Launched in June 2004, the X-37 remained in production through 2010. A total of 148 hulls were completed, and the model is no longer built. Niels Jeppesen drew the lines.
Design and Construction
The X-37 measures 37.24 feet overall, with a 32.12-foot waterline and an 11.4-foot beam. Its standard bulb keel draws 6.5 feet. The boat displaces 14,109 pounds, including 5,985 pounds of ballast, for a ballast-to-displacement ratio of nearly 42 percent.
Jeppesen gave the X-37 finer bow sections than older X-Yachts models. The hull is also slightly narrower, with its maximum beam carried a little farther aft. That shape trades some volume forward for a cleaner entry and greater midbody stability.
Both the hull and deck use sandwich construction, chosen to save weight and create a very rigid structure that reduces condensation in hot and cold climates. The boat has a full inner deck liner, one-piece fiberglass head compartments, and bilge pans molded into the cabin sole.
The deep spade rudder uses laminar-section foil geometry. The test crew credited it with eminent steering control.
Rig, Sail Plan, and Performance
The X-37 has a fractional sloop rig. Its standard sail plan includes a 470-square-foot North mainsail and a 369-square-foot high-aspect furling jib. Buyers could also choose a 293-square-foot self-tacking jib or a 462-square-foot 135-percent genoa. During trials, the new mast section proved very stiff in both directions.
Auxiliary power comes from a 29-horsepower Yanmar 3YM30FC three-cylinder diesel, driving through an S-drive and a two-blade Flex-O-Fold folding propeller. Under power, the boat made roughly 7.8 knots at 2,500 rpm.
Under sail, upwind boat speed ranged from 6.8 to 7.2 knots. Downwind, with the 1,149-square-foot all-purpose spinnaker set, the speedometer showed between 8 and 10.6 knots while shy reaching.
Accommodations
Buyers could choose between two classic interior layouts: a two-cabin version with either one or two heads, or a three-cabin version with a single head.
The deck’s inner liner and the molded head compartments give the interior a modern, integrated feel rather than the appearance of a paneled-over framework.
Verdict
The X-37 is a focused performance cruiser that combines the mature systems of its larger sisters with a lighter, finer-bowed hull. It’s quick under both engine and sail, stiff aloft, and well mannered on the helm. Its construction emphasizes rigidity and reduced condensation across different climates.
The trade-offs are a relatively narrow hull and a deep rudder, both of which favor performance over shoal-water access.
Pros
- Finer bow sections and aft-shifted maximum beam provide a clean entry and midbody stability
- Sandwich hull and deck save weight, add rigidity, and reduce condensation
- Stiff mast section and deep, laminar-section rudder support precise control
- Strong speed range: roughly 7.8 knots under power, 6.8–7.2 knots upwind, and 8–10.6 knots downwind with the spinnaker
Cons
- Standard 6.5-foot draft limits access to shoal anchorages and reduces grounding tolerance
- Narrower hull provides less interior volume than beamier contemporaries
