Sabre 38 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

Hewson placed the sloop rig a bit farther forward than other boats of the era, a concept that put the boat ahead of its time, and the low-slung cabintrunk sweeps gently in a manner reminiscent of other Maine-built boats including Hinckley and Morris. Some early 38 hulls were solid fiberglass while most later models, especially the MK IIs, had balsa-cored hulls, and the hand-laid hull combines polyester resin with alternate plies of 24-ounce woven roving, unidirectional, and 1.5-ounce mat with end-grain balsa wood QUOTE CUT. Both versions have end-grain balsa-cored decks with either solid laminate or plywood backing in high-load areas; decks were balsa cored with cut-outs where hardware was attached, and in those areas composite or plywood inserts better withstand and distribute compression loads QUOTE CUT. The hull and deck are joined on a flange and both through-bolted and chemically bonded, with a teak caprail covering the joint. Bulkheads and facings are securely tapped to the hull, and the stick-built interior features bulkheads tabbed to the hull, generally regarded as superior to molded fiberglass pans, to form bunk platforms and other interior features QUOTE CUT. Stout floors support the hull and lay the foundation for the keel, while external lead ballast is secured with stainless steel bolts and supported by a reinforced glass fillet. Most rudders were constructed as two half shells, glassed together, and filled with expanding urethane foam.

Rig and Handling

The tall, high-aspect-ratio rig is supported by double spreaders and double shrouds as well as double inner lower shrouds, all mounted inboard, with a hydraulic backstay keeping it tight. The headsail is a 135 percent genoa on a roller furler, and headsail tracks are well inboard allowing for tight sheeting angles; sheets lead to big, Lewmar 48 two-speed, self-tailing winches mounted on the cockpit coamings. Halyards lead to winches on the mast, but other running rigging is led to the cockpit with stop clutches, and the mainsheet is mounted mid-boom with a traveler forward of the dodger. The rudder is semi-balanced and placed well aft for excellent steering control. Test sailors found her tracking very well when on the wind at 12-15 knots apparent, though she needed more attention off the wind, and in tacks to windward she came about very quickly and could easily point to 35 degrees apparent. Most boats rate 132 seconds per mile in PHRF, the same as a Catalina 38 centerboard and a shoal-draft Beneteau 38. The standard deep-draft fin keel or optional keel-centerboard arrangement, with the centerboard cable in the bilge down with accessible keel bolts, broadens her utility; the MK II is just over 1,000 pounds heavier than the MK I.

Accommodations

Both models feature a spacious galley to port with double forward-facing sinks, a full-sized cooker and decent sized fridge ice box, and a substantial bridgedeck separates cabin from cockpit. The MK I has a bulkhead table and large but open quarterberth, with the nav station to port and a double quarterberth/aft cabin behind it; some MK IIs substitute a nice C-shaped settee and a quarter cabin aft. One of the big improvements of the MK II was the addition of a private cabin aft of the galley, including a double berth and small hanging locker, while the MK II arrangement places a large head aft to starboard with a wet locker and a nav station to starboard facing aft. The saloon is beautifully finished in teak with opposing settees and a drop-down table, and a large bulkhead-mounted table covers a wine or food storage rack. Both models have a good-sized forward cabin, and the MK II adds a small dressing seat to port with a vanity and sink and hanging locker opposite. The cabin overhead is vinyl fabric joined with varnished teak battens, and two doors to the head preserve privacy. The T-shaped cockpit, wide side decks easy to navigate, teak handrails on the cabintrunk, four opening hatches and four Dorade vents, and four opening ports with two fixed windows per side round out the package.

Known Issues

Owners caution buyers to look for rot in the sole near the mast step due to rainwater following the mast slot to the bottom QUOTE CUT. The mainsheet traveler forward of the companionway and mid-boom mount keep the bridgedeck clear but make for somewhat inconvenient mainsail adjustments QUOTE CUT. The offset prop shaft is noted as an interesting below-waterline feature with maintenance advantages, and the standard three-cylinder 33-horsepower Westerbeke diesel with a single 45-gallon aluminum tank provides about 200 miles range under power.

Refits and Ownership

The MK II model adds a large locker to starboard and propane locker under the helm seat, and externally there is a sturdy stemhead fitting that also serves as an anchor roller, a deep anchor locker, and double lifelines between stainless steel pulpits. A long, classic cabin trunk and optional extra Dorade vents suggest straightforward modernization paths. With 100 MK Is and 114 MK IIs built, the series represents a good run of a Roger Hewson design that remained in production until 1995.

The Verdict

The Sabre 38 is a thoughtfully engineered Hewson design that rewards the sailor with quick windward work, a seakindly hull-deck structure, and a teak-lined interior that ages with grace. The MK II's private aft cabin and revised navigation layout address the MK I's open quarterberth compromise without sacrificing the boat's dual-purpose character.

Pros