An inspired combination of glassfibre and aluminium, the XO 250 oozes strength, sophistication and practicality in equal measure, writes Dave Marsh
Taken at face value, most owners would be overjoyed with the XO 250’s high speed abilities alone.
Fitted with Mercury’s impressively smooth 300 PRO (not to be confused with Mercury’s alternative 300hp Verado model) the XO250 is capable of devouring the miles at a rapid rate – 35 to 40 knot cruising is easygoing for this aluminium-hulled boat.
The handling too is first class – hurling this boat into a full lock turn at its top speed of 44+ knots takes some courage, but that madness didn’t bother the exceptionally deep Vee (24 degree) hull form on jot.
It also handles the rough stuff exceptionally well – we repeatedly had its 1.5 tonnes airborne, and as long as it is trimmed correctly it always flew level and landed on an even keel.
Yet the XO 250 has so much to offer on a practical level too. Would you believe there are nine assorted deck lockers, plus another pair of useful open-topped bins set into the topsides?
The rear seating comprises a two-person bench, but this can be expanded into a full-width bench for four adults.
Another 30 seconds and this seating area can be converted into a sunbed for two – XO has designed a canopy arrangement whose stainless framework lies largely out of view in a trough around the rear seating.
The central, closable walkway to the foredeck means XO can justifiably eliminate the sidedecks, ergo more space in the cockpit and safer movement around the boat.
For more on the XO 250, pick up the May edition of MBY, in which we put this speed machine head-to-head with three of its rivals: the Axopar 28OC, Paragon Ranger 25 and Draco 27RS.
Pros
- Terrific deck storage makes the XO 250 far more practical than most glamorous day boats
- 30 knot cruising consumption around 3mpg makes the XO 250 cheap to run
- Inventive options list allows owners to devise dramatically styled, highly individualistic boats
Cons
- XO’s trim tabs are not the most precise or fluently controllable
Price as reviewed:
£86,614.00
Verdict
At heart, the XO 250 is a high-speed (40 knot plus) dayboat par excellence, designed for reeling in the miles as effectively as any boat this size could. What elevates it beyond mere speed-machine status is its deep-seated practical streak and the impressive versatility of its cockpit design
Details
LENGTH OVERALL: 24ft 8in (7.52m)
BEAM: 7ft 6in (2.28m)
FUEL CAPACITY: 51 imp gal (230 litres)
WATER CAPACITY: zero as standard
DRAUGHT: 3ft 0in (0.90m)
RCD CATEGORY: C (for 8 people)
DISPLACMENT: 1.5 tonnes
TEST ENGINE: Single 300hp Mercury Pro outboard
TOP SPEED: 44.2 knots
CRUISING SPEED: 30 knots
RANGE: 155 miles (at 30 knots)
