Saare 41 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

The hull is solid fiberglass, which keeps in-season maintenance to a minimum, and Saare builds the 41ac in very different versions depending on customer wishes, from two or three cabins to one or two heads or wet rooms. The builder cites very high-quality construction and a stable rub rail, while the interior is finished in fine Khaya mahogany or light European oak with many solid wood parts and glued curves shaping an elegant ambience. The high ballast content of the low-mounted lead keel underpins a hull that sails very safely and with stable course, and the capsize screening value of 1.85 means that by that formula alone the boat could be accepted for ocean races. At a length-to-beam ratio of 3.19 the designer chose a slightly roomier hull than many peers, and the boat is a beamy, voluminous cruiser below compared with a majority of similar designs.

Rig and Handling

The fractional sloop carries a well-trimmable rig and what the builder calls the best fittings, with a clever deck layout and a good cockpit that make harbor maneuvering easy. The 41ac impresses in all wind conditions and is surprisingly fast under sail, very fast even in 3 to 6 knots of breeze, and the maker notes it is fun for club and long-distance regattas. A 2012 delivery from Estonia to Eckernförde in near-constant gales to 43 knots proved the boat always safe, uncomplicated, and easy to handle, and in the eel regatta from Kiel to Eckernförde against 137 boats it finished sixth over the line and won on yardstick correction. The ability to sail under autopilot in all conditions was convincing across the board, a trait that reinforces the builder's claim the boat suits single-handed sailors.

Accommodations

Buyers can choose two or three cabins with one or two heads, lots of storage, and a separable shower. The owner's comfort version is the most popular layout and offers an enormous amount of space below with maximum comfort and plenty of storage for two to four people. In that layout the foredeck owner's cabin sits between the sail storage area and the main bulkhead, with a bunk around 2.05 m long, 116 cm wide at the foot, and well over 2 m wide at the head, plus two large cupboards per side with shelves and drawers. A large waterproof sail storage space in the foredeck and a walk-in locker extend the boat's already generous stowage, and the large sail storage space aft complements the cruising inventory.

Refits and Ownership

Because Saare builds each 41ac to differing customer specifications, used and new examples vary widely in fitted equipment and cabin count, and owners selecting a boat should confirm which of the two or three cabin and one or two head arrangements is present. The solid fiberglass hull avoids the survey concerns of cored construction, and the minimum maintenance requirement during the sailing season is a practical advantage for a boat pitched as a perfect cruising yacht whether alone, as a couple, or with family.

The Verdict

The Saare 41ac is a thoughtfully engineered 41-foot cruiser that does not sacrifice pace for comfort. Its heavy low lead keel and stable course give confidence in storm conditions, while the roomy hull and owner's comfort layout make extended living aboard pleasant. The boat's regatta results and light-air speed separate it from the average comfortable cruiser, and the autopilot-in-all-conditions claim underlines its short-handed credentials.

Pros