Design and Construction
The hull has a clean, beamy shape, with a very broad transom and a sweet sheerline showing no deadrise at the stem. Its beam is carried well aft. At 26,455 pounds, with 11,023 pounds of ballast and a displacement/length ratio of 171, the X-482 reflects a deliberate effort to control weight while preserving livable volume below.
The underbody is distinguished by a deep and abrupt forefoot knuckle. A small keglet precedes the deep, blade-like rudder, which has considerable sweep; the rudder is also described as being preceded by a small skeglet. The bulbish keel has a moderate aspect ratio and a pronounced leading-edge fillet. Standard draft is 8.2 feet, while a 7-foot-2-inch shoal version was also offered. This geometry points to a hull tuned for sustained pace rather than shoal-water wandering.
Above the waterline, the carefully sculpted deck has recessed areas both forward and aft of the mast. These pockets provide handy places to stow fenders while getting under way and visually break up the long cabintrunk. A raised coaming around the companionway hatch does double duty, while the broad wraparound coaming atop the aft end of the cabintrunk houses a dodger that folds neatly out of the way.
Teak decks came standard. Below, honeycomb-cored cabin-sole panels keep weight down beneath teak veneers, while preserving a rich, furniture-like finish.
Rig and Handling
The three-spreader rig has a foretriangle with a long base by contemporary standards and includes a babystay for mast support. Halyards run aft beneath the coachroof, keeping the deck notably clean.
The sail plan is handsome, and an SA/D of roughly 20.7 to 21.55 places the X-482 firmly at the lively end of the cruising spectrum. Given the X-Yachts pedigree and Jeppesen’s record, the available evidence points to a fast boat.
Accommodations
Accounts differ on the number of interior arrangements. One review shows three layouts, while another describes four: two four-cabin arrangements and two three-cabin arrangements.
The classic three-cabin version has pilot berths to port and starboard in the saloon. The modern three-cabin arrangement puts a sprawling galley to port and a large wraparound dinette to starboard. A favored layout combines a roomy owner’s stateroom forward with an adjoining head. Small curved settees flank the double berth, while the quarter cabins have lower double berths plus an upper berth.
One four-cabin version fits an additional stateroom forward and adds pilot berths in the saloon. It provides 12 berths without using the main settees, although one reviewer judged the four-cabin forward arrangement too tight.
The galley is genuinely large, with centerline sinks and ample counter space. An alternative main-cabin layout leaves the entire port side open to the galley. One reviewer found it impressively spacious but still preferred the opposing-settee arrangement.
There are compromises. No version has an enclosed shower stall, and the dining area seats only six at a time. Across the range, however, the joinerwork and finishing details are beautiful.
Known Issues
The only documented ownership reservation concerns the teak decks. They provide effective nonskid and look good when new, but a period reviewer noted their maintenance burden and would avoid them.
The Verdict
The X-482 is a thoughtfully weighted performance cruiser that wears its racing lineage lightly. Jeppesen’s eye for a benign but quick hull, combined with disciplined interior materials and a genuinely clever deck layout, makes her a strong candidate for sailors who want to race midweek and cruise the rest of the time.
The main trade-offs are a draft that limits access to certain anchorages and accommodations that prioritize flow over private, enclosed showers.
Pros
- Beam-aft hull, disciplined D/L of 171, and 11,023 lb of ballast support sustained speed
- Three-spreader rig with a long foretriangle base and a clean deck, with halyards led aft
- Folding dodger concealed in the cabintrunk coaming
- Sculpted deck recesses provide fender stowage
- Multiple layouts, including one with a roomy owner’s stateroom forward
- Large galley with centerline sinks and ample counter space
Cons
- Standard 8.2-foot draft restricts shallow-water cruising, though a 7-foot-2-inch shoal version was offered
- Teak decks impose a maintenance burden noted by a period reviewer
- No enclosed shower stall in any layout
- Dining area seats only six
- One reviewer described the forward fit in the four-cabin version as too tight
