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. The hull grid centers on a steel I-beam that absorbs loads from the keel and rig while also providing a central hoist point. The builder had refined this structural scheme over decades.
The rudderstock is solid aluminum, while the rudder blade 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, the X-43 has a displacement-length ratio of 159 and a sail-area-displacement ratio of 23.2. Those figures place her firmly in the performance-cruiser camp rather than the heavy-displacement cruising world.
Rig, Deck Layout, and Handling
On the water, the X-43 proved to have an easily driven hull, fingertip control, and superior responsiveness. Test sailors turned her on a dime and tacked through 80 degrees. The large wheel and Jeffa steering let the helmsman sit comfortably on the coaming, with excellent visibility over the low-slung coachroof.
All lines from the mast run under the deck to two banks of stoppers and coachroof-mounted winches. This keeps the cockpit and decks uncluttered and easy to move around. The double-ended mainsheet also runs below deck, leading from blocks near the mast to winches close to the helmsman. The traveler sits directly in front of the steering pedestal. Wide sidedecks and inboard shrouds make going forward simple.
The deck gear is robust, with strong stanchions, bomb-proof mooring cleats, and a sturdy stainless-steel bow roller. Cockpit seats are wide and deep, with teak tops. 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 was time to reef.
Sailing and Motoring Performance
The X-43’s broad speed range is the real story. In 10 knots of apparent wind and flat water, she logged 6 knots of boatspeed. In a faint breeze that would have stopped many other boats, she still sailed at around 6 knots.
With a full main and jib, and no spinnaker, she reached speeds in the 10s. In 25 knots with higher gusts, two reefs and a reefed jib allowed her to 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. The quiet running was credited to superior engine-room soundproofing from a 38-hp Volvo.
Interior and Accommodations
Below, the interior is finished in satin-varnished teak veneer, with stainless-steel door hinges, strong locker latches, and meticulously inlaid drawer fronts and cabin sole. Well-placed handholds and excellent footing on the synthetic teak-and-holly sole make moving around below safe.
The Eurostyle galley runs lengthwise along the port side of the saloon and offers considerable counter and stowage space. The saloon has one long, slightly curved seat and a smaller separate seat arranged around the dinette. Headroom is adequate at just over 6 feet. The saloon provides only one sea berth, however, and it needs a lee cloth.
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 a comfortable double berth, adequate locker space, and one small opening port for ventilation. A four-cabin version is also available.
At the nav station, the chart table is large enough for a full-sized chart book. The electronics installation was judged excellent, with room to mount an optional VHF, GPS, and radar screen.
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 progress in light air and composed behavior in a blow. Under-deck line routing and central winch banks help keep the deck safe and tidy.
The limited number of sea berths and aspects of the interior finish are the only soft spots in an otherwise accomplished package.
Pros
- Easily driven hull, fingertip steering, and 80-degree tacking
- Strong light-air and heavy-air performance under sail
- Quiet motoring
- Robust deck hardware and well-considered under-deck line routing
- Satin-varnished teak interior, practical galley, and forward owner’s suite
Cons
- Saloon has only one sea berth, and it requires a lee cloth
- Cabintop winch handles foul the dodger when reefing
