The result is a plumb-bowed, low-coachroof monohull measuring 45 feet 6 inches overall, with a 14-foot-2 beam. Displacement is 29,145 pounds, including a 12,655-pound lead-and-cast-iron ballast package. Those numbers place the Xc 45 firmly in the loaded-cruiser class without sacrificing the lively feel for which the marque is known.
Design and Construction
Jeppesen based the Xc 45 on moderate hull shapes with increased displacement, deep sections, and a forward V form intended to take the sting out of slamming in a seaway.
The hull is an epoxy-infused composite that is post-cured, or oven-baked, to tighten the resin matrix. X-Yachts cites epoxy’s higher mechanical and thermal stability compared with polyester. Cruising World’s teardown found a foam-cored deck and hull in a sandwich using vinylester and polyester resins with E-glass, along with a watertight forward bulkhead and structural bulkheads bonded to the hull and deck. Cruising World’s teardown found a foam-cored deck and hull in a sandwich using vinylester and polyester resins with E-glass, along with a watertight forward bulkhead and structural bulkheads bonded to the hull and deck.
A massive integral stainless-steel frame serves as the boat’s backbone, gathering loads from the rig, keel, and chainplates. Two longitudinal girders spread the keel load across three crossovers, and the same grid carries an eye that allows the boat to be lifted by a strap.
The composite lead-and-cast-iron keel is encapsulated in a reinforced epoxy E-glass shell. Its cast-iron fin carries an L-shaped bulb glued and bolted to the foil. X-Yachts states that the structure is deliberately tuned so the keel can strike a rock at full hull speed without tearing the hull away.
Rig, Deck, and Handling
The Xc 45 carries a tall, double-spreader fractional rig. A double-ended German-style mainsheet and single-line reefing are standard. Options include discontinuous rod rigging, a through-deck tapered mast, an inner forestay, in-boom furling, a self-tacking jib, and an anchor A-frame for modern furling cruising spinnakers or asymmetric sails.
Running rigging is recessed below the optional teak decks. The test boat carried Andersen winches, a Profurl furler, Ronstan adjustable sheet leads, and Spinlock clutches.
In 7.5 knots of breeze, testers reached 7.5 knots with the 108 percent jib; a 140 percent genoa is also available. Yachting World’s sailor found the Xc 45 slippery yet stable, with a soft, quiet, well-mannered motion, good balance, and enough helm feedback to register small gusts despite her medium displacement. Her comparatively narrow beam makes it easy to move between the twin Jefa wheels during a tack. Under asymmetric spinnaker, the wheel loads up as she accelerates.
Accommodations
The three-cabin layout places the owner’s cabin forward, with a centerline queen berth and en suite head. Two double stern cabins share a second head to starboard. The saloon includes a dedicated navigation station, an L-shaped galley to port, a roomy U-shaped settee with a dining table, and another settee opposite.
Nordic oak furniture, new bathrooms, and an updated owner’s cabin mark the interior. White vinyl headlinings and bulkheads lighten the space against the teak veneer. The saloon table’s veneer is quartered so that the grain runs in four directions. Grabrails extend along both sides of the interior, and all surfaces are fiddled, helping the boat feel secure underfoot when heeled.
The Next Generation Mk II, a rebranded update of the original, introduced soft-closing, self-locking drawers on hidden full-extension runners. It moved the galley sink to the center to make room for larger bins and placed the liferaft stowage below the cockpit sole. The revision also enlarged the bathing platform and aft stowage.
Next Generation Mk II Changes
The Mk II gained larger hull windows and central tank placement below the sole for balance and reduced pitching. A carbon-fibre mainsheet arch replaced the stainless-steel version, opening more headspace. These changes were achieved partly by removing 225 kg from joinery and construction and adding it to the keel as ballast.
The Next Generation’s quarter lockers, however, remain difficult to access.
Equipment and Ownership
Standard comfort and handling equipment includes a Vetus retractable bow thruster, Flexifold folding prop, drop-down swim platform with split hydraulic backstays, extensive teak decking, and a folding transom. New tank displays and ambient lighting are carried through.
The original Xc 45 won its European award, and more than 250 hulls were sold across the two generations. Collectively, the fleet has logged around one million miles—a useful endorsement of the platform’s staying power.
The Verdict
The Xc 45 is a thoughtfully engineered cruiser that trades a little outright pace for a hull and structure built to take remote anchorages and the occasional grounding in stride. Its sandwich construction, integral steel backbone, and encapsulated keel inspire confidence, while its sailing character remains responsive and quiet. The Mk II improves liveability without disturbing the underlying design.
Pros
- Epoxy-infused, oven-cured hull with foam sandwich and an integral steel load frame
- Encapsulated composite keel engineered to survive a full-speed rock strike
- Stable, quiet motion with useful helm feedback and easy movement between the twin wheels
- Six-berth, three-cabin layout with a dedicated navigation station and fiddled surfaces
Cons
- Quarter lockers are difficult to access on the Next Generation
- The jib can’t be trimmed from the helm without swapping the mainsheet lead
