Sabre 38 Buyer's Guide
The Sabre 38 is a Roger Hewson-designed monohull built across two generations — the MK I from 1981 to 1987 and the MK II from 1988 to 1995 — with about 215 completed before the model was replaced by the Sabre 386. Shoppers on the used market will find a boat whose teak-finished saloon, balsa-cored deck structure, and semi-balanced aft rudder have aged into a credible cruiser-racer, but the two generations differ enough in layout that the buyer's intended use should dictate which to pursue.
Layouts on the Used Market
Owner three-cabin layouts are the more common on the used market, but both are available, and ex-charter examples are common. The MK I shows a bulkhead table and large but open quarterberth with the nav station to port and a double quarterberth/aft cabin behind, while some MK IIs carry a C-shaped settee and quarter cabin aft. The MK II's defining change is the private cabin aft of the galley with a double berth and small hanging locker, a large head aft to starboard with wet locker, and a starboard-facing nav station. Both generations share a spacious port galley with double forward-facing sinks, full-sized cooker and decent fridge ice box, opposing settees with drop-down table in the saloon, and a good-sized forward cabin; the MK II adds a dressing seat with vanity and sink. The classic alternative aft cabin layout encloses the quarter berth area with a port-side berth aft of the galley.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Chartplotters, autopilots, biminis and dodgers are commonly fitted to boats on the market. Radar and electric winches are often seen. Less commonly, as owner upgrades, one finds hot water, solar, spinnaker, inverter, furling main, bow thruster, freezer, dinghy davits and AIS. The MK II brings a large starboard locker and propane locker under the helm seat from the factory, while original equipment included a very sturdy stemhead fitting doubling as anchor roller, deep anchor locker, double lifelines between stainless steel pulpits, four opening hatches and four Dorade vents (with option for two more), and a tall rig with Lewmar 48 self-tailing winches and hydraulic backstay.
What to Inspect
Owners caution buyers to look for rot in the sole near the mast step due to rainwater following the mast slot to the bottom. Beyond that, verify the balsa-cored deck and hull integrity where hardware was attached, since composite or plywood inserts were used in cut-out areas to distribute compression loads. Check the through-bolted and chemically bonded hull-deck joint under its teak caprail, and inspect the external lead ballast secured with stainless steel keel bolts and the accessible keel bolts in centerboard versions. The standard 33-horsepower Westerbeke diesel and offset prop shaft should be reviewed for the maintenance advantages the design intended.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The typical market for the Sabre 38 is the United States. A short checklist for the shopper: confirm generation and layout against intended use; inspect sole and mast step for rot; verify deck-core and hull-deck joint condition; confirm keel-bolt and ballast security; and review rig and winch originality against commonly fitted electronics. The MK II's private aft cabin suits cruising couples, while the MK I's open quarterberth favors the purist.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Sabre 38. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 12 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 25 | 2 | $ 35,000 | — |
| Feb 25 | 1 | $ 59,000 | +68.6% |
| May 25 | 2 | $ 38,000 | -35.6% |
| Jun 25 | 2 | $ 45,000 | +18.4% |
| Aug 25 | 9 | $ 49,900 | +10.9% |
| Sep 25 | 8 | $ 52,450 | +5.1% |
| Jan 26 | 3 | $ 49,900 | -4.9% |
| Feb 26 | 2 | $ 87,500 | +75.4% |
| Apr 26 | 13 | $ 45,900 | -47.5% |
| May 26 | 6 | $ 64,000 | +39.4% |
| Jun 26 | 4 | $ 59,900 | -6.4% |
| Jul 26 | 1 | $ 49,999 | -16.5% |
Where they're listed
Sabre 38 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 44.
Country view
44 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $ 49,900 | 44 | 14 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
5 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sabre 38You are here | — | $ 49,900 | 46 | 16 |
| Beneteau First 38 | 40.2' | $ 34,214 | 32 | 7 |
| Sabre 38 Mk II | 38.67' | $ 60,000 | 17 | 5 |
| Ohlson 38 | 37.06' | $ 52,607 | 12 | 7 |
| Hinckley 38 | 37.5' | $ 67,500 | 8 | 5 |