Production continued until 2004. A minor update in 1999 produced the 302 MKII, and more than 110 boats had been sold by 2004. Fewer than 200 were built in total.
Design and Construction
Built in Denmark, the X-302 is a fiberglass monohull with a solid layup and a fin keel carrying a bulb. Jeppesen drew the hull in the mid-1990s.
The numbers reflect the boat’s performance focus. Displacement is 7,929 pounds, including 3,303 pounds of iron ballast. Its 42% ballast ratio is higher than that of 58% of comparable designs, while a displacement-length ratio of 192 places the X-302 among moderate racers, rather than among heavy-displacement boats.
A beam of 9.8 feet and a length-to-beam ratio of 3.03 give it a roomier footprint than 58% of similar sailboats. A capsize screening value of 1.97 and a motion comfort ratio of 21.1—more comfortable than 38% of its peers—describe a stiff, weatherly hull rather than a soft cruiser. The wetted surface is 29 m2, and an immersion rate of about 906 pounds per inch points to a hull that responds quickly to trim without wallowing.
Rig, Sailing, and Handling
The X-302 carries a fractional sloop rig. Unlike the X-312, it has no running backstays, simplifying short-handed sailing.
Period reviews describe the boat as very powerful and stiff under sail. Test sailors also found that the X-302 is easily manageable and maneuverable in all weather conditions. Its racing intent was demonstrated at events including Spi Ouest France.
Under power, the theoretical displacement hull speed is 6.9 knots, while the calculated maximum under engine is about 4.1 knots. Those figures are consistent with a light, efficient cruiser-racer rather than a motorsailer.
Accommodations
The interior follows a classic arrangement. There’s an aft cabin and a head at the foot of the companionway, with a chart table and galley forward of the saloon and a double cabin in the bow.
The finishes are perfect and the atmosphere is very warm. At the same time, the absence of wood paneling makes upkeep simpler than aboard many mahogany-trimmed contemporaries.
Interior volume is honest rather than generous—roughly what an 8.5-meter boat of the same generation would provide. Buyers shouldn’t expect the extra space of a dedicated cruiser.
Engine, Fuel, and Water
X-Yachts offered the X-302 with two engine choices: 9 or 20 horsepower. The larger engine is essential for cruising rather than merely racing.
Fuel capacity is 13.2 gallons, and the water tank holds 31.7 gallons. That tankage suits coastal passages better than long, independent voyaging.
Verdict
The X-302 is a Jeppesen-designed cruiser-racer that replaces the X-312’s running backstays with a simpler, more approachable rig while retaining a stiff, powerful sail plan. Its warm interior is relatively easy to maintain, and the boat remains quick, weatherly, and friendly to a reduced crew. The trade-offs are modest interior volume and light cruising tankage.
Pros
- Stiff, powerful fractional-sloop rig
- No running backstays, making the rig easier to handle
- High ballast ratio and moderate-racer displacement-length ratio support weatherly, responsive performance
- Warm interior with perfect finishes and no wood paneling to maintain
- Optional 20 hp engine makes cruising practical
Cons
- Interior volume is comparable to that of a smaller 8.5-meter boat from the same era
- Light fuel and water capacity limit passagemaking range
- Fewer than 200 were built, so finding a particular example takes patience
