Sabre Blog

Production updates on the Sabre 54

Hull # 1 of the Sabre 54 is humming along! Here are a few images of the progress. We can’t wait until she’s unveiled at the Miami Boat Show in February, 2014.

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The Sabre associates have installed the teak toe rails on the Sabre 54 deck. Next up is the installation of the windshield, main salon windows, port lights and hatches.  

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The engines are installed. The mechanical team is working on overdrive! The Sabre 54 is powered with a Volvo Penta IPS 950 Engine and Drive System.

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Storage, storage storage! This beautiful stateroom has ample storage — a cedar closet, cabinets next to the berth and plenty of shelving.

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Did someone say storage? Below is an image of the master stateroom with a complete wall of drawers. 

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To give you an idea of the final product, our design team created a fantastic rendering of the master stateroom. We can’t wait to see it in person.

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Want to see more images of the Sabre 54? Please visit the Sabre Yachts Facebook page.

To learn more about the Sabre 54 or view renderings of the updated design, please visit the Sabre Yachts Website.

The Sabre 42: The popularity continues

Sabre 42 Salon Express running in Oxford, MD.Since it was introduced to the market in 2009, The Sabre 42 Salon Express has been a hugely popular model. Why? It is quieter, more fuel efficient and more maneuverable than other motoryachts in its class.

The Sabre 42 allows you to enjoy the same levels of personal luxury and comfort that exist in your homes and automobiles such as stainless steel appliances in the galley, air conditioning, elegantly finished woodwork and plush seating throughout the cockpit, main salon and in the staterooms.

Interiors onboard Sabre 42 Salon Express in Oxford, MD.Last month we celebrated the 75th hull being built (Sabre has orders to build through hull #90). Hull # 75 was delivered to Yacht Registry in late August and we asked owner, Mark Reder what it is about the Sabre 42 Salon Express that makes it so popular.

Interiors onboard Sabre 42 Salon Express in Oxford, MD.Mark said, “Since last fall we have had the pleasure of building and delivering four Sabre 42 Salon Express to our Florida West Coast customers. While we love selling all the Sabre and Back Cove product, the 42SE model had been a major part of our new boat sales for years. The Sabre 42 is just a perfect fit for our owners cruising needs here in Florida.”

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Sabre 54 Development Continues

The Sabre 54 Salon Express was re-designed this year with one major priority — to create an open, airy feel throughout the main salon and cockpit. This was achieved by having only one small step between the cockpit and main salon as well as having double acting stainless steel companionway doors and unobstructed views throughout the main salon.

sabre.54_Salon renderingSo far we’ve gotten great feedback on all the unique design features but before we can “oooohhh” and “aaahhh” over the finished product (the beautiful wood joinery or top-of-the-line windows, doors and more), the hull had to be built and the engines installed. Plus a million more details! Join us as we follow the build process of this exciting new design.

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Hull # 1 sitting pretty in Building 3

As with all Sabre Motoryachts, we have strict sound level and performance criteria starting in the hull. We have resin infused PVC foam core for light weight, strength and noise dampening characteristics. In addition, we utilize honeycomb coring, an effective material for sound deadening for all deck structures’, bulkheads and cabin soles. All machinery such as water pumps, compressors and generators are mounted on carefully selected isolation dampeners to further reduce structure born vibration.

S54_hull.interiorAbove is an image of the engine room coming together. The 700 gallon fuel tank has been installed along with battery systems and air conditioning compressors. In the middle of the image is one of the Volvo Penta engines ready to be installed. Next up, the mechanical and electrical teams will get all the top-of-the-line systems and equipment hooked up.

S54_hull_2Above is an image of the molded rings for the IPS 2 pod drives. Note the extremely heavy fiberglass reinforcements around their perimeter.

The Sabre 54 will be one of the first production boats to be fitted with the NEW Volvo IPS 950 propulsion system. We expect a cruise speed in the high 20’s and a top end speed over 30 knots.

Stop by the blog again next week for more updates. You can also sign up for regular blog updates and receive the blog directly in your email inbox! 

What color hull is your Sabre?

If you had your pick, what color would your Sabre be?

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A Sabre 48 Salon Express, “Family Ties” in Wasabi Green (a custom color created by the owner).

