Design and Construction
The XL-2 measures 41.5 feet overall but carries a 29-foot waterline. Its long overhangs, narrow 11.5-foot beam, and gentle sheer give it its distinctive CCA-era profile.
The boat displaces 17,220 pounds, including 7,100 pounds of lead ballast, and has a capsizescreening figure of 1.78. Allied built the hull of solid, hand-laid fiberglass, with extra thickness in the bilge. The hull-to-deck joint consists of an outward-turned flange, through-bolted on five-inch centers, glassed on the inside, and capped by an aluminum rubrail. The reviewing broker described the resulting heavily constructed boat as impervious to grounding, reefs, and whale attacks.
With the centerboard raised, draft is 4’2″; with it lowered, draft increases to 8’4″. At some point during production, the board material switched from aluminum to bronze—or vice versa.
Rig and Handling
The XL-2 is a masthead sloop with 763 square feet of sail and a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 18.3, making it moderately powered for its weight. Its spade rudder and centerboard let the boat pivot in tight harbours with the board raised. On a fresh reach, it can attain its 7.22-knot hull speed.
The slim beam and long ends reward skilled helmsmanship rather than brute power.
Accommodations
The cockpit is aft. Below, the saloon table lowers to extend the sleeping space, while a V-berth fills the forepeak. Boats built before 1979 had woodgrain Formica veneer in the interior; later boats used natural wood finishes.
The narrow beam limits interior volume, reflecting the boat’s emphasis on its CCA-era proportions rather than spacious accommodations.
Centerboard Issues
The centerboard is the XL-2’s weak point. Because its material changed from aluminum to bronze—or the reverse—during the production run, a particular hull may have a bronze board prone to trunk wear or an aluminum board susceptible to corrosion in a damp trunk. The trunk itself is a confined, often-wet space where grit can accelerate wear.
Production and Ownership
Allied built the XL-2 through four ownership regimes before the company closed in 1982. When the firm was liquidated, the molds were dumped on a farm in upstate New York and may still be there.
In 1981, the yard built Dauphine, the only XL-2 with a fixed keel. Its draft is 5’11”.
The Verdict
The XL-2 42 is a purist’s CCA cruiser: narrow, heavy, and honestly built. It rewards a sailor who values sea-kindly motion and shoal draft over interior volume—and who can live with centerboard upkeep.
Pros
- Sparkman & Stephens CCA-era hull with long overhangs and a slim beam
- Solid-fiberglass construction, heavy lead ballast, and a tough hull-to-deck joint
- Centerboard provides a 4'2" shoal draft and 8'4" draft with the board lowered
- Built to reflect Allied’s “cross an ocean” standard
Cons
- Centerboard material changed between aluminum and bronze during production, with the direction of the change unknown
- Slim beam limits interior volume
- Centerboard-trunk wear requires attention
- Only one fixed-keel variant exists
