Design and Construction
The hull and deck are laminated as a sandwich of isophthalic polyester resins and biaxial E-glass fabric around a compressed Divinycell core. Extra biaxial E-glass reinforces the high-stress areas around the keel and rudder X-40 - Practical Sailor. The resulting cored hull is light and stiff.
A hot-galvanized steel frame absorbs the combined loads from the keel, mast, and rig. The hull-to-deck joint is secured with polyester resin and through-bolts, while structural bulkheads of marine plywood from 1/3 to 7/8 inch are bonded to both the hull and deck.
The keel is a cast-iron fin with a lead bulb enclosed in GRP and faired at the factory with polyester compound. The rudder blade combines biaxial fiberglass and Divinycell. It turns on a tapered, solid-aluminium stock strengthened by three welded wings, with a roller upper bearing and a self-aligning lower bearing.
The X-40 meets CE category A (ocean) requirements, and the builder states that it fulfills ABS Hull Certification.
Rig, Sailing, and Motoring
Jeppesen gave the X-40 a high-aspect, three-quarter fractional rig. Its tapered, triple-spreader anodized aluminium mast was designed specifically for the boat, with the mast collar and mast blocks integrated into the deck structure.
Discontinuous stainless rod standing rigging, fitted with rod turnbuckles, deadends in tip cups connected to a stainless tie rod beneath the deck and then to the hull-side stringers. Spectra halyards and control lines lead to Spinlock stoppers on the cabintop.
The mainsheet is a notable feature. This German system uses four ball-bearing blocks and can be trimmed from the cockpit coaming. It leads from the traveller to the boom, runs forward to the mast, drops near the shrouds, and reappears at Anderson 40 winches just aft of the primaries. A 135% jib runs on load-adjustable Fredericksen cars, allowing the crew to fine-tune it without leaving the cockpit.
In 0–6 knots of wind, test sailors recorded 5 knots of boatspeed while pointing within 35 degrees of apparent wind. Under the 40 hp Yanmar, the boat motored at 7 knots at 2,300 rpm and turned smartly within her own length.
Cockpit and Deck
A 66-inch leather wheel operates rack-and-pinion steering. It sits aft of 9 feet 1 inch of cockpit centerline space. The cockpit also has shallow sole lockers and corner lockers for propane.
The dodger folds into a cabintop trough, sitting nearly flush when stowed, and has a zippered synthetic-leather cover. It is low enough for a 5 foot 10 inch driver to see over. The teak toerail steps down from 1 1/4 to 3/4 inch abaft the mast. Double lifelines run through eight tall stanchions and meet EC and ORC rules.
Accommodations
Both available layouts place the galley to starboard, opposite the nav station. The test boat had two aft staterooms and a forward skipper’s quarters with a head. The alternative is a two-stateroom, two-head version.
Hand-polished teak veneers with a satin finish and teak-laminate floorboards define the main saloon. It measures 11 feet 2 inches long, with 6 feet 3 inches of headroom and 6 foot 7 inch settees. A table with a trapezoid leaf and bottle locker sits far enough to starboard to leave a centerline passage.
The L-shaped galley includes a four-cubic-foot, top-opening icebox on a Coolmatic 85 unit, twin stainless sinks, granite counters, 10-inch drawers, and a gimballed Techimpex two-burner oven stove.
Forward, the V-berth measures 6 feet 4 inches along the centerline and is flanked by full-length hull-side cabinets. In the three-cabin version, each aft cabin has a 7 foot double berth and deep hull-side shelves. A fixed bulkhead separates the cabins and also serves as a sound barrier.
The head is confining, measuring just 3 feet 3 inches by 3 feet.
Engine and Systems
A two-piece engine cover makes removal easier. The Yanmar sits on rubber shock absorbers and drives a 16-inch folding prop. A timed bilge blower continues to run for two minutes after depowering.
The Verdict
The X-40 is a thoughtfully engineered 40-footer that brings X-Yachts’ performance-cruiser ethos into a livable, well-built package. Its deck-led mainsheet, rigid structure, and ocean-rated certification suit a serious voyager, while the teak interior and clever stowage add cruising polish. The confining head is the one clear compromise.
Pros
- Light, stiff cored hull with an integrated steel frame and ocean-rated CE-A certification
- Cockpit-trimmed German mainsheet system with secure routing through the deck structure
- Two genuine aft double berths and a full-beam forward stateroom in the three-cabin layout
- Strong, detailed deck hardware meeting EC/ORC lifeline standards
Cons
- Confining head compartment measuring 3′ 3″ x 3′
