Design and Construction
X-Yachts laid up the X-43's hull and deck in biaxial E-glass and isophthalic polyester resin over a Divinycell core, switching to solid laminate around the keel, rudder, and through-hull fittings anchor. The hull grid centers on a steel I-beam that absorbs loads from the keel and rig and also provides a central hoist point, a structural scheme the builder had refined over decades. The rudderstock is solid aluminum, and the rudder blade itself is resin and E-glass over a Divinycell core. At 18,960 lbs displacement with 9,480 lbs of ballast and a 13-foot beam, she carries a displacement-length ratio of 159 and a sail-area-displacement ratio of 23.2 — figures that place her firmly in the performance-cruiser camp rather than the heavy-displacement cruising world.
Rig and Handling
On the water the X-43 proved an easily driven hull that combined with her steering to produce fingertip control and superior responsiveness anchor. Test sailors turned her on a dime and tacked through 80 degrees. The large wheel and Jeffa steering gave a helmsman the option to sit comfortably on the coaming, with excellent visibility over the low-slung coachroof. All lines from the mast run under the deck back to two banks of stoppers and coachroof-mounted winches, keeping the cockpit and decks uncluttered and easy to navigate; the double-ended mainsheet runs below deck from blocks near the mast to winches close to the helmsman, and the traveler sits directly in front of the steering pedestal. Wide sidedecks and inboard shrouds make going forward simple.
Her speed band is the real story. In 10 knots of apparent wind and flat water she logged 6 knots of boatspeed, and in a faint breeze that would have stopped many other boats she still sailed at around 6 knots. With full main and jib and no spinnaker she reached speeds in the 10s, and in 25 knots with higher gusts, two reefs and a reefed jib saw her hold around 7 knots while motorsailing within 20 to 30 degrees of the wind. Under power she averaged between 7 and 8 virtually noiseless knots, testimony to superior engine-room soundproofing from a 38-hp Volvo.
Accommodations
Down below, the interior is wrapped in a satin-varnished teak veneer, with stainless-steel door hinges, strong locker latches, and meticulously inlaid drawer fronts and cabin sole. The Eurostyle galley runs lengthwise along the port side of the saloon and has considerable counter and stowage space. The saloon itself offers one long, slightly curved seat and a smaller separate seat around the dinette; headroom is adequate at just over 6 feet, though the saloon has only one sea berth, which needs a lee cloth. Well-placed handholds and excellent footing on the synthetic teak-and-holly sole make motion below safe.
The master cabin forward has its own head, good stowage, a small sitting area, a large opening deck hatch, and a comfortable double bunk. Two mirror-image aft cabins each have comfortable double berths, adequate locker space, and one small opening port for ventilation. A four-cabin version is also available. The nav station's chart table is big enough for a full-sized chart book, and the electronics installation was judged excellent with space to mount an optional VHF, GPS, and radar screen.
Deck Hardware and Known Quirk
The deck gear is robust: stanchions are strong, mooring cleats bomb-proof, and the stainless-steel bow roller sturdy. Cockpit seats are wide, deep, and topped with teak. The standard spray dodger deploys easily and stows in a recessed channel on the cabintop, providing shelter when beating to windward. The one operational drawback noted was that the cabintop winch handles tended to foul the dodger when it came time to reef.
The Verdict
The X-43 is a genuinely dual-purpose 43-foot performance cruiser: quick enough to satisfy a racing-minded owner yet laid out for real coastal and offshore living. Jeppesen's hull delivers rare light-air progress and composed behavior in a blow, while the under-deck line routing and central winch banks keep the deck safe and tidy. The interior finish and sea-berth count are the only soft spots against an otherwise accomplished package.
Pros
- Easily driven hull with fingertip steering and 80-degree tacking
- Strong light-air and heavy-air speed range under sail and quiet motoring
- Robust deck hardware and well-thought-out under-deck line routing
- Satin-varnished teak interior with practical galley and forward owner's suite
Cons
- Saloon has only one sea berth, requiring a lee cloth
- Cabintop winch handles foul the dodger at reefing time
