Design and Construction
At the core of the X4⁰ sits the trademark X-Yachts galvanized steel grid, a structure that anchors the keel and manages rig loads while letting the hull withstand extreme shock from grounding or a submerged-object strike anchor. The hull itself is infused in epoxy and post-cured for nearly 24 hours at high temperature, a bake that optimizes the laminate's material properties and curbs the risk of dark hull surfaces losing their finish. Because every weight saving is redirected into stability, the boat carries 6,724 pounds of lead-and-iron ballast against a light displacement of 17,857 pounds, a 37.65 ballast-displacement ratio that explains its poise. Bolted to that steel grillage is a T-keel with an iron fin and heavy lead bulb, offered in both standard and deep drafts; the grillage is immensely strong yet simple to inspect for damage, a reassuring detail for any owner contemplating distant mileage.
Rig and Handling
The standard rig is a keel-stepped, double-spreader fractional aluminum setup with rod rigging and a self-tacking 88 percent headsail on a belowdeck furler, a configuration testers found easily handled by a couple. Optional longitudinal genoa tracks and dedicated winches push the forward sail to 106 percent for lighter-air punch, and 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, and broke double digits downwind with the A-sail as the breeze built. A single deep, high-aspect rudder and twin outboard Jefa wheels give the helmsman clean sightlines, and the soft chine aft sections make the hull more powerful without making it twitchy.
Accommodations
Below, the X4⁰ maximizes the space a 39-foot-8-inch hull with a 34-foot-1-inch waterline can offer. The standard two-cabin layout pairs a forward owner's cabin with side-access double berth and hanging lockers to a head with separate shower and a forward-facing nav station; a three-cabin version appeared from spring 2020 with mirror-image quarterberths aft, trading the chart table and part of the heads compartment for the extra berths. Nordic-oak veneer and a teak-laminate sole come standard, with joinery that testers described as stylish, practical and well put together. The L-shaped galley to port carries an Eno stove and oven, the dining table folds to seat both settees, and a large forward sail locker rounds out stowage.
Known Issues
The three-cabin layout's compromise is the one caveat a buyer should note: choosing it removes the chart table and shrinks the heads, leaving only one such compartment aboard, a trade Yachting Monthly urged weighing carefully anchor. The folding mooring cleats set into the deck and the companionway doors that hide line bins are neat solutions but, like any recessed hardware, deserve a check for wear at survey.
Refits and Ownership
Ownership centers on a 40-horsepower diesel with saildrive and a Flexofold three-blade folding prop as standard, with a two-blade Gori folding prop optional. Synthetic teak on the cockpit sole and benches is standard, and the deck offers a recessed self-tacker track plus molded winch recesses. The builder's steel-grid heritage and epoxy-infused hull mean routine inspection is straightforward, and the boat's award record signals strong residual regard in the performance-cruiser class.
The Verdict
The X4⁰ is a rare thing: a sub-40-foot that races hard on Saturday and crosses oceans on Monday, built with a bomb-proof keel grid and a finish level testers praised without reservation. Its only real compromise is the three-cabin variant's single, reduced heads.
Pros
- Galvanized steel keel grillage spreads loads and absorbs grounding shock, easy to inspect
- Epoxy-infused, post-cured hull saves weight for stability and resists finish defects
- Nimble, quick helm that couples cruising comfort with racing speed
- Award-winning performance cruiser with practical two-cabin layout
Cons
- Three-cabin layout loses chart table and most of the heads, leaving one head only