Did you know that if you were to buy a Sabre Yacht, you could paint your hull any color you choose? Well, technically it’s gel coat but either way…. your brand new hull could be pink if you wanted it to be!  My personal favorite is Claret (a beautiful deep red).

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A beautiful Sabre 48 Salon Express in Claret

 

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Claret is such a beautiful red color.

Here at Sabre, we consider ourselves semi custom boat builders. When you buy a boat through Sabre Yachts, you work with your broker and Lynn Beaudoin, Sabre’s National Sales Manager, to personalize your boat — to make it your own. “I have found the happiest boat owners are the ones where we’ve built the boat suited for their individual cruising needs”

Lynn says, “Each boat owner is different. Some want to cruise off shore for weeks at a time — those customers need multiple refrigerators to store their food in. Some want a custom wine storage area so they can collect wine from various ports they visit. Each owner is different!

Speaking of different. How about this for individuality? Now that’s a unique paint job! This Sabre owner ordered Sabre white gel coat and had this fancy decal added to the hull. 

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To learn more about Sabre Yachts and their semi-custom approach to boat building, please contact a dealer near you or contact the Sales Department at Sabre Yachts. We’d love to hear from you!

 

 

Top Five Highlights of the Sabre 38 Salon Express

The Sabre 38 Salon Express, the latest member of the Sabre family, is everything you’re looking for. She’s built in the Maine tradition; beautiful, strong, reliable and seaworthy. Here are the top five highlights! 

#5 – Fuel Economy & Performance style

Sabre 38 in Portland MaineThe Sabre 38 hull, the latest thinking in seagoing vee-hulled motor yachts, is specifically designed for the installation of pods lines which offer increased fuel economy. The Sabre 38 rides comfortably at 25 knots with 22.5 GPH (Gallons per hour). 

#4 — Main Salon 

Sabre 38 in Portland MaineThe main salon of the 38 is ideal for either large gatherings or a nice family dinner. The spacious salon feels open and airy with large opening side windows and a bi-fold door. The flexibility of the seating allows for a generous mate’s lounge underway, or a full U-shaped settee for relaxing, entertaining, or dining.

#3 – Expandable Cockpit

Sabre 38 in Portland Maine

 The sliding seat allows for great seating flexibility and maximizes the use of this wonderful open air space. It’s important to note that the seat arrangement doesn’t come at a cost of swim platform area, and the sliding feature can be used even with a tender stowed on the swim platform.  Another ‘jewel’ here is the stainless steel door system which serves to join the cockpit space with the Salon seamlessly.

# 2 — Drivability

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Excellent site lines are a result of a careful study of helm ergonomics along with the careful design of the hull surfaces; the responsiveness to the helm is exceptional at every speed.  Standing at the helm with wide open speeds above 30kts with a smooth, confident ride and sport boat like handling will put a smile on the face of any skipper.

#1 – Visibly blended spaces 

Sabre 38 in Portland Maine

The interior sight lines are so open, that it’s possible to see from the swim platform all the way to the pillows atop the queen sized master berth up forward.  The interior has spectacular flow owing to the deliberate blending of the social spaces.  What does that mean? It means that all the social areas on the boat are open to each other and that light and air can flow through the interior as easily as your conversations will.   One reviewer compared this to having great Feng-Shui. We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.

To learn more about the Sabre 38 Salon Express, please visit the Sabre Yachts website.

Blogging about my adventures aboard my Sabre Yacht

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David enjoying the cruising life!

Sabre owners around the world are writing blogs so their family and friends can follow their travels. They have boats of various size and age but one thing is for sure – these owners are having a blast!

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Sabre 38 Moondance

Perhaps you might be asking, what the heck is a BLOG? The word “blog” comes from “word log”. A blog is a website on which an individual or group of users record opinions, information on a regular basis.

 

 

One blog we enjoy reading is David and Catherine Allin’s. They own a Sabre 402 and travel from the US to the Bahamas on their beautiful boat. To visit their BLOG, click here.

Another excellent Blog is written by Sabre owner Harriet who owns a Sabre 38 MII named Moondance. She writes, “We cruised down the Intracoastal waterway from Annapolis to spend the winter in the Bahamas 3 times. We also cruised to Maine last summer.  Interested in reading Moondance’s BLOG? Click here.

