Racer-cruiserr

The new 40-footer is labeled a "performance cruiser/racer." Now in my book, there is a huge difference between a "performance cruiser" and a "racer." The characteristics that make a boat a successful performance cruiser will not help it when it crosses the starting line in a fleet of racing boats.

I have no problem with this boat. It's just that I have a problem with the ad campaign. I guess my problem is with the term "performance cruiser" and the fact that this label has also been attached to the Valiant 40/42 and similar stalwart cruising boats for the past 27 years. Maybe it's time I updated my definition of performance cruiser.

Let's look at this design from both perspectives: racing and cruising. Start with cruising. The interior is well laid-out in a minor variation of "basic plan A." There are two double quarter berths that can be closed off and have single upper berths overhead. These compartments (there's no way I'll call them "staterooms") are a little tight for my taste. I'm not claustrophobic, but I do like some room for air movement around me when I sleep. I'd be inclined not to enclose these berths. Privacy would suffer, but even the word "privacy" needs redefinition on a 40-foot boat.

This galley is too small for me. The icebox is dinky, and there is minimal counter space. I'd end up putting cooking stuff on the companionway ladder. "Could you get your foot out of my batter please!" This is not a cruiser's galley.

The rest of the layout looks fine. There is a 24-gallon fuel tank and almost 40 gallons of water tankage. This is a little on the anemic side for a true cruising boat. On the other hand, this is more interior than you would want on a racing boat.

The hull looks racy, but it's quite beamy with an L/B of 3.17. Draft is 7 feet, 11 inches and that will work quite nicely on the race course. The rudder is a knifelike blade, well aft. The D/L of the hull is 165. The auxiliary is a Volvo 40-horsepower with a saildrive. I have a Volvo saildrive on my own boat, and I love it. There is very low drag from these units.

The keel is a two-part unit with the top fin portion being cast iron, which is then attached to a lead bulb. The bulb attachment is designed to allow a quick and easy change of bulbs. "Would you hand me that heavier bulb dear?"

The rig is a fractional type with 11-degree swept spreaders. I don't have I, J, E and P so I can't tell you the precise SA/D of this rig. It's my guess that it's around 22.5. This is a very standard rig with the traveler placed right in front of the wheel where it belongs. I hate midboom sheeting.

I like this boat. I don't know what to call it, but 25 years ago we had dozens of boats like this, including the Pearson 35, Islander 36 and my old favorite the C&C 39. Some called them "racer/cruisers." I just called them boats. This new X-Yacht is a nice boat.