• Heads compartment to port, forward of the saloon.
• Saloon settees on each side, whose backrests can be removed to widen them into proper sea berths.
• Split galley on either side aft of the main bulkhead.
• Multi-use hanging locker door that doubles as a table in the saloon or cockpit.
• Large cockpit lockers instead of a quarter berth or aft cabin.

Storage is excellent for the size, and the beech-finish woodwork has generally aged well. Rig loads are carried by an aluminum arch molded into the deck, supported by the bulkhead below. Headroom is around 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in), so taller sailors will be stooping.

Etap 24i Specifications

Specification	Etap 24i
Length overall (incl. rudders)	8.02 m (26 ft 4 in)
Hull length	7.30 m (24 ft 0 in)
Waterline length	6.71 m (22 ft 0 in)
Beam	2.50 m (8 ft 2 in)
Draft (fin / tandem keel)	1.50 m (4 ft 11 in) / 0.85 m (2 ft 9 in)
Displacement (fin / tandem)	approx. 1,800 / 1,820 kg (3,970 / 4,010 lb)
Ballast (fin / tandem)	approx. 500 / 520 kg (1,100 / 1,145 lb)
Sail area (main and 100% foretriangle)	29.8 m² (321 sq ft)
Rig	Fractional sloop, no backstay
Engine	Outboard, or Yanmar 1GM 9 hp diesel with saildrive
Steering	Tiller, twin rudders
Headroom	approx. 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
Construction	GRP double skin with foam injection (unsinkable)
Designer	Marc-Oliver von Ahlen / Etap
Builder	Etap Yachting, Belgium (from 1999)

Buying a Used Etap 24i

Used prices vary with age, condition, equipment, keel type and location, so check current listings. When viewing a boat, pay attention to:

• Rudder bearings and bushes, and the condition of the twin rudders and transom fittings
• The saildrive seal and service history (or outboard condition)
• Standing rigging age, mast step and the deck arch area
• Keel bolts and the keel-to-hull joint, especially on boats that have been dried out or grounded
• Signs of water in the foam or between the skins: a professional survey is strongly recommended
• Trailer condition, if one is included

Our guides on hidden problems to look for in used sailboats and the best small and trailerable sailboats are useful when comparing options.

Etap 24i Review: Verdict

The Etap 24i is an unusual and clever small cruiser. It combines lively, forgiving sailing with unsinkable construction, a choice of fin or shoal tandem keel, and a practical interior with excellent storage. It lacks standing headroom and needs a solid tow vehicle to trail, but if you want a small boat that can cruise, race and explore shallow water with an extra margin of safety, it is well worth seeking out on the used market.