X & M Owners: How Did You Choose Which One?

[Trouts Dream]

Not sure what the "overall larger boat" means as the X and M are essentially the same sized boat?

[GaryMayo]

Not sure what the "overall larger boat" means as the X and M are essentially the same sized boat?

If you used an X & an M as a salad bowl, you could stuff more salad in the M, but not much. ( Or maybe just larger pieces of salid??? lol)
I believe they are the same length and width there abouts, but I believe one is deeper / taller???

[Sea Wind]

Make sure that you can see both boats before pulling the trigger. They are different feelings when you enter a boat that you cannot tell just from pictures and specifications. I would also consider going back to basics; e.g. Do you care between a centerboard versus a daggerboard? The roomier cabin from the M comes at the expense of a narrower transom for boarding, what is more important to you? etc, etc

Sea Wind

[Catigale]

The slowest boat is caught first, and outsells the faster boat, of course.

[Divecoz]

ROLL CALL......... who among you enters your boat REGULARLY from the transom?? I built for $10 a 2 foot wide 6 foot long storeable ladder ...

[Herschel]

I bought my X seven years ago when the M's were very new. I was able to get a fully modified X with a lot of extras (dodger, Bimini, full cockpit enclosure, shore power, extra battery, electric toilet and holding tank, upgraded power panel, VHF and FM radios, instruments, Genoa, spinnaker, double axle trailer etc.) for less than the cost of a striped down basic M. So that coupled with the centerboard vs. dagger board pretty much sealed the deal. The more room and height in the head was an attraction, too. The reason the centerboard was so attractive to me was because I had had a Hobie 18 with dagger boards, and in Florida waters, with frequent sandy shoals, I found them very hard to get up once I grounded. Since the purchase, I have, unfortunately grounded a few times in the relatively shallow waters of the St. Johns river system. My judgment regarding the greater ease of dealing with a centerboard in that situation has been born out. A relatively easy pull on the centerboard line, and I am underway again. However, in the couple of times I have also grounded the rudders, it is still a hassle to get the line to disengage from the jam cleat and get the rudders unstuck. I know there is a mod that makes that easier, but I have not gotten to it, yet. So, I think the centerboard issue is a critical one from my perspective depending on the type of waters you'll be sailing. But, I suppose the X's are getting a little age on them, making it a little harder to find a great deal like I enjoyed. Either way, I think you are in for a great experience.

[GaryMayo]

Transom is the cutout in the stern for the engine? So there is more room in that walk through area in the X? This also means an X can hold a larger engine?

[Russ]

Well, I never stepped foot on either X or M. Not a lot of dealers close by.

We bought because it was new and didn't want to inspect a used boat. So we went for a new dealer M.

My wife thinks the head on the X must be bigger. I'd love see an X in person to see if that's true.

[Highlander]

The cabin is approx. 24" longer than the due to the diffrent cockpit design the helmsman seat was moved to sit over the transome thus allowing the whole cockpit to be moved further aft & thus allowing for the cabin to be extended back further making it longer

J

[Trouts Dream]

Are you saying the helm seat on an M is 24" further back than on an X?

Having been on both many times, I must challenge this assumption. The distance from mast to closed companionway is within mm (inches for you yanks) of being identical so the cabin cannot be 24" longer.

I am not able to measure this at this time but may sometime next week.

[Divecoz]

Really Gary?? M's are running 70's and 90's and 130's.. IIRC...
BTW I am still waiting for those who claim they Use the engine well for their means of regular boarding????
The Tiny ladders on both boats fold up and down.. But Yes there are a few inches more on Each Side on an X..
good access from the transom??.. Im a Diver and a Scuba Instructor.. I have made literally 1000's of entrances up ladders onto and into boats .. NONE without swim platforms have easy access from the transom..

Transom is the cutout in the stern for the engine? So there is more room in that walk through area in the X? This also means an X can hold a larger engine?

[Highlander]

Are you saying the helm seat on an M is 24" further back than on an X?

Having been on both many times, I must challenge this assumption. The distance from mast to closed companionway is within mm (inches for you yanks) of being identical so the cabin cannot be 24" longer.

I am not able to measure this at this time but may sometime next week.

Well Roger dissagree's with u & he built the boat

J

[pokerrick1]

ROLL CALL......... who among you enters your boat REGULARLY from the transom?? I built for $10 a 2 foot wide 6 foot long storeable ladder ...

Not me!!! My son-in-law built me a three step boarding platform complete with side and rear railings from which to enter and leave the boat (also had boat name "THE NUTS" in lettering on it). I had the best boarding stairs in my basin!!!

The only time I boarded from the transom was when it was on it's trailer - - - not very often!!

Rick

[GaryMayo]

I looked on the net till I found line drawings of each boat, and the nuances are amazing.

Guess which boat is 1" wider than the other at the beam?

Guess which boat has the helm seat and steering a good foot or so farther back to the stern?

Guess which boat has a trailer weight over 500 pounds lighter?

The M on those questions. Mind you, that does not make it better.

The M has a longer front to back front hatch, the M has a deeper daggerboard in the water than the X keel.

The X has a larger head, but fewer windows. The X has a larger cockpit, with more apparent legroom between the facing seats.

The X has a more substantial safety rail system, in the middle of the boat, but maybe not as substantial at the bow of the boat.

The X is easier to get in and out of the cabin with fewer steps.

A little more dining table seating space in the X but a little less floor space in that area.

A little more privacy in the front berth on the M, but a little less feeling of space.

More headroom in the back berth on the M.

[GaryMayo]