Torries

january/february 2017

cruisingworld.com

83

WINNER

X-Yachts X4

one single eye that’s actually

part of the frame and is pretty

much an X-Yachts signature

trademark. It speaks to the

integrity of the build and the

weight balance, because they

literally just hook that one eye

and yank it up.

“The thing we need to

balance out,” he added, “is

which side of the fence does

it lean on? More toward the

racer or the cruiser? In my

opinion, it’s more toward the

racer, but I also like it as a

cruiser/racer. It’s a very versa-

tile boat.”

When the final votes were

tallied, Sherman’s colleagues

readily agreed by naming the

X-Yachts X4 the year’s Best

Full-Size Cruiser Under 50

Feet.

Clockwise from right: Made

in Denmark, the 41-foot

X-Yachts X4 features a gal-

vanized steel grid frame

in the bilge that provides

incredible stiffness. The

Dufour 460 Grand Large is

another fine craft from the

longtime French builder.

Built in Slovenia, the Elan

Impression is a full-fledged

45-foot cruiser. So too is the

Hallberg-Rassy 40 MK II,

another fine sailer.

CRW0217_FEA1_Boty.indd 83 11/22/16 4:30 PM