Design and Construction
The previous Pure-range hull carried its beam relatively far forward. On the X4³-2, maximum beam moves farther aft, creating a wider transom and cockpit and a beamier aft section with a soft-radius chine. The aft-running chines also finish much higher than before. This should increase stability when the boat is heeled while keeping wetted surface down in lighter winds.
The vacuum-infused, post-cured epoxy hull is foam cored, with fully bonded structural bulkheads and a collision bulkhead forward. A galvanized steel grid incorporated into the hull carries the rig and keel loads. The lead ballast bulb is bolted and glued to a cast-iron fin, and the entire keel is coated in glass and epoxy.
The standard torpedo-bulb keel draws 7 feet 3 inches, with deeper and shallower alternatives available. The boat measures 43 feet 5 inches overall and 41 feet 7 inches on the hull, with a beam of 13 feet 1 inch. Displacement is 20,723 pounds, including 8,157 pounds of ballast. Those figures put it firmly in the performance-cruiser weight class without sacrificing volume.
Rig, Cockpit Controls, and Sailing Performance
A longer integral bowsprit accommodates larger offwind sails. The standard aluminum mast stands 66 feet 6 inches, while an optional, taller carbon mast is available for sailors seeking extra light-air reach. The rig is slightly taller than that of the previous generation, which helps improve light-air performance.
A centerline backstay with hydraulic tensioning allows precise rig tuning. Six properly sized Harken Performa winches handle the boat’s 1,076 square feet of sail, with one winch electrified for the main halyard. Twin wheels sit behind a full-width mainsheet traveler carrying a German sheeting system that can be controlled from either helm.
In testing, the boat pinched well inside an apparent-wind angle of 30 degrees, making better than 7 knots in an 18-knot apparent breeze. At just 32 degrees, it was fully powered up at more than 8 knots. Bearing away onto a close reach as the apparent wind decreased, it pushed toward 9 knots. On a broad reach under working sails alone, it easily made 6 knots in just 8 knots of apparent wind.
X-Yachts put considerable effort into the rudder’s shape, and the result was a very smooth helm with excellent tactile feedback.
Cockpit and Accommodations
The larger cockpit has a higher sole, increasing vertical clearance over the aft berths. High coamings curve around the seats to provide weather protection. A very solid cockpit table anchors the social space but can be removed for racing, supporting the boat’s dual cruising and performance roles.
The transom is open, with a narrow fold-down swim platform beneath it. This extends the usable space aft for swimming or dinghy access.
Below, the layout remains relatively unchanged from that of its predecessor. While X-Yachts reworked the hull and deck, it retained the proven interior arrangement.
Engine and Tankage
Auxiliary power comes from a 45-horsepower Yanmar engine with saildrive. The boat carries 53 gallons of diesel and 90 gallons of water for coastal and bluewater range.
Together, the open transom and fold-down platform, full-width traveler, and removable cockpit table create a deck plan suited to both short-handed racing and relaxed cruising. The six-winches-and-centerline-backstay arrangement is serious sailing hardware rather than a cruiser-light compromise.
Verdict
The X4³-2 is genuinely a new boat, not a rebadged predecessor. It comes across as a confident second-generation design in the Pure range. Higher aft chines, a taller rig, and a longer bowsprit are purposeful changes that broaden its performance envelope without disrupting the below-deck layout owners already admired.
Construction is thorough, from the post-cured, foam-cored epoxy hull and fully bonded bulkheads to the glass-and-epoxy coating around the keel.
Pros
- Entirely new tooling and a redesigned hull shape, with beam carried farther aft for volume and stability
- Taller rig and longer bowsprit increase light-air and offwind sail capability
- Vacuum-infused, foam-cored epoxy hull with a collision bulkhead and fully bonded structure
- Strong upwind and reaching performance in testing, including better than 7 knots while pinching
Cons
- The standard aluminum mast may feel modest beside the optional, taller carbon rig
- For traditionalists, the beamier aft sections and higher cockpit sole alter the older boat’s profile
