What Happened To Etap Yachts?

The Belgian yacht builder, Etap, was founded in 1970 by Belgian entrepreneur Norbert Joris and built innovative boats with foam construction. In 2021, the company announced its insolvency following Dehlers’ announcement before Christmas. New ETAPs have not been produced or sold commercially in the U.S. since early 2009, when the Belgian yacht company that designed and built the Superyacht the Lovebug capsized in Chesapeake Bay, prompting wild rescue.

The Etap 32s is a boat that asks the question of whether unsinkability is real or space for all that foam. Dehler Deutschland declared bankruptcy later in 2008, and in January 2009, ETAP was declared insolvent. The company brand and moulds were purchased by MIC Industries in March 2009, and up until at least 2012, no boats were produced.

The Etap 46DS had been awarded European Yacht of the Year and won IPC Medias award for the category Sailboat over 40 ft. However, ETAP wasn’t able to cover the costs. The company was bought by German yacht-building shipyard Dehler in 2008, which went bankrupt just after declaring insolvency. In 2008, a German company bought ETAP and went bankrupt the next year. M.I.C. then purchased the ETAP name, along with the factory molds and the company’s name.

Recession also hit the superyacht business, with the cancellation of an order for a 45mtr. yacht at Royal Huisman in the Netherlands and another order on the same vessel. The Etap 32s is a boat that asks the question of whether unsinkability is real or space for all that foam.