X-Yachts X-34 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Writing in Cruising World, judges named the X-34 the best blend of racer and cruiser in the 2009 Boat of the Year Racer/Cruiser class. The same review neatly summed up the design: easy to handle and zippy on the racecourse.

Design and Construction

The X-34 has a beamy, moderate-displacement hull, with a length-to-beam ratio of 3.03 and a displacement-to-length ratio of 197. Those figures place it firmly among modern performance cruisers rather than in the heavy-bluewater tradition.

The boat carries 11 feet 2 inches of beam and displaces 11,684 pounds, including 4,850 pounds of lead ballast. The hull has a very broad stern and just enough overhang aft to leave a clean wake without dragging the transom when heeled. Low freeboard and clean lines define the deck structure.

The transom can be left open or closed with an optional filler piece. Buyers could also choose between two keels: the standard 6-foot-2 draft or a shoal-draft 5-foot-2 version. The choice offered a straightforward trade between upwind bite and access to shallow water.

Rig, Cockpit, and Handling

The X-34 is a fractional sloop with 681 square feet of sail area. Its John Mast spar has 20-degree swept double spreaders and discontinuous rod rigging.

A full-batten mainsail and full-hoist, nonoverlapping jib form the core of the sail plan. This arrangement keeps the foredeck clear and makes the boat manageable short-handed. A deck-recessed Profurl furler and ample self-tailing winches complete a powerful but tidy package.

The traveler spans the cockpit seat tops directly forward of the wheel. The double-ended mainsheet leads to winches on either side of the helm. A huge wheel—described elsewhere as wide and sporty—dominates the cockpit. Test sailors found that its Solimar steering system provided feather-light control.

In 7 to 10 knots of wind, testers recorded 6.6 knots closehauled. Even with a spinnaker flying, the boat remained easy for two people to handle.

Accommodations

Below, light-colored, horizontal-grain mahogany panels line the saloon and continue into the double cabins forward and aft. A drop-leaf centerline table stands between two settees suitable for use as sea berths. The layout also provides a good V-berth forward, plenty of storage areas, and bookshelves in the saloon.

The full galley is to port, with counter space on both sides of the stove, although the working area remains tight. Opposite are the head and a forward-facing nav station, the latter described as big. The fore-and-aft head uses its available space efficiently.

Aft, the quarterberth extends across the centerline beneath the cockpit sole, making it genuinely large. A large hanging locker serves the aft stateroom. On deck, an optional windlass could be fitted in the sizable anchor locker.

Points to Consider

The X-34’s configurable features are matters of specification rather than failures. These include the open transom—a helmsman’s seat was optional rather than standard—the galley’s tight working space, and the shoal-draft keel’s reduced upwind ability compared with the standard keel.

The discontinuous rod rigging and recessed furler are specialist items that require knowledgeable service. However, the available material describes no endemic fault.

The Verdict

The X-34 is a coherent example of the modern performance cruiser: a beamy, moderately light boat with a self-sufficient rig that two people can race or cruise without strain. It gives up some interior volume and galley ease in return for a bright, well-finished cabin and a cockpit that feels larger than the boat.

For a family looking for one boat that can cruise and also show well on the club course, the X-34 remains a disciplined choice.

Pros