This is a serious offshore platform, but its roots lie in racing rather than ponderous cruising tradition. It displaces 42,990 pounds on a 48.6-foot waterline, with 16,314 pounds of lead-and-iron ballast and a beam of 15.9 feet.
Design and Construction
The X-562’s hull is unmistakably derived from race-boat proportions. The ends are short, the beam is carried aft, and the rocker is moderate. Above it sits a low, wedge-shaped cabintrunk that reviewers found genuinely good-looking.
Amidships, the sections flatten out, favoring form stability and downwind power. The deep, bulbed fin keel draws 9 feet 4 inches. It has a curved leading edge and extended root fillets along both its leading and trailing edges to manage flow at speed. A shoal keel was also available for thinner water.
With a displacement-length ratio of 163 and a length-beam ratio of 3.5, the X-562 is neither a slender racer nor a bloated barge. It occupies the middle ground as a performance cruiser. A capsize ratio of 1.81 further reflects the stability of its beamy-aft hull and flat amidships sections.
Rig, Deck, and Handling
The X-562 carries a masthead rig with triple spreaders that are only very slightly swept. Running backstays and a babystay help control mast bend under the fractional-style loads that a masthead boat can still generate. The backstay chainplate lands on the centerline at the end of the swim-step area, keeping obtrusive hardware out of the aft cockpit.
A sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 21.91 equips the boat to move in modest air. Sailing Magazine credited the X-562 with good performance alongside the handsome looks.
The deck arrangements reflect the boat’s cruising role. Port and starboard wheels leave the transom swim step open, while a large wraparound coaming forward of the companionway stows the dodger when it’s retracted. A fixed cockpit table sits forward of the traveler. Anyone heading aft must step over the traveler—a small but real reminder that this is a sailing boat first.
Accommodations
The X-562 was offered in three layouts: A2, B1, and A3. All three have three heads and a fo’c’sle large enough for pipe berths.
The only difference between the A2 and B1 plans is the forward owner’s stateroom. One places a double berth to starboard and fixed Streisand chairs to port; the other has a symmetrical centerline berth flanked by small settees. The A3 adds a fourth stateroom forward, fitted with upper-and-lower berths.
In the saloon, buyers could choose either Streisand chairs to port with a small table or a more practical settee berth. The beamy hull also has room for extra chairs around the dining table.
Enough opening ports provide strong ventilation. The cabintrunk extends into the cockpit, giving the quarter cabins proper headroom, though this costs some cockpit seating forward of the traveler.
Systems and Power
A 100-horsepower Yanmar diesel provides auxiliary power. Fuel capacity is 227 gallons, while 272 gallons of water are carried in two tanks.
Electrical capacity is substantial, with 864 amp hours of batteries located entirely beneath the cabin sole. It’s a tidy arrangement that keeps the weight low and avoids cluttering the living spaces. Together, those fuel, water, and electrical capacities position the boat for extended independent cruising without constant resupply.
The Verdict
The X-562 translates racing-hull logic into a beamy, stable offshore home. Jeppesen’s short-ended, flat-amidships hull and bulbed fin keel deliver real performance, while three interior layouts and generous tankage support its standing as a genuine ultimate cruiser for sailors who prefer sailing to motoring.
The masthead rig, with its slightly swept spreaders and running backstays, requires attentive handling. The cockpit arrangement also makes a couple of compromises: the extended cabintrunk reduces seating, and crew must step over the traveler when moving aft. With only 21 boats built, finding an example with a particular interior layout may take patience.
Pros
- Race-derived hull with flat amidships sections and a bulbed fin keel for stability and speed
- Three interior layouts, each with three heads and a pipe-berth fo’c’sle
- 100-hp Yanmar, 227 gal fuel capacity, 272 gal water capacity, and 864 Ah of batteries beneath the sole
- Strong ventilation and an uncluttered transom swim-step arrangement
Cons
- The traveler must be stepped over when moving aft
- The cabintrunk extension reduces cockpit seating forward of the traveler
- Only 21 were built, so finding a specific layout may take patience
