X-Yachts X4.3 Review, Specs and Price

Where the X4.3 fits in the Pure X line

X-Yachts built its reputation on boats that win races and still feel like proper yachts below. The Pure X range, which includes the X4.0, X4.3, X4.6, X4.9 and X5.6, is the company's attempt to tilt that balance toward cruising without giving up the sailing feel. The X4.3 is the middle child and, for many buyers, the sweet spot: long enough for real passages and comfortable accommodation, small enough to sail as a couple.

The X4.3 name covers two distinct generations. The MkI was built from 2016 to 2021, according to X-Yachts' own archive. The current MkII is, as SAIL Magazine put it, an entirely new design with new tooling: a beamier aft section with lifted soft chines, a larger cockpit with a higher sole, a longer integral bowsprit and a taller mast. If you are comparing listings, the generation is the first thing to confirm.

Epoxy, foam and the famous steel grid

X-Yachts builds the X4.3 hull from vacuum-infused, post-cured epoxy with a foam core and fully bonded structural bulkheads. Underneath the interior sits the galvanized steel grid that has been an X-Yachts signature for decades. It carries the loads from the keel and the rig into one frame, which keeps the hull stiff and protects it from the flexing that can crack production boats after a hard grounding.

The keel is a cast iron fin with a lead bulb that is both bolted and glued to it. Three drafts are offered: 6 feet 1 inch for shoal cruising grounds, 7 feet 3 inches as standard, and 8 feet 2 inches for buyers who race. Ballast on the standard keel is 8,157 pounds, close to 40 percent of the 20,723 pound light displacement, which gives the boat its notably stiff feel.

• Displacement to length ratio about 180
• Sail area to displacement ratio about 22.8
• Length to beam ratio about 3.2
• Ballast ratio close to 40 percent

On Fishers Island Sound with SAIL

SAIL tested the MkII X4.3 on Fishers Island Sound in a northwest breeze and the numbers back up the reputation. Close-hauled at 30 degrees apparent the boat made more than 7 knots, and when fully powered at 32 degrees it held over 8. On a close reach it approached 9 knots. Even in about 8 knots of wind on a broad reach under working sails it kept moving at around 6 knots.

That is genuine performance for a cruising boat with a full interior. The X4.3 points high, accelerates quickly out of tacks and has the light, precise helm X-Yachts are known for. The self-tacking jib option makes short-handed upwind work almost effortless, while the overlapping genoa and an asymmetric on the integral bowsprit give racers plenty of horsepower.

A cockpit designed for both racing and lunch

The MkII's larger cockpit and higher sole are the biggest changes on deck. The helm area is laid out for the trimmer and driver to work close together, while guests sit forward under an optional retractable dodger. A vacuum-applied teak cockpit is standard, and side decks can be finished in teak or synthetic decking.

For couples, the self-tacking jib option and a sensible line layout keep short-handed sailing simple. Racers will add a more complex sheet setup and a carbon mast, both available from the factory.

Four interior layouts in Nordic oak

X-Yachts offers four layouts. Owners can choose between one or two aft cabins and one or two heads, with the option of a forward head for the owner's cabin. A spacious forward cabin, a saloon with a dining table and a galley with counter space on both sides are common to all versions.

The default finish is Nordic oak veneer with a laminated teak sole, a lighter look than older X-Yachts teak interiors. Joinery quality is excellent. For a couple who sails with occasional guests, the two-cabin, two-head layout gives the best balance of storage and privacy. Charter or family buyers will prefer three cabins.

Engine, tankage and the systems that matter

Power comes from a 45 hp Yanmar diesel with a saildrive. Tankage is 53 gallons of fuel and 90 gallons of water, which is fine for coastal cruising and short passages but light for extended remote cruising. Owners heading offshore usually add a watermaker.

Saildrive maintenance is the main ongoing mechanical item, including the diaphragm seal replacement schedule and corrosion protection. Electrical systems are modern, and lithium house banks with solar on the stern rail are popular upgrades.

Buying a MkI or paying up for a MkII

The MkI is the value buy. It shares the X-Yachts build quality and sailing feel, and spec databases list it at about 8,850 kilograms with 3,800 kilograms of ballast, lighter than the MkII. It is narrower aft, so the cockpit and aft cabins are smaller, and the rig is shorter, with Blue Water Sailing listing a 60-foot-10-inch air draft against 66 feet 6 inches for the MkII. Early boats were sold simply as the X4 before the range was renamed. For a buyer who mainly wants a fast, well-built cruiser, it is a very good boat.

The MkII is the better overall yacht, especially in a breeze and for anyone who entertains in the cockpit. Its wider stern adds form stability and interior volume, and the new rudder design shared across the Pure X range gives more grip. Expect to pay a meaningful premium, and expect it to retain value better.

What a 43-foot X-Yacht costs to run

Annual costs for an X4.3 generally run $25,000 to $50,000, covering a 43-foot slip, insurance, haul-out, bottom paint, saildrive service and sails. Racing owners spend more on sail replacement and crew. Sails are the big variable: laminate or membrane inventories wear out much faster than cruising Dacron.

Resale is a strength. X-Yachts have a loyal following and a well-organized dealer network in the US and Europe, and good X4.3s sell quickly. Buying from Europe and importing is common, so factor in transport and duty when comparing prices.