X-Yachts XC 38 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

The XC 38 retains the slippery hull of X-Yachts’ out-and-out racing hulls but gains more beam and more draught to make her a more cruising-oriented vessel. Forward, a deeper V-shaped cross section meets a large single spade rudder that delivers good grip, lovely feel, and precise manoeuvring, while the aluminium stock sandwiched in GRP rudder is described by owners as a very big rudder. Cruising displacement is compensated for with a heavier keel, composed of a lead bulb on a cast iron fin faired with an epoxy shell, and below the waterline skin fittings are set flush — commensurate with the three-blade Flexofold propeller — to minimise drag. At the structural heart sits a metal frame connected to the GRP hull that supports rig and keel loads, a long-standing standard at X-Yachts; in the XC 38 a steel matrix girder transfers loads between the keel, keel-stepped mast, and rig, making the boat exceptionally stiff anchor. A 200-litre fuel tank, hot water, fresh water tankage, and lithium batteries make use of the space around the matrix to keep the centre of gravity low.

Rig and Handling

All lines are led aft under the deck to the clutches inside the fixed windscreen, and the German mainsheet is kept clear of the cockpit on a coachroof-top traveller, from where it is taken to the mast then aft through ducting. Towable jib cars mounted alongside the coachroof help make the XC 38 close-winded in comparison to most cruising boats, and an efficient, easy-to-use traveller supports that aim. Owners call it a big rig, and the builder boasts that the Xc38 offers superb performance in an easily handled package. A 110 per cent genoa can be comfortably carried up to 18 knots of true wind, yet when YACHT tested her on the North Sea in 6 to 7 Beaufort, a reef in the main and a reduced 108 per cent genoa were required, with strong gusts and shifting winds demanding attentive steering and active mainsheet trim anchor. The carbon-fibre wheels provide marvellous haptic feedback for the helmsperson, and a reviewed boat’s deep initial mainsail reef — with the second reef comparatively close to the first — reduced the effort to shorten sail further.

Accommodations

Below deck the saloon gives a very good feeling of space, not only in volume but in the quality and cosiness of the interior, which features Nordic Oak carpentry on almost every surface and sole board, with a Corian-branded quartz composite galley countertop that is hard-wearing and easy to clean. The builder terms the large forepeak double bed the “Owner’s Cabin,” while a single aft cabin sits to starboard; one tester found that aft berth not long enough for a boat of this size. Opposite, aft of the nav station, lies one of the largest heads compartments seen in a yacht of any size. In the cockpit, the edge is recessed to accommodate part of the wheel rim so the helm can sit, steer, and trim the mainsail without stretching, and the transom folds down with a purchase block system to reveal a liferaft under the cockpit sole and serve as a bathing platform.

Known Issues

The position of the helmsman and mainsheet trimmer proved not entirely successful in strong wind conditions during the North Sea test, a caveat for anyone sailing the boat hard upwind in a blow. The aft berth’s short length remains a surprising compromise on a 38-footer. X-Yachts did issue a warning that copper in some anti-fouling reacted with the aluminium rudder stock, resulting in corrosion, and treatment around the top of the rudder post should be avoided.

The Verdict

The XC 38 is a thoughtfully evolved cruising yacht that borrows racing hull efficiency yet carries the stiffness and poise expected of a bluewater traveller. She is quick, close-winded, and precisely steered, with a flush underwater profile and a rigid keel-matrix structure. The interior is genuinely roomy where it counts and beautifully finished, though the aft berth and helm station in strong air reveal the limits of the Gran Tourismo brief.

Pros