Re: Opinions and experiences


"Pete" <pstyles@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:CyLHi.30978$ka7.18803@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


Sven Mischkies wrote:


You seem attracted by the unsinkableness of the Etap.
Indeed I am. :)

Personally, I'd forget that because almost no boats sink, and buying a liferaft is cheaper if that's what you worry about. Just judge the Etap by the same
criteria as it's competitors (ie finish, sailing characteristics etc.).

Well, unsinkability is a big plus, IMHO, but not everything. The piece
of mind never to have to leave your boat except it is on fire or sitting
on a rock is nice... I plan to charter one in spring to get some
experience with them and see how they sail.

As ever, I've not sailed one, but as the importer used to operate out of
the marina that syphons cash out of my bank account, I have seen several
of them in the water and on the hard. Nothing that I've seen has made me
want to own one, but then I could be missing a real treat - who knows!
Which negatives did you see?

None. Just nothing particularly exciting. Some had rather unconventional keels which might have been OK, but looked like rather poor compromises (draft vs performance) to me. This is idle and uninformed speculation, but my gut feeling is that if the Etap wasn't unsinkable, very few would be sold. But if the unsinkable bit gives you peace of mind, then that's an important factor in your decision process.
Make sure it's fireproof also.

.