VX Evo Information, Review, Specs

The VX Evo entered production in 2016, building upon the successful lineage of the VX One. The design team behind the VX Evo, including Ross Weene as the design engineer and Brian Bennett as a key designer, aimed to create a modern, high-performance one-design platform. Their philosophy centered on developing a boat with a "15-year race-life," emphasizing durability alongside speed. This robust construction is achieved through the use of advanced materials, including laminates of Carbon, E-glass, and PVC cores combined with epoxy resins, resulting in a tough yet lightweight hull. MacKay Boats, which later acquired the design rights for the VX range, brought its extensive experience in building championship-winning dinghies to the VX Evo. Their manufacturing ethos, focused on precision and optimizing every aspect of construction, ensures that the VX Evo adheres to the company's reputation for creating vessels that embody the meaning of fast.

Sailing Performance and Handling

With a length overall of 15.75 feet and a reported sail area of 109.79 square feet for the main, complemented by a 119.48 square foot asymmetric spinnaker, the VX Evo is engineered for speed and responsiveness. Its cat rig, featuring a square-top, fully battened mainsail, contributes to its efficient sail plan. A defining characteristic of the VX Evo's performance is its innovative ballasted centerboard, which acts as a hybrid keel and can be lifted in and out, providing enhanced stability. This feature, combined with its inherent form stability, allows the boat to stand up well to wind and provides a balanced platform.

Sailors consistently describe the VX Evo as "stable and very darn quick," often exceeding expectations in terms of speed. It excels in apparent wind sailing, offering a dynamic and engaging experience. The boat is praised for its easy-to-use controls and a smooth spinnaker halyard system, facilitating efficient hoists and takedowns. Its handling characteristics make it an ideal choice for performance-oriented sailors looking to develop their skills, particularly in asymmetric sailing.

Accommodations and Layout

Given its design as a high-performance single-handed dinghy, the VX Evo is an open boat without any enclosed interior accommodations. At just over 15 feet in length, its layout is entirely focused on the cockpit for active sailing. The deck is constructed from solid fiberglass, ensuring a stiff and durable platform for crew movement and hiking. The ergonomic layout of the cockpit is designed for efficiency and ease of control, allowing sailors to manage the cat rig and asymmetric spinnaker effectively.

Owner's Perspectives

Owners of the VX Evo frequently express high satisfaction with the boat's performance and build quality. Many have reported being "very happy" with their Evo, finding it to be "great, stable and very darn quick," often surpassing initial expectations. The boat is noted for being "quite quick to rig" for a two-sail boat, a significant advantage for those prioritizing time on the water. Discussions among owners often revolve around optimizing sail trim and rigging, with resources like tutorial videos available to assist in setup. While owners actively engage in refining their sailing techniques with the VX Evo, there are no widespread or recurring "common problems" reported, underscoring its reputation as a well-engineered and reliable high-performance dinghy.