X-Yachts XP 44 Sailboats for Sale

The XP 44 is built on epoxy-infused foam-and-glass sandwich construction throughout, with carbon fiber reinforcing the highest-load areas. The hull liner and furniture are bonded directly to the hull for structural stiffness, and the model introduced X-Yachts' carbon keel grid in place of the galvanized steel ring used in earlier designs — a change made explicitly to add strength and reduce weight. What this means for a used-market buyer is that you are dealing with a boat whose engineering margins are generous, but one that will show the effects of neglect more quickly than a heavier, more forgiving cruiser. The bones are excellent; the maintenance history matters.

Layouts on the Used Market

The most frequently encountered configuration on the used market is the three-cabin layout, with two quarter cabins aft and an owner's stateroom forward. The forward cabin carries a large double V-berth and its own head and shower. The aft cabins are comfortable doubles that can also be rigged with lee cloths for offshore watch-keeping, and pipe berths can be added above the lower bunks so the off-watch crew sleeps to windward.

The saloon is set up around an L-shaped galley to port — three-burner stove and oven, deep fridge, twin sinks positioned near the centreline so they drain on both tacks. To starboard, the nav station operates on an innovative slide system: it can face forward as a conventional chart table or shift aft to extend the settee into a proper sea berth. The companionway hatch has three positions — fully open, locked halfway to prevent downflooding, or fully closed — a thoughtful offshore detail. The dinette table stows below the cockpit sole, keeping the companionway clear for racing crew movement.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Teak decks are standard in the cockpit and commonly found on the side decks as well on used examples. Used examples commonly arrive with an autopilot and chartplotter already fitted, and asymmetric spinnaker capability — often with the optional carbon bowsprit — is a very common find. Full-batten laminated mainsails and a below-deck Profurl furling jib are typical of the sail inventory.

Beyond the core racing-cruiser fit, many used examples have been progressively equipped for bluewater use. Heating systems appear regularly, as do bow thrusters, hot water systems, and inverters — additions that reflect how these boats are actually used by owners who race them to distant ports and live aboard while there. Electric winches are a frequent owner upgrade, easing short-handed sailing without compromising the boat's racing credentials. AIS is almost universally fitted by now. Gennakers and cockpit showers appear on a portion of boats and tend to signal a former owner who used the boat for extended cruising rather than pure club racing.

The optional carbon mast and boom, when fitted, measurably raise the boat's performance ceiling; checking the rig specification of any specific example is worthwhile, as both aluminum and carbon versions circulate on the used market.

What to Inspect

The build quality of the XP 44 is among the best in its class, and the construction methods — epoxy infusion, bonded liner, carbon keel grid — leave little room for the structural water ingress that plagues lesser production boats. That said, the areas that reward scrutiny on any high-performance fin-keeler apply here.

Inspect the keel-to-hull joint carefully. The T-bulb configuration produces excellent upwind lift and stability, but the joint is always a stress concentration point. Look for any cracking or weeping in the fairing around the keel root, and check for movement under load if you can arrange a haul-out. The deep bulb keel option, with a draft of over eight feet, is the more common specification on performance-configured boats and should be confirmed against the vessel's documentation, as draft affects mooring options considerably.

The under-deck conduit system that routes all halyards and control lines aft to the cockpit is elegant in service but can be difficult to re-run if lines chafe through. Ask about the history of line replacement and whether any jams have occurred. Access to the below-deck furler was noted as excellent by reviewers, which helps — but a jam history is worth understanding.

The carbon keel grid, introduced on this model, replaced the galvanised steel ring found in earlier X-Yachts. On carbon-rigged boats, inspect all deck hardware and chainplate areas with the same attention, as the higher rig loads these boats generate put greater demand on the deck structure. The genoa tracks run along the cabin sides and the chainplates are mounted outboard — check both for any sign of weeping or gelcoat cracking around the mounting hardware.

Engines are typically Yanmar with a saildrive. Saildrive bellows condition is a standard pre-purchase inspection item on any boat so equipped; confirm the bellows have been replaced on schedule. The twin-wheel steering arrangement is clean and functional, but verify that the wheel bearings and steering cables are in good order, as these boats are sailed hard.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

Used XP 44s circulate most actively in North America, particularly on the US East Coast, and across Northern Europe including the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. The Mediterranean market — Spain and Turkey in particular — also carries a meaningful number of examples, reflecting the model's popularity as a performance cruiser for owners who race seasonally and cruise between events. Australian buyers will find occasional examples available, typically ex-European boats.

The model occupies a niche where supply is not overwhelming, so buyers should expect to be patient and to travel to inspect candidates. Quality examples do not sit long.

Pre-purchase checklist:

• Confirm keel specification (standard or deep bulb) against documentation; inspect keel root fairing and joint for movement or cracking
• Check saildrive bellows condition and replacement history
• Verify under-deck conduit and line condition throughout; ask about any jam history on the furler or halyards
• Inspect chainplate areas and genoa track mounting points for any signs of weeping or stress cracking
• Confirm rig specification — aluminum or carbon — and assess spar condition including standing rigging age
• Test autopilot, chartplotter integration, and AIS under way
• Review electric winch service history if fitted
• Confirm heating system, hot water, and inverter function if these are expected in the purchase
• Arrange a haul-out to inspect the hull, keel joint, saildrive, and bottom