Ninety-nine boats were launched before production ended in 2018. Today, the smallest new-build Xc model on offer is the larger XC45.
Design and Construction
The XC42 displaces 25,133 pounds and carries 11,376 pounds of ballast, giving it a ballast-displacement ratio of about 45 percent. Its keel combines a cast-iron fin with a lead bulb; the iron-and-lead keel mass is encapsulated in an epoxy E-glass sheath.
A steel frame embedded in the hull gathers the loads from both the keel and the keel-stepped mast.
Above the waterline, teak covers the deck, coachroof, cockpit, and coamings. A deep solid toe rail, an outboard stainless-steel rub rail, and a thick teak capping piece define the deck edge. Every XC42 left the yard with white gelcoat topsides, a choice the design authority links to the intention that these yachts would cruise in hot climates. A signature X-shaped hull window serves the saloon and forward cabin, while polished window surrounds finish the coachroof.
Rig, Deck Gear, and Sailing Performance
The XC42 normally carries a fractional sloop rig with rod rigging and a keel-stepped mast. The genoa is handled by 58ST Andersen winches, while 46ST units serve the mainsheet, spinnaker sheets, and halyards. All the winches are wired to allow later conversion to electric power.
A stainless-steel bowsprit frames the anchor and supports the asymmetric spinnaker and self-tacking options suited to short-handed ocean sailing. Twin wheels and an electrically operated fold-down transom complete a deck plan clearly developed for liveaboard cruising.
The XC42 earned a reputation as a solid performer, even in light airs. Testers recorded 4.7 to 5.4 knots at 120 degrees apparent in 5 to 6 knots of breeze, around 5 knots dead downwind in 10 to 12 knots true, and more than 7 knots at 30 degrees apparent. The helm is responsive without being twitchy, a rare balance that helps keep the boat manageable as the wind builds.
Cockpit and Stowage
The cockpit centers on a table that gives a genuine sense of safety and comfort at sea. A rope bin aft of the companionway swallows halyards.
Forward, a divided chain locker stores chain in its forward section and fenders in the full-depth space aft, with the windlass immediately ahead. On MkII boats, a liferaft locker sits beneath the cockpit access step.
Accommodations
The XC42 has three cabins. A J-shaped galley sits to port at the foot of the companionway. On the MkI, its inboard sink faces outboard; on the MkII, the sink is turned athwartships so the cook stands facing forward.
Two double cabins lie beneath the cockpit. The port berth is 1.51 meters wide and more than two meters long. To starboard, the heads and the space between the cabins reduce the berth’s width noticeably.
The forward cabin has a 2.2-meter berth and an en suite heads and shower to port. A second heads, to starboard abaft the chart table, has a forward-facing toilet and a pull-out shower.
In the saloon, a small card table is concealed on the back of a hinged starboard cushion. The good-size chart table includes a separate lid for odds and ends outboard of the main chart stowage, although that stowage is only 45 millimeters deep.
MkI and MkII Boats
The MkI run accounted for 78 hulls. A 2014 round of improvements introduced the MkII, which spanned hulls 78 through 99. The later boats gained an extended bathing-platform width and the liferaft locker beneath the cockpit access step. They also received the galley sink change described above, allowing the cook to stand forward-facing.
Known Issues and Maintenance
Prospective owners should note that the XC42 uses the same make of rudder as the X43 and XP44. Both sister models have shown corrosion and expansion of their aluminium rudder stocks, so the XC42’s stock is well worth checking for evidence of corrosion.
One owner reports that the rudder bearing requires renewal every six to seven years, depending on use. The Volvo Penta Saildrive has a rubber gaiter that should be replaced once it is more than seven years old. None of these issues is disqualifying, but together they help define the class’s maintenance rhythm.
The Verdict
The XC42 is a thoughtful expression of the modern performance-cruiser ideal. It has the ballast and structural integrity for ocean work, along with enough light-air speed and poise at the helm to make passages pleasant. Its interior can accommodate three couples in real comfort.
The known maintenance items are predictable and bounded. Its limited production run also gives each boat a more considered feel than a mass-produced model.
Pros
- Strong light-air performance and a balanced, responsive helm
- Steel-framed keel and mast structure, with an encapsulated iron-and-lead keel
- Three-cabin layout with a forward en suite and a generous port aft berth
- Teak decks and white gelcoat as standard for warm-climate cruising
Cons
- Rudder stock shares a corrosion-prone make with sister models
- Saildrive gaiter and rudder bearing require time-based replacement
- Starboard aft cabin is noticeably narrower than the port cabin
