Design and Construction
The 4X is based on the hulls of the Outremer 45 but with 3ft extensions aft, an optimised appendages and deck layout, a carbon rotating mast and carbon reinforcement QUOTE CUT. Its build is optimized for weight gain, and the 4X includes more carbon in the strong structural elements: mast, bulkheads, compression beam, bimini support, etc, while also benefiting from additional weight savings. On the scales, despite having more equipment, the 4X performance catamaran weighs 500 kg less than the 45, and therefore accelerates faster. Loïck Peyron, whom Outremer employs as a consultant to advise on ergonomics and line handling, said of the boat, "We feel that work has been done on the weight," and noted that lightness is not only a question of performance but of safety on these boats.
All structural parts are laminated and the 4X has vacuum infused carbon composite reinforced bulkheads. To lighten the boat further, the builder suggests replacing doors and some shelves with fabric structures closed with zips or even magnets, and some Corian worktops have been replaced by lighter composite. The goal is that the boat will last at least 50 years, according to sales and marketing manager Matthieu Rougevin-Baville. She is also a high boat to look at and to board, as the freeboard height is needed for headroom and bridgedeck clearance.
Rig and Handling
The sail plan and deck layout are studied to handle all weather conditions. The 4X comes with a carbon rig and a carbon rotating mast, and the square top part to the powerhouse mainsail is particularly generous with a big J area for furling foresails. Compared with the 45 it offers more possibilities for sail trimming. The bimini is reduced in size to facilitate passage through the cockpit to access the starboard and port winches, while removable canvas on carbon posts will protect you from the sun or rain when at anchor or in port.
On the water, test sailors found the 4X would cruise at 6.5 knots under one of her 30hp engines, limiting noise to one side of the boat and reducing fuel consumption. During a second trial later that week the boat clocked a steady 11-13 knots in 12-15 knots wind, and made 9 knots at 70°T sailing upwind — light on both the helms, the wheel steering station on the coachroof and the tiller out on the bucket seat at the QUOTE CUT. With a LWL of 14.62m, beam of 7.10m, and draught of 1.0m-2.0m, the platform balances bridgedeck clearance against a manageable footprint.
Accommodations
The 4X matches the 45's finish quality but uses simple and light-weight fixings, and storage space is the same. The interior and fit-out is basic to the point of minimalist, a deliberate consequence of the need to keep her lightweight to sail fast. The recommended maximum load is the same as the Outremer 45, but the boat is lighter and benefits from a higher payload compared to the 45. CE approval covers 8 / 16 persons.
Known Issues and Ownership Notes
No structural defects or systemic failures are documented in the available record. The minimalist interior is the principal trade-off owners accept for performance, and the lightening strategy — fabric doors, composite worktops — is a builder suggestion rather than a fault. The 4X has nonetheless proven itself in serious offshore use: in 2018, a 4X participated in the Route du Rhum and finished as the first production boat, and Jean-Pierre Balmes took part in the Route du Rhum on the Outremer 4X, a boat he has recommended to many families. The Hibberd family started their adventure aboard Puffin, an Outremer 4X, in 2020; it was their second Outremer.
The Verdict
The Outremer 4X is a rigorously engineered performance cruiser that treats weight as a safety variable, not merely a speed one. It extends the 45's hull with carbon structure and a refined deck plan to deliver faster acceleration and broader trim range without abandoning liveaboard comfort or ocean-going seaworthiness. For owners who measure a catamaran by the mile per pound, it is a benchmark; for those wanting hotel-level interior finish, it will feel bare.
Pros
- 500 kg lighter than the 45 with faster acceleration and higher payload
- Carbon rig and rotating mast with more sail-trimming options than the 45
- Documented offshore credibility: first production boat in the 2018 Route du Rhum
- Builder target of 50-year service life with vacuum-infused carbon bulkheads
Cons
- Interior and fit-out basic to the point of minimalist
- Lightening measures (fabric doors, composite worktops) trade convenience for speed
