Design and Construction
The X5 Plus is the product of a deliberate weight-loss program rather than a cosmetic refresh. The builder dropped the displacement-to-length ratio from 144 to 126 on the original boat, and the combined effort—redesigned composite bulkheads, a different window design, re-engineered mast supports, and a finer bow entry—brought the boat up nearly three inches in the water and made it able to carry more equipment and provisions without degrading sailing ability. The hull and deck are completely vacuum infused and cored with Divinycell foam both above and below the waterline, and the curved stern arch contains the running rigging. Good handholds run throughout the boat for safe movement in a seaway.
Rig and Handling
Modifying the rig increased sail area and produced a meaningful performance gain in light air, with a bowsprit added to carry larger foresails. The standard boat carries a square-top mainsail, working jib, genoa, and Code 0 on electric furlers; in bad weather a crew can reduce sail, fly the self-tacking jib, and run the entire vessel from inside the helm station. Test sailors found the helm layout functional, with all lines falling to hand logically near foot-operated electric winches and arranged to minimize wrapping and unwrapping. The hydraulic steering gives no helm feedback, typical of a catamaran so equipped, yet the boat tacked easily under any sail combination and accelerated rapidly in the puffs. On an autumn day at Annapolis with 8 to 12-knot winds, the X5 Plus returned more than 60 percent of the breeze as boat speed, and it sailed that well with ten people aboard plus a large dog and full cruising stores. Under power, twin 80hp Yanmars drive her to 9.8 knots at 2,500 rpm and a standard cruise of 8.5 knots at 1,900 rpm, with a sound level at cruise of 56 dBA—the same as normal conversation. The turning circle is about 1.5 boatlengths without differential engine use, and she stops and backs predictably.
Accommodations
The test boat showed a three-cabin layout with the entire starboard hull given over to an owner's suite, while the port hull held two more staterooms. All cabins are bright and inviting thanks to a unique window configuration that illuminates them, with comfortable berths, ample stowage, and ensuite heads with showers. The bridgedeck spans a comfortable expanse dedicated to food preparation, dining, socializing, and navigation, and the galley is apportioned with the appliances, spaces, and storage a cruising family needs.
Systems and Ownership
An electrical redesign moved the boat to a 24-volt system fed by a solar array of 2.3 kW—nearly triple the original—and 22 kWh of lithium-ion storage, making it possible to run air conditioning and other loads all night without a generator and supporting a luxurious lifestyle with minimal genset use. A rain catchment system backs up the watermaker and storage tanks. Each X5 Plus reports its condition in detail back to the company when within internet coverage, and the builder replies with due maintenance items and directions; new owners also receive a standard two-week training session.
The Verdict
The Xquisite X5 Plus refines a proven cruising catamaran into a lighter, more self-sufficient voyager. Its structural and systems engineering targets exactly the long-range, owner-operated mandate it was built for, and the real-world testing shows a boat that performs under load and at anchor alike.
Pros
- Lighter generation dropped D/L to 126 and floats nearly three inches higher
- 24-volt system with 2.3 kW solar and 22 kWh lithium supports all-night air conditioning without generator
- Square-top main plus Code 0 on electric furlers with logical, foot-winch helm layout
- Twin 80hp Yanmars cruise quietly at 8.5 knots; predictable backing and tight turning
Cons
- Hydraulic steering provides no helm feedback
- Heavy provisioning and systems reliance assumes consistent internet coverage for builder support
