Sabre 38 Mk II Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used Sabre 38 Mk II means looking at the later run of Roger Hewson's 38-foot design, built from 1988 through 1995 with the model replaced by the Sabre 386. Around 215 Sabre 38s of both marks were completed, and the Mk II is the heavier, more accommodated version with a private aft cabin. These boats turn up in the United States market.
Layouts on the Used Market
The Mk II carries the forward-mast sloop rig and a substantial bridgedeck, with the cabintop reaching aft of the companionway for a protected entry. Below, the defining feature is the private cabin aft of the galley with a double berth and hanging locker; the head sits aft to starboard with a wet locker. The galley to port is spacious with double forward-facing sinks and a full cooker. Some Mk IIs show a C-shaped settee and quarter cabin aft instead of the Mk I's open quarterberth. A starboard aft-facing nav station is the trade-off in the Mk II arrangement.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Chartplotters and autopilots are commonly fitted, while radar and dinghy davits often appear. A frequent owner upgrade includes electric winches, with biminis, dodgers, and AIS seen less commonly. For a buyer, the common navigation pair means most boats are ready for coastal routing, but verify the autopilot drive matches the semi-balanced rudder. A large locker to starboard and propane locker under the helm seat are Mk II standards; a single anchor roller and external chain locker are typical.
What to Inspect
Most later Mk II hulls used balsa coring, and both marks have balsa deck cores with solid laminate or plywood backing where loads concentrate, so check chainplate and stanchion penetrations for softness. The hull-deck joint is flanged, through-bolted and chemically bonded under a teak caprail—look for weeping at the fasteners. Bulkheads are tapped to the hull and should be sound; the external lead ballast rides on stainless keel bolts with a reinforced glass fillet, so confirm bolt integrity. The standard 33-horsepower Westerbeke diesel and 45-gallon aluminum tank are straightforward, but assess tank age.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats are found in the United States. A short checklist for the Mk II shopper:
- Confirm Mk II private aft cabin and aft head with wet locker
- Test balsa deck and hull core for water intrusion at fittings
- Inspect keel bolts and hull-deck fasteners for corrosion
- Verify autopilot and chartplotter function with rudder
- Check Westerbeke diesel and 45-gallon tank condition
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Sabre 38 Mk II. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 8 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 25 | 1 | $65,500 | — |
| Jun 25 | 1 | $75,000 | +14.5% |
| Sep 25 | 4 | $67,500 | -10.0% |
| Dec 25 | 1 | $54,900 | -18.7% |
| Mar 26 | 2 | $45,000 | -18.0% |
| Apr 26 | 7 | $65,600 | +45.8% |
| May 26 | 2 | $51,450 | -21.6% |
| Jun 26 | 1 | $115,000 | +123.5% |
Where they're listed
Sabre 38 Mk II listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 17.
Country view
17 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $60,000 | 17 | 1 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
7 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catalina 34 Mk II | 34.5' | $ 62,900 | 75 | 24 |
| Sabre 38 | 37.83' | $ 49,999 | 45 | 14 |
| Sabre 386 | 38.58' | $ 179,900 | 38 | 6 |
| Caliber 38 | 38' | $ 81,546 | 18 | 4 |
| Sabre 38 Mk IIYou are here | — | $ 60,000 | 17 | 1 |
| Endeavour 38 | 38.25' | $ 41,875 | 8 | 6 |
| Morgan 38 | 37.67' | $ 69,000 | 5 | 1 |