Bob Preston, new owner of a Sabre 48 Salon Express writes a very inspiring blog called “Optimism Can Take You Anywhere”.  Hopefully he’ll post photos of his new Sabre 48 when he gets it later this month!

Are you a Sabre owner with a BLOG? Send us the link – we’d love to follow you!

 

Happy Father’s Day to my Sabre boat parent!

tucker_boat.parentA long standing tradition at Sabre is the “boat parent”. This significant role comes from the pride we take in each and every one of our boats. 

Last week Tucker Thompson, a thirteen year veteran in our Customer Service Department, received a lovely “Father’s Day” card from a new Sabre owner thanking him for being such a great boat parent!

They wrote, “Island Runner has been a delight to operate – thanks for watching over her”.

What exactly is a boat parent? When a boat is sold, that boat is assigned a boat parent; their main role is to check in on the boat periodically throughout the build process to make sure everything is going well.

boatparentIn addition to the Sabre Quality Control Inspection, the Boat Parent is another set of eyes. As the boat parent completes a final inspection; the goal is to see the boat “through the eyes of the new owner” to ensure their satisfaction.

Clearly, Tucker was tickled pink to receive such a thoughtful card. What a sweet gesture!

 

The advent of POD Drives

Sabre 48 - from aboveThe advent of pod drives for recreational motor yachts has taken place over a relatively short period in time. Sabre offers six models in the current motor yacht range and all models are available with pod drives; in fact only two of the six, the Sabre 54 Salon Express and Fly Bridge, can be offered with straight shafts. Our transition from shaft driven to pod driven models is almost complete. For those who are still not convinced here’s an explanation of the benefits.

Commercial vessels such as tugs and cruise ships have been using pods for some time. For the tug boat operator, the ability to direct thrust in any direction as required, is a huge benefit. Pods are far more efficient than conventional drives when operating in close quarters. For the cruise ship operator there are several benefits including not requiring tugs to get on and off a dock. A cruise ship can also hover on a specific location while guests disembark to go ashore for lunch or to enjoy a sandy beach. No anchor required.
 
And so just as grand prix race car technology finds it’s way down to the cars we drive and super yacht technologies come to every man’s motor yacht , so too have pods come from commercial to recreational use. I am often asked which benefit I find most appealing from the consumers perspective and I would rank the benefits as follows. 
 
  1. The joystick provides amazing close quarters handling and docking in marinas where current and wind make boat handing a worrisome event in an otherwise calm and peaceful day. 
  2. Vibration and sound levels are dramatically reduced because exhaust gasses are expelled through the foot of the pod. Typical sound levels are about 10Db lower than a comparable shaft driven model.  
  3. Because the propellers are pushing in the same axis that the boat is moving, they are much more efficient and so fuel costs are considerably lower. This efficiency gain can vary from model to model and in most cases we have no direct comparison because our boats only come with pods. It is fair to say that we have seen gains from 10 to 30% depending on the model. With fuel prices where they are today that’s a nice savings. S38.helm
  4. Last but not least, the station hold feature is huge. Volvo’s name for this feature is DPS or Digital Positioning System and Cummins~Zeus calls theirs Skyhook. Both systems hold the compass heading and the latitude and longitude of the vessel within a few feet, regardless of wind and current. They also include a built in autopilot. Imagine waiting for a fuel dock or a bridge or even picking up a mooring ball. So simple with a station hold feature.

Sabre installs the Volvo IPS in the Sabre 38 and Sabre 54 foot models and Cummins~Zeus in the Sabre 42 and Sabre 48. In the next few years other engine builders will come to market with their own pods. Caterpillar and Yanmar have both installed test systems. Pods are here to stay as are the benefits to the consumer. 

Should you want to know more about these systems, contact Sabre Yachts; we’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Beautiful Varnish

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Hazel putting a coat of varnish on a drawer cover

Our interior varnish process protects all of this beautiful woodwork for the life of the boat. Maintenance consists of a simple annual wipe down with warm water and a touch of soap. Wood on a boat is beautiful and such an essential aspect of our designs.

Here at Sabre we have a varnish department adjacent to the woodworking department. Presently we have five women working all aspects of interior varnish; Hazel, Lori, Cathy, Wendy and Doreen.

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Putting the finishing touches on a Sabre 42 Dinette

Some people ask why women? Generally speaking women are very good at varnishing because they take their time and pay attention to details! Over the years we have had both men and women in this role.

