The Etap Yachts Etap 30i - Deep draft Deep draft 1995 vs Etap Yachts Etap 39s - Deep Draft Deep Draft 1998 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Etap Yachts Etap 39s - Deep Draft Deep Draft 1998 measures 39,0 feet overall (1998), giving it roughly 8,2 additional feet of deck space compared to the Etap Yachts Etap 30i - Deep draft Deep draft 1995 at 30,8 feet (1995). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Etap Yachts Etap 39s - Deep Draft Deep Draft 1998 tips the scales at 14 991 lbs — 7 275 lbs less than the Etap Yachts Etap 30i - Deep draft Deep draft 1995 at 7 716 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.
The Etap Yachts Etap 39s - Deep Draft Deep Draft 1998 tops out at 50 hp. Engine specs for the Etap Yachts Etap 30i - Deep draft Deep draft 1995 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Etap Yachts Etap 39s - Deep Draft Deep Draft 1998 carries 37 gallons versus 13 gallons in the Etap Yachts Etap 30i - Deep draft Deep draft 1995. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Etap Yachts Etap 39s - Deep Draft Deep Draft 1998 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Etap Yachts Etap 30i - Deep draft Deep draft 1995 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Etap Yachts Etap 39s - Deep Draft Deep Draft 1998 could be the deciding factor.
Displacement is where these two sailboats genuinely part ways. The Etap Yachts Etap 39s - Deep Draft Deep Draft 1998 displaces 14 991 lbs — a 7 275-lb difference over the Etap Yachts Etap 30i - Deep draft Deep draft 1995 at 7 716 lbs. That gap separates two entirely different categories of sailing: the heavier boat is built for offshore passage-making and load-carrying, while the lighter hull rewards performance sailing and easier handling in lighter air.
Both boats draw a similar depth — 5,7 ft and 6,5 ft respectively. Marina access and anchorage options should be broadly equivalent between the two.
The Etap Yachts Etap 30i - Deep draft Deep draft 1995 uses Sloop rigging. Helm style differs too: the Etap Yachts Etap 30i - Deep draft Deep draft 1995 uses a 1 tiller (EVS: Etap Vertical Steering System in option) versus a 1 wheel on the Etap Yachts Etap 39s - Deep Draft Deep Draft 1998. Wheel helms give better leverage and visibility on larger boats; tillers offer direct feedback and simplicity on smaller ones. The Etap Yachts Etap 39s - Deep Draft Deep Draft 1998 has a documented auxiliary engine of 50 hp.
Hull speed is rated at 7,8 knots for the Etap Yachts Etap 39s - Deep Draft Deep Draft 1998 and 6,9 knots for the Etap Yachts Etap 30i - Deep draft Deep draft 1995. For extended cruising, water capacity matters: the Etap Yachts Etap 39s - Deep Draft Deep Draft 1998 carries 93 gallons versus 34 gallons on the Etap Yachts Etap 30i - Deep draft Deep draft 1995 — a significant advantage on longer passages where watermaker or provisioning stops aren't guaranteed.
Bottom line: The Etap Yachts Etap 39s - Deep Draft Deep Draft 1998 is the offshore and bluewater choice — at 14 991 lbs displacement and 39 ft it has the load capacity, range, and seakeeping for extended passages. The Etap Yachts Etap 30i - Deep draft Deep draft 1995 at 7 716 lbs is the more nimble, accessible option — easier to single-hand and better suited to coastal and inland sailing.