Sabre Yachts has been crafting sail and motor yachts for over 30 years and has built over 2,300 hulls to date. Sabre currently builds four sailboat models from 36 to 45 feet in length under the Sabre name; and six powerboat models from 34 to 47 feet in length using the Sabreline name. Sabre sail and motor yachts are sold worldwide, through a network of competent, professional dealers who are chosen for their reputation, location, and visibility within a local market and for the quality of their sales and after sales service.

Sabre's two manufacturing facilities are located in Raymond, Maine, approximately 25 miles north of Portland, and a little over two hours from Boston. In the 83,750 square foot facility in Raymond, 150 Associates build all sail and powerboat models.

In 1994, Sabre acquired North End Marine of Rockland, Maine, a major builder of marine molds and production fiberglass parts. The company’s name was changed to North End Composites in 1996 and it has since diversified into industrial, commercial and architectural composite construction while maintaining an active presence in the marine mold making and part production business, for Sabre as well as for other boat builders.

The Sabre story began in 1970, when the company's founder, Roger Hewson, set out to build the finest possible 28-foot sailing yacht using production line methods and fiberglass technology. In a small, 4,000 square foot building, with a handful of employees and a vast amount of market research which he had done on the marine industry, he designed and built the first Sabre 28, and introduced it to the market at the 1971 Newport Boat Show in Newport, RI. The boat was a success, and over the next fifteen years, 588 Sabre 28's were built.

The 28 was followed by the Sabre 34 in 1976, the Sabre 30 in 1979, the Sabre 38 in 1981 and the Sabre 32 and 36 in 1984. The Sabre 42, which later evolved into the Sabre 425, was introduced in 1986. The current sailboat range consists of three Jim Taylor/Sabre Design Team collaborations, the Sabre 362, Sabre 402 and Sabre 452. A new Sabre 426 is due for introduction in September of 2003. Each of the current models has won the prestigious Boat of the Year Award from Cruising World Magazine in it’s year of introduction. A complete list of Sabre models and their dates of introduction can be found at the end of this document.

In 1989 Sabre sought to broaden its market and created the first Sabreline 36 "Fast Trawler", a tri-cabin motoryacht with the spaciousness and comfort of the trawler design but with substantially better performance than traditional trawler hulls. The 36 aft cabin design was followed with a 34 fly bridge sedan in 1990, and the Sabreline 43 and 47 aft cabin motoryachts in 1994. The 36 foot Express Cruiser was introduced in the fall of 1996 and a 42 Fly Bridge Sedan was introduced in the summer of 2000. The fall of 2001 saw the introduction of a 36 foot Sedan configured on the proven hull of the 36 Express MK II.

Through the years Sabre has listened carefully to its owners and dealers, and has constantly refined each product with a Model Year Improvement Program. Client surveys, participation in owner's associations, and annual owner's reunions have allowed Sabre to remain abreast of the market and in touch with existing and prospective customer's needs.

A COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE

The Sabre work force are men and women who take tremendous pride in their work and are sensitive to the marine tradition of the State - hence the company’s motto, "Crafted in the Maine Tradition". Most of our Associates are capable of working in all the different phases of building boats, and have a full understanding of the influence that their job has on the quality of the final product. Nearly one third of Sabre's Associates have been with the Company for over a decade, and many have celebrated their second decade with the company.

Quarterly meetings and regular team luncheons are used to update Associates on market conditions and the Company's competitive position. Safety concerns, along with production and quality issues, are discussed at these meetings, as is the Sabre Gain Share Program which allows Associates to be rewarded for meeting production and quality objectives. Warranty claims are used as an offset to the Gain Share pool. Significant tenure anniversaries are also celebrated at these meetings.

Sabre stresses excellence at all stages of the boat building operation. Low employment turnover, an emphasis on safe procedures and cross training, and a thorough awareness of each models competitive position in the marketplace, have enabled Sabre to meet high standards of excellence in manufacturing and design, and to adapt to changing business conditions.

Our search for excellence does not end at our doors. Our suppliers are also chosen for their reputation and the excellence of the products they manufacture. Industry leaders such as Yanmar, Hall Spar, Sea Frost, Sub Zero, Lewmar, Westerbeke, Edson, Harken and Bennett, to name just a few, are chosen for their high quality and product recognition.

The production of every Sabre yacht is monitored by an extensive and thorough Quality Assurance program. Each boat has a "Boat Parent" who is an office staff Associate and who follows the boat through the production process, acting as the "eyes" of the consumer. All purchased parts and sub-assemblies are checked as they enter production and each boat is given a 600-point inspection during six separate stages of the building process. As the yacht nears completion, a 12 page report is prepared by Sabre's Head Inspector, along with a full technical inspection of all mechanical and electrical systems. And as a final check, a Gold Inspection is performed by a the Boat Parent. This inspection is unstructured and is meant to judge the overall quality, feel and appearance of the boat.

Once the yacht arrives at the dealership, a detailed Commissioning check list is completed by the dealer, and a detailed report sent back to Sabre Yachts. This schedule ensures us that all systems were functioning to Sabre's satisfaction and standard when the yacht was delivered into service.

As clients and dealers report issues back to Sabre's After Sales Service staff, no matter how large or small, a Customer Quality Report (CQR) is developed and circulated to all members of Management and Engineering, as well as to all Production Associates effected by the report.

THE SABRE DESIGN CONCEPT - SAILING YACHTS

Sabre sailing yachts are designed to be performance cruising yachts, blending the comfort of cruising, the capacity for bluewater passagemaking, but also capable of competitive racing and winning club regattas.

Sabre's first design, the Sabre 28, was developed from an extensive tank testing program at Stevens Institute. Today, Computer Aided Design techniques and performance prediction programs have allowed Sabre to take the latest Jim Taylor hull designs directly from the drawing board to the tooling stage. Sabre's design developments have been evolutionary as opposed to revolutionary, and have always remained true to the design philosophy of performance and traditional styling balanced with safety and comfort. Jim Taylor's work is primarily in hull design, underwater appendage and