Its reception was equally strong: the X4⁰ earned the European Yacht of the Year title for 2020 and took the Performance Cruiser award in both 2020 and 2021.
Design and Construction
At the heart of the X4⁰ is the trademark X-Yachts galvanized steel grid. It anchors the keel, manages rig loads, and helps the hull withstand the extreme shock of a grounding or collision with a submerged object. The grillage is immensely strong yet simple to inspect for damage—a reassuring feature for an owner contemplating distant mileage.
Bolted to the grid is a T-keel with an iron fin and heavy lead bulb, offered in standard- and deep-draft versions. The boat carries 6,724 pounds of lead-and-iron ballast against a light displacement of 17,857 pounds, giving it a 37.65 ballast-displacement ratio. Because every weight saving is redirected into stability, that ratio helps explain the boat’s poise.
The hull is infused in epoxy and post-cured at high temperature for nearly 24 hours. This bake optimizes the laminate’s material properties and reduces the risk that dark hull surfaces will lose their finish.
Rig, Cockpit, and Performance
The standard rig is a keel-stepped, double-spreader fractional aluminum setup with rod rigging. Its self-tacking 88 percent headsail uses a belowdeck furler, a configuration testers found easy for a couple to handle.
Optional longitudinal genoa tracks and dedicated winches allow the forward sail to increase to 106 percent for more punch in light air. A fixed sprit carries an asymmetric A-sail. SAIL Magazine’s test crew logged 6.9 to 7 knots on a beat in around 10 knots of wind, touching 7.7 knots. Downwind, the boat broke double digits under the A-sail as the breeze built.
A single deep, high-aspect rudder and twin outboard Jefa wheels give the helmsman clean sightlines. The soft-chine aft sections add power without making the hull twitchy.
Synthetic teak comes standard on the cockpit sole and benches. The deck also has a recessed self-tacker track and molded winch recesses. Folding mooring cleats are set into the deck, while companionway doors conceal the line bins. These are neat solutions, though, like any recessed hardware, they deserve a survey check for wear.
Accommodation and Stowage
Below, the X4⁰ makes good use of a hull measuring 39 feet 8 inches overall, with a 34-foot-1-inch waterline. The standard two-cabin layout has an owner’s cabin forward, with a side-access double berth and hanging lockers. It also includes a head with a separate shower and a forward-facing navigation station.
A three-cabin version appeared in spring 2020. It adds mirror-image quarterberths aft but sacrifices the chart table and part of the heads compartment. This leaves only one, smaller heads compartment aboard—a trade-off Yachting Monthly urged buyers to weigh carefully.
Nordic-oak veneer and a teak-laminate sole come standard. Testers described the joinery as stylish, practical, and well put together. The L-shaped galley to port includes an Eno stove and oven, while the folding dining table serves both settees. A large sail locker forward completes the stowage arrangements.
Machinery and Ownership
Standard auxiliary power comes from a 40-horsepower diesel with saildrive and a Flexofold three-blade folding propeller. A two-blade Gori folding propeller is optional.
The builder’s steel-grid construction and epoxy-infused hull make routine inspection straightforward. The boat’s award record also signals strong residual regard within the performance-cruiser class.
The Verdict
The X4⁰ is a rare sub-40-footer that can race hard on Saturday and cross oceans on Monday. It combines a bomb-proof keel grid with the nimble handling and speed of a performance boat, plus a standard two-cabin interior that works well for cruising. Testers praised its finish without reservation.
Its only real compromise is found in the three-cabin version, which loses the chart table and leaves the boat with a single, reduced heads compartment.
Pros
- Galvanized steel keel grillage spreads loads, absorbs grounding shock, and is easy to inspect
- Epoxy-infused, post-cured hull saves weight for stability and resists finish defects
- Nimble, quick helm combines cruising comfort with racing speed
- Award-winning performance cruiser with a practical two-cabin layout
Cons
- Three-cabin layout loses the chart table and much of the heads space, leaving only one smaller heads compartment
