Design and Construction
The Xp 50's hull is light for a cruising boat, with a displacement-to-length ratio of 134 and a length-to-beam ratio of 3.38 that sits squarely in the modern normal range for beam. The beam itself is carried all the way aft to a very wide transom, while a near-plumb stem and vertical transom, with only 5 feet 2 inches of total overhangs, give the profile a contemporary, volume-driven character. Promotional material describes a slimmer upright waterline for lower surface area paired with additional topside flare for power, and form stability is not bought with flare alone: the boat carries 11,332 pounds of lead in a bulb, with draft options of 9 feet 10 inches and 8 feet 8 inches. An exceptionally deep and knifelike rudder backs up the lateral plane. Multiple boot stripes help disguise the high freeboard, and the dodger folds down into a recess in the coaming over the aft end of the cabintrunk.
Rig and Handling
Two rig options are offered. An aluminum stick with a slightly shorter rig is the standard path, while a carbon stick option raises the sail-area-to-displacement ratio for a few extra square feet of sail area. Masthead chutes tack to a short, fixed sprit, and the boat is set up with under-deck sheet leads and a maxi-boat style mainsheet system that speaks to its race-derived pedigree. The side decks are wide adjacent to the twin wheels, with a wide seat aft, and a garage door hinges down electrically to form a large swim platform — a cruising concession that sits comfortably alongside the performance hardware.
Accommodations
Below, the Xp 50 is laid out for three couples, with mirror-image staterooms aft and a V-berth double forward, served by two heads each with a shower stall. The galley places its sinks almost on centerline, a detail that suits heeled cooking, and a squared-off orthogonal dinette to port makes efficient use of the saloon. The nav station is small, though the review notes the era of needing a full chart table has passed. Up top, long cockpit seats run beside the wheels, and a cockpit table appears to retract into the cockpit sole. The combination of three double berths, two proper heads, and a protected centerline galley marks this as a boat built to cruise with guests as well as race.
The Verdict
The Xp 50 is a considered answer to the demand for a boat that can be raced hard on Saturday and loaded for a couple of weeks aboard on Sunday. Its light hull, deep bulb, and carbon-grid structure belong to X-Yachts' performance lineage, while the three-cabin layout, twin heads, and retractable cockpit table keep it usable as a cruiser. The maxi-style deck gear and fixed sprit are unapologetically race-minded, and the wide transom and tall freeboard are modern rather than classic — but the execution is coherent.
Pros
- Light displacement and high beam-to-length ratio for a modern performance cruiser
- Two rig options including a carbon stick with higher sail-area-to-displacement ratio
- Three-couple layout with two shower-equipped heads
- Centerline galley sinks and orthogonal dinette suit cruising
- Electric folding swim platform and folding dodger add real cruising utility
Cons
- Deep draft (to 9'10") limits some shallow cruising grounds
- Small nav station by traditional standards
- Race-derived deck gear demands familiarity from shorthanded crews
