Outremer 5 X Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

The 5X was offered with a degree of owner customisation from the outset, and examples on the used market tend to reflect that. The defining structural choice is the daggerboard configuration rather than fixed keels, which is central to the boat's identity as a performance platform and is consistent across the fleet. Accommodation arrangements typically centre on four cabins, most commonly in a layout that allocates the aft sections of both hulls to owner or guest staterooms with dedicated heads, while forward cabin space varies depending on whether the original owner selected an additional berth or opted to convert that area to storage or a workshop. A few examples were completed with more spartan owner-focused configurations, particularly where the buyer was oriented toward offshore racing passages rather than extended cruising with guests. The interior finishes on early hulls tend toward functional composites with modest soft furnishing, in keeping with Outremer's weight-conscious approach.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Used examples are almost universally found with substantial sail inventories, including a mainsail and a selection of headsails or furling genoas, and often a code zero or asymmetric spinnaker on a furler — this boat was designed to be driven in light air as much as in breeze, and most owners have equipped it accordingly. Watermakers are a near-universal fitment on a boat of this size and offshore intent. Autopilot systems are invariably present and frequently upgraded, since extended offshore passages demand redundancy in steering. Solar and wind generation arrays are common owner additions, often fitted alongside or in place of generator sets, reflecting the cruising community's shift toward energy independence on long passages. Chartplotters, AIS, and SSB or satellite communication systems are widely found, though vintages vary with the build year of each hull. Owners frequently invest in upgraded standing rigging, furling systems, and mainsheet arrangements, and it is not uncommon to encounter examples where a complete running rigging refit has been carried out. Twin helm stations in the cockpit are standard and give crew good visibility over the working deck. Cockpit enclosures and spray dodgers are a frequent addition for comfort on passages.

What to Inspect

Any pre-purchase survey of an Outremer 5X should devote particular attention to the daggerboard trunks and the boards themselves. Composite wear, delamination at the board cases, and damage from grounding incidents are the areas to scrutinise most carefully; the performance gains the daggerboards provide come with the obligation to manage them actively, and boats that have been sailed aggressively or handled by less experienced crews may show wear or impact damage here. The hulls are built to a lightweight brief and sandwich construction is used extensively, making osmotic blistering or delamination a priority concern for the survey, particularly in the underwater panels. The rig should be inspected for fatigue at chainplate connections and spreader roots — the VPLP hull-form and rig loads demand close attention to these interfaces. Engine installations in each hull should be checked for hours, service history, and for any signs of water intrusion into the bilge compartments, which are tight by the nature of the design. Electrical systems warrant careful review, particularly where previous owners have added generation capacity or upgraded electronics; wiring standards in owner-fitted systems vary widely. Check the condition of all through-hulls, seacocks, and any watermaker or generator installation for signs of corrosion or deferred maintenance.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The 5X is a low-volume production boat by design, and the used fleet is relatively modest in size. Examples surface most often in France and the broader Mediterranean, reflecting the builder's home base and the strong European appetite for performance cruising multihulls, and periodically through brokerages in the Caribbean and along the eastern seaboard of North America. The Pacific is a thinner market, though boats completing circumnavigations do occasionally come to market in Australia or New Zealand. Buyers should expect to wait for the right example rather than finding one immediately available in their preferred region.

For a buyer's checklist before committing:

• Commission a survey from a multihull specialist with composite and daggerboard experience
• Confirm full service history for both main engines and all mechanical systems
• Inspect both daggerboards and trunks in and out of the water
• Review all standing and running rigging for age, fatigue, and replacement history
• Verify the sail inventory condition, including any downwind sails and their furling gear
• Audit the electrical system, particularly any owner-added solar, wind, or generation capacity
• Check all through-hulls and seacocks for condition and ease of operation
• Confirm the survey includes a full osmotic assessment of both hulls' underwater sections
• Review any grounding history disclosed by the owner or broker