Interiors onboard Sabre 42 Salon Express in Oxford, MD.

The finished Dinette! This Sabre 42 Salon Express is ready for it’s new owners!

Supervisor, Jason Douglass says, “The varnish department is such an essential aspect of our build process. From our poured epoxy tables to the final coat of varnish, our team gives each boat that wow factor.”

Hazel is a five year Sabre Associate and has been in the varnish department throughout her time at the company. Above she is putting a coat of sealer on the drawer face. We apply two coats of sealer and two coats of varnish to all interior wood in our motor yachts. After the parts have dried, they are ready to be installed in the hull they are built for. Each part is built for a specific boat!

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Doreen is all smiles!

Lori is also a Sabre varnish aficionado! Lori has been at Sabre for just over a year. When the boat is in completion, the boat gets a thorough inspection. Lori and other associates spend a lot of time cleaning the interior and making everything 100% perfect. 

Doreen, shown to the right, has been with the company for almost ten years. Doreen is spending time sanding the interior as it gets installed in the hull of this Sabre 42 Salon Express.

At our Sabre 48 shop, Cathy Thompson, A 30 year Sabre veteran, and Wendy handle all interior finish for that shop

Sabre couldn’t do it without these fantastic associates! To learn more about Sabre Motor Yachts, visit the Sabre website.

Don’t forget to sign up for the weekly BLOG posts!

 

OPTIMISM, “A Sabre 48 Salon Express WILL take me anywhere”

Bob P. is about to have a brand new Sabre 48 delivered to his front door. He is a two time Back Cove owner and decided to switch into Back Cove’s sister company, Sabre Yachts for desire of a larger boat. The goal is to travel to the Turks and Caicos’ with his wife this winter. Ahh, I’m green with envy!

Bob looked at three dozen different boat manufacturers. “I reviewed many boats out there. I kept coming back to Sabre because of the traditional, classic Downeast look where function meets form.”

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The cockpit of a Sabre 48 Salon Express

Bob had complete faith in the Sabre manufacturing and build process. “I did months and months of research and Sabre kept coming back on top.”

“I wanted the best of the best. I didn’t want a boat that just looks pretty at the dock – I call them wine and cheese boats.”

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There are 4 other Sabre 48’s being built in Raymond

Another major factor for Bob is that Sabre’s are made in the USA. “I didn’t want to work with an overseas factory on a build.” He said. “And more importantly, I already bought two boats from the Sabre/ Back Cove family. They are outstanding and their customer support is better than I’ve ever seen in my thirty-five years in the boating industry.”

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A unique color! Bob calls it Wasabi green

When Bob decided to buy a Sabre, he went to his local dealer, Petzold’s Marine Center. “Petzold’s is first class. As an insurance agent, I interacted with hundreds and hundreds of dealers over the years and find Petzold’s truly outstanding.” Bob says, “They get it”.

When I told them I was considering a Sabre 48, we went on a sea trial. “The boat was fantastic but because of my Parkinson’s, I needed to further enhance specific safety features. And Sabre didn’t skip a beat.” Bob says, “Sabre gives you the latitude to personalize the boat since it’s a semi-custom build and that meant a lot to me.”

Bob spoke to Sabre’s National Sales Manager, Lynn Beaudoin, who listened to all the special features he needed to ensure he moved around the boat with ease and security. “They will work with the customer and provide proactive input and advice to give us the build of our dreams. They will do anything possible as long as it fits in the safety margins.”

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Only two months left before this beautiful yacht gets splashed!

Bob was especially impressed with how many different people within the company were involved in all stages of the process. “The design team and engineering team took their practical knowledge and gave me proactive suggestions. It’s hard for me to admit it, but their ideas were better than mine!”

After Bob gets his boat, he knows he’s going to get excellent customer service; Bob’s seen the service first hand with Sabre’s sister company, Back Cove Yachts. “After sales service is outstanding; they truly stand behind their product.”

As some might know, Bob Preston’s mission is to spread awareness of Parkinson’s disease. He’s dubbed his story, “Optimism can take you anywhere!”. We are confident it will….aboard a Sabre 48.

Bob Preston’s cruise starts June 28 on their Back Cove 37. They receive their new boat at the end of July!

To follow their adventures, check out their new blog: Optimismtour.blogspot.com