What common problems should I check for when buying a used X-Yachts X-372?

Check the X-372's internal steel reinforcement, keel attachment and surrounding hull structure first, then inspect for deck leaks and assess the rig and engine installation. These are inspection priorities on an ageing cruiser-racer, not evidence of an inherent defect; a dry boat with sound maintenance and documented repairs can still be an excellent purchase.

Keel and steel reinforcement

Lift the sole boards and inspect as much of the steel reinforcing framework as access permits, especially around keel attachments, mast support and structural connections. Standing bilge water can conceal corrosion, so ask for the bilge to be emptied and cleaned before the survey.

• Steelwork: look for blistered coatings, heavy rust, flaking metal and corrosion around welds or inaccessible edges. Surface staining differs from loss of metal thickness; a surveyor should establish which is present.
• Keel fastenings: inspect visible studs, nuts and backing areas for corrosion, movement, distorted washers and rusty water trails. Clean exposed nuts tell you nothing about the condition of hidden fastenings.
• Grounding damage: inspect the hull immediately ahead of and behind the keel, internal floors and their connections for cracking, separation or repairs. Ask directly about groundings and obtain repair invoices.

The supplied brochure specifies a 2.00 m draught and a 2,200 kg ballast keel, with an upper cast-iron section and a lead lower section. Inspect the hull-to-keel joint and the iron-to-lead transition separately. Corrosion at exposed iron needs assessment; recurring cracks or movement need investigation before purchase. Never tighten keel nuts to a guessed torque. Obtain the specification for the actual fastening arrangement.

Inspect underneath only when the yard has securely supported the boat.

Deck leaks and structural damage

Have the surveyor check deck stiffness and investigate moisture around stanchion bases, chainplates, genoa tracks, winches, the mast area and hatch openings. Where fittings penetrate a cored panel, failed bedding can let water into the core. Fresh sealant alone will not repair softened material.

Walk the deck slowly, checking for local flexing, cracking and depressed fittings. Below, examine headlinings, locker corners and bulkheads for staining, softness and detached structural bonding. Inspect chainplate attachments through the available access rather than judging them solely from the deck.

Moisture-meter readings need interpreting alongside percussion sounding and the construction beneath the surface. Metal reinforcement and fittings can affect readings. Ask whether any teak decking is original or fitted later. Worn seams, thin planks and leaking screws can turn a cosmetic concern into substantial work.

Rig and sail condition

The X-372 brochure lists both masthead and fractional sail plans, so identify the boat's rig before comparing sail inventories or ordering replacements. Check mast and boom sections for corrosion, dents and cracking around spreader roots, terminals and fittings. Examine the mast heel and supporting structure below, too.