X-Yachts X-332 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

The X-332 carries a solid fiberglass hull with lead-and-iron ballast totaling 3,968 pounds on a 9,600-pound displacement, yielding a ballast-displacement ratio near 41 percent and a displacement-length ratio of 177. Her keel is a bulb type with large leading and trailing edge fillets, and the structure is tied together by X-Yachts' long-standing hot-galvanized steel frame, a method the builder had used successfully for two decades by this era; an eye in that frame serves as a central lifting point. Above the waterline, the cabin house sits high and extends prominently toward the bow, which test sailors noted gives the boat interior volume and a full six feet of stand-up headroom in the forward cabin, though it leaves very little foredeck area. Multiple bootstripes disguise the generous freeboard, and the companionway follows the builder's standard step-down form at the after end of the cabin house, slightly recessed into the cabintrunk. A shallow swim step is notched into the transom, and the near-vertical rudder stock carries a small skeglet ahead of the spade rudder.

Rig and Handling

The X-332 is rigged as a fractional sloop with double sweptback spreaders, the headstay pulled about ten inches off the stem. A 16-to-1 backstay adjuster and jib tracks with adjustable cars mounted on an angled rise between house and deck keep the side decks clear for an unobstructed walkway. The cockpit is long, divided by a mainsheet traveler spanning at thwart level in front of an optional wheel; that traveler layout befits the short tiller standard on the boat, though the wheel was set well aft on the test example. Under sail, the numbers tell the story: in a cold 12-knot breeze with six crew on the rail she heeled only about 15 degrees, tracked with one hand on the wheel, and hovered near 6 knots upwind before pushing 7 knots downwind under spinnaker. Her PHRF rating of 120 seconds per mile, roughly 9,600-pound displacement, and quick acceleration out of tacks mark her as a lively performer that points well.

Accommodations

Below, the X-332 presents a complete teak interior with rich veneers and solid trim, curves softening the components throughout. The plan separates cabins forward and aft, a surprise in a 33-footer, with a large aft double berth that testers found big but not particularly easy to access. The galley is the weak point: a small icebox, very little counter space for food prep, and two sinks barely large enough for a full plate. By contrast the nav station is generous, taking up as much boat as the entire galley, and its round stool doubles as a comfy built-in helm seat. The head is tight but includes a small wet locker, and the saloon folds around a table with seating for six alongside double settees and a three-burner stove with oven.

Known Issues

The one handling caveat from sea trials was the high-aspect rudder: writing in Sailing World, test sailors found it helps the boat sail to weather well but stalled in average conditions during testing, a point worth weighing for anyone sailing her in shifty coastal breezes.

Refits and Ownership

The Prestige Package offered from new added Anderson 40ST winches, North sails, Raytheon electronics, a Fancor roller furler, and interior improvements, marking the most complete race-ready specification. Owners shopping a used example will want to confirm which of those upgrades survived, as the boat was praised as a well-built, well-equipped cruiser-racer with two private cabins suited to comfortable cruising.

The Verdict

The X-332 is a thoughtfully engineered Jeppesen design that balances one-design race credibility with genuine cruising privacy below. Her stiff, quick hull and clean deck plan reward the racing-minded, while the separated cabins and generous nav station make passage life tolerable despite a cramped galley. The rudder stall is the lone noted quirk.

Pros