Design & Construction
The X4’s construction story spans two facilities: initial hull and deck lay-up takes place at X-Yachts’ Polish plant, while final assembly and quality control are completed in Haderslev, Denmark. The hull is built using vacuum-infused epoxy, a method shared with the Xp line, and incorporates the builder’s signature steel grid to create a stiff, load-bearing backbone. A soft chine runs aft, encouraging the hull to flatten onto its running surface as speed builds, and the deck is kept deliberately clean with flush, frameless hatches. On the test boat, the transom was open with just two aft guardrail wires, though X-Yachts subsequently improved the pushpit design to include a third lifeline. Early boats featured mirrored windows; these were later changed to tinted versions after the first hull.
Rig & Handling
Rod rigging meets stainless steel chainplates in a straightforward, seamanlike arrangement. The test boat was configured with a Maxi-style mainsheet led directly from the boom end to a recessed traveller, a setup that keeps the cockpit clear and gives the helmsman a direct feel. Under sail, one tester found the X4 possesses a very definite and rewarding sweet spot upwind, carving to windward at 7.4 knots when dialled in. Over-point and the speed drops back to 7 knots. Off the breeze, the boat averaged 9.5 knots under gennaker and began to plane once speeds pushed past 10.5 knots. The 3Di black Kevlar/Spectra sails fitted to the test boat handled 30-knot bullets without requiring an immediate reef, speaking to the composure the hull and rig can deliver when pressed. An optional carbon bowsprit keeps the anchor clear of the vertical stem and simplifies flying an asymmetric sail.
Accommodations
Below decks, the X4 launched with a conventional three-cabin, two-heads layout, with a two-cabin variant announced for 2017. The three-cabin format trades a dedicated navstation for sleeping capacity; only a minimum-size chart table adjoining the aft end of the starboard sofa is possible, whereas the two-cabin option opens up a dedicated forward-facing navstation. The forward cabin carries 6ft 4in of headroom up to an island berth that lifts on gas struts for easy access to storage beneath, and a forward-looking coachroof window adds natural light alongside hull portlights and a deck hatch. An optional en-suite can replace an extra wardrobe forward. Aft cabins offer a long double berth, small wardrobe, shelf, and a hull window. The heads compartment uses a swing door to separate the wash area from the toilet and simultaneously reveals the entrance to the aft cabin; the space converts into a wet-room with a shower on a stand and mixer tap. In the saloon, a flip-top table with integrated wine-bottle stowage seats six, while the galley features a Corian fiddled worktop, double sink, a top-opening 90-litre fridge, and a double bin that slides out from below the sink. A front-opening second fridge is optional. Tanks are positioned beneath berths for optimal weight placement, and deck lockers surrounding the cockpit provide a practical amount of volume. A deep sail locker forward swallows a gennaker and fenders, and a separate locker between the quarter lockers accommodates two gas bottles.
Known Issues & Refinements
Early X4s underwent several running changes. The aft pushpit was redesigned to incorporate a third lifeline, improving security at the open transom. Doorway frame detailing was revised to widen the openings after the test boat. The mirrored windows on the first hull were replaced with tinted versions on subsequent builds. These updates reflect a yard responsive to real-world use while preserving the core design.
Equipment & Options
The standard specification omits a cockpit table, leaving owners to configure the space to their preference. Cockpit shelter can be increased with an optional sprayhood and fixed windscreen. A swim platform, lowered and raised by a simple rope purchase, is also optional. Interior details include Oceanair blinds, illuminated LED light switches, and the optional en-suite forward.
The Verdict
The X-Yachts X4 succeeds in translating the performance DNA of the Xp line into a cruising platform that rewards attentive helming without demanding a full racing crew. Its upwind sweet spot and planing-capable offwind manners, confirmed by a tester, sit alongside a practical three-cabin interior and a build pedigree backed by epoxy infusion and a steel grid. While the three-cabin layout forces compromises in navstation space, the later two-cabin option and a series of thoughtful post-launch refinements demonstrate a design that evolved with its owners.
Pros
- Rewarding upwind sweet spot with 7.4-knot cruising performance noted by a tester
- Planing-capable hull that averaged 9.5 knots offwind under gennaker
- Vacuum-infused epoxy hull with steel grid for stiffness
- Practical deck stowage including deep sail locker and dedicated gas-bottle locker
- Two-cabin layout option provides a dedicated forward-facing navstation
- Builder implemented tangible refinements to pushpit safety, doorway widths, and window finish
Cons
- Three-cabin layout lacks a dedicated navstation; only a minimal chart table is possible
- Standard specification omits a cockpit table
- Open transom with two guardrail wires on early boats required a later pushpit redesign
