The construction is of a polyester glassfibre and closed-cell polyurethane foam sandwich, which provides buoyancy and makes the boat unsinkable.
[1] The boat is fitted with a Swedish Volvo Penta D1-20 19 hp (14 kW) diesel engine for docking and manoeuvring.
[7] In a 2007 review in Sailing magazine, naval architect Robert Perry wrote, "it's amazing what you can do in 28 feet, 2 inches today.
It's a clever layout done in attractive light wood veneer with stainless steel pipe rail accents.
"[8] In a 2008 review in Practical Sailing, Darrell Nicholson wrote, "with a displacement of 8,400 pounds, the Etap 28s is a stocky pocket cruiser.
"[9] In a Cruising World 2008 review Herb McCormick wrote, "we sailed the Etap on a day in which the breeze never topped 5 knots, and we couldn't begin to gauge the boat's real potential.
But its high boom, small headsail, and short rig-while no doubt ideal in the windy North Sea and other high-latitude destinations-suggests that it might be underpowered in such light-air venues as the Chesapeake.