I bought this ETAP 21i in 2023. Built in 2003, she had been sitting closed for several years. Despite that, the interior was in surprisingly good condition – no signs of mould, no damp smell, just a bit of dust. It was a clear sign of the quality of ETAP’s double-hull construction. Structurally sound, clean inside, and full of potential. My goal wasn’t just to refit her – I wanted to make her fully electric, quiet and efficient, as a small-scale proof of concept for sustainable sailing.
While the interior was in good shape, the deck was a disaster. The mast and sails were simply dropped and left lying unsecured, exposed to sun and rain. Sheets and halyards were tangled, the halyard clutches were stiff, and the winches barely turned. The gelcoat was faded, with signs of UV damage and standing water stains.The boat was originally equipped with a 9.9 HP Tohatsu outboard engine from 2020 – reliable, but loud and completely out of place for what I had in mind.
The first step was complete removal of old equipment. I started by dismantling all deck hardware, halyards, and fittings. The outboard engine – a well-maintained 9.9 HP Tohatsu – was cleaned, serviced and later sold.Next came the hull work. The entire underwater section was sandblasted, including the keel. Once clean, I applied epoxy coating to the keel and the whole underwater hull, ensuring long-term protection against osmosis and corrosion.
For propulsion, I installed an ePropulsion Pod Drive 3 kW – a reliable and efficient electric inboard motor. Since we already use ePropulsion outboards in our charter fleet, I knew what to expect in terms of build quality, quietness and performance. The pod motor was mounted under the hull, with clean shaft alignment and minimal drag.The system was originally powered by two EPOCH 48V 2.5 kWh LiFePO₄ batteries, installed low in the hull for balance and safety. These came preconfigured with built-in BMS and solid mounting cases.
Unfortunately, shortly after installation, one of the batteries started showing irregular behaviour. It was still under warranty, so I sent it to the supplier in Norway. However, due to a shipping mishandling by GLS, the battery was lost in transit. Despite the declared value, they refunded only €160 – while the actual cost was €1,400. Since then, the system has been running on a single 2.5 kWh battery.
I installed a B&G Vulcan 7 plotter and a Simrad Pinned Drive autopilot, both integrated into the NMEA 2000 network. I kept the old Raymarine ST4000 instruments for speed, log and depth, and connected the Seatalk network to NMEA 2000 via a converter. Now all data is visible on the plotter – a compact but effective nav system.
The traditional 12V battery was removed and replaced with a 48V to 12V DC-DC converter (30A). This powers all onboard 12V systems – lights, instruments, USB ports, and bilge pump – directly from the main battery bank.
The mast was re-stepped with all new standing rigging and running rigging. I ordered a full set of new sails from Elvstrøm – full-batten mainsail, furling genoa, and a light genaker. A custom lazy bag was added for easier handling and clean stowage.
The first sea trial took place without a mast, departing from Marina Ramova in Krvavica. We used a wireless joystick controller – solar-charged, Bluetooth connected, and showing speed, range and battery level. It felt like piloting a drone. Quiet, responsive, and very precise.
After stepping the mast in Baška Voda, we sailed with the old sails while waiting for the new ones. Even then, the boat handled beautifully. Silent motoring and light wind sailing made it an enjoyable hybrid experience.
We initially planned to discard the old mattresses, but their covers were high quality – just faded. My wife dyed them in the washing machine, and they came out like new. We also kept the original ETAP hanging bags – practical and part of the boat’s character.
Tested with 3 people on board in calm conditions:– 700 W → 4 knots (~7 hrs / 28 NM)– 1000 W → 5 knots (~5 hrs / 25 NM)– 1500 W → 5.5 knots (~3.3 hrs / 18 NM)– 3000 W → 6.2 knots (~1.6 hrs / 10 NM)Best efficiency was around 1000–1500 W – ideal for day sailing.
Just as we received the new sails, I was left with only one battery. Surprisingly, it was enough. Once under sail, I realized – this is a sailboat, not a motorboat. The motor just gets you in and out. The rest is wind – and that’s perfect.
I couldn’t find original ETAP decals anywhere. So I found reference photos, identified the font, vectorized it manually, and had new stickers custom made. She now looks like she just came out of the factory – only cleaner and quieter.
I’m proud of this little boat. After years with large yachts, the ETAP 21i reminded me what real sailing is. My first boat was an Elan 19 – small, simple, direct. Over the years, boats got bigger and more luxurious – and we got further from the sea.This boat brought me back. Back to wind, to silence, to joy.Sometimes, downsizing isn’t a compromise. It’s a return to what really matters.
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