The Sabre 38 is an American sailboat that was designed by Roger Hewson and the Sabre Design Team as a racer-cruiser and first built in 1981.[1][2][3]

Sabre 38
Development
DesignerRoger Hewson and the Sabre Design Team
LocationUnited States
Year1981
No. built100 (Mark I), 114 (Mark II)
Builder(s)Sabre Yachts
RoleRacer-Cruiser
NameSabre 38
Boat
Displacement15,200 lb (6,895 kg)
Draft6.50 ft (1.98 m)
Hull
TypeMonohull
ConstructionFiberglass
LOA37.83 ft (11.53 m)
LWL31.17 ft (9.50 m)
Beam11.50 ft (3.51 m)
Engine typeWesterbeke 33 hp (25 kW) diesel engine
Hull appendages
Keel/board typefin keel
Ballast6,400 lb (2,903 kg)
Rudder(s)skeg-mounted rudder
Rig
Rig typeBermuda rig
I foretriangle height49.50 ft (15.09 m)
J foretriangle base15.80 ft (4.82 m)
P mainsail luff43.40 ft (13.23 m)
E mainsail foot13.80 ft (4.21 m)
Sails
SailplanMasthead sloop
Mainsail area299.46 sq ft (27.821 m2)
Jib/genoa area391.05 sq ft (36.330 m2)
Total sail area690.51 sq ft (64.150 m2)
Racing
PHRF111

Production edit

The design was built by Sabre Yachts in the United States, but it is now out of production. A total of 100 of the original design were completed between 1981 and 1987, while 114 of the Mark II version were built from 1988 to 1995.[1][4][3][5]

Design edit

The Sabre 38 is a recreational keelboat, built predominantly of fiberglass, with wood trim. It has a masthead sloop rig, a raked stem, a reverse transom and a skeg-mounted rudder controlled by a wheel.[1][3]

The boat is fitted with a Westerbeke diesel engine of 33 hp (25 kW) for docking and maneuvering. The fuel tank holds 45 U.S. gallons (170 L; 37 imp gal) and the fresh water tank has a capacity of 106 U.S. gallons (400 L; 88 imp gal).[1]

The Mark I has sleeping accommodation for six people, with a forward "V"-berth in the bow cabin, a double port side settee berth in the main cabin, along with a single settee berth on the starboard side and double and single aft quarter berths. There is a provided navigation station on the starboard side. The galley is at the foot of the companionway steps on the port side and includes a three-burner alcohol-fired stove and oven, an ice box or refrigerator under the cockpit and a pressurized water supply. The head is located just aft of the bow cabin, on the port side and includes a shower.[3]

Ventilation is provided by hatches over the main cabin and the bow cabin, plus eight opening ports.[3]

The cockpit is T-shaped and has self-tailing winches for the genoa. There are winches for the halyards and for reefing. The mainsail has a mainsheet traveler on the cabin top. The boat may be optionally equipped with a boom vang and a spinnaker, including associated hardware and winches.[3]

Variants edit

Sabre 38
This model was designed by Roger Hewson and the Sabre Design Team and introduced in 1981, with 100 built before production ended in 1987. It has a length overall of 37.83 ft (11.5 m) and a waterline length of 31.17 ft (9.5 m). The fin keel version displaces 15,200 lb (6,895 kg), carries 6,400 lb (2,903 kg) of ballast and has a draft of 6.50 ft (1.98 m). The centerboard-equipped version displaces 15,600 lb (7,076 kg), carries 6,800 lb (3,084 kg) of ballast. It has a draft of 6.75 ft (2.06 m) with the centreboard extended and 4.25 ft (1.30 m) with it retracted. The boat has a manufacturer-determined PHRF racing average handicap of 111.[1][3]
Sabre 38 Mark II
This model was designed by Roger Hewson and introduced in 1988, with 114 completed before production ended in 1995. It has a length overall of 38.67 ft (11.8 m), a waterline length of 31.42 ft (9.6 m), displaces 16,900 lb (7,666 kg) and carries 6,600 lb (2,994 kg) of ballast. The boat has a draft of 6.50 ft (1.98 m) with the standard keel fitted. A shoal draft wing keel and a stub keel with a centerboard were factory options.[1]

Operational history edit

In a 1994 review Richard Sherwood wrote of the Mark I, "the hull and rig are designed for speed, while the cabin arrangement is comfortable for cruising. Fuel and water are adequate for offshore sailing. The keel model is standard, the keel/centerboard is optional."[3]

See also edit

Related development

Similar sailboats

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f McArthur, Bruce (2020). "Sabre 38 sailboat". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 25 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  2. ^ McArthur, Bruce (2020). "Roger Hewson". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 18 October 2018. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Sherwood, Richard M.: A Field Guide to Sailboats of North America, Second Edition, pages 316-317. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1994. ISBN 0-395-65239-1
  4. ^ McArthur, Bruce (2020). "Sabre 38 Mk II sailboat". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 25 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  5. ^ McArthur, Bruce (2020). "Sabre Yachts". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 18 October 2018. Retrieved 7 March 2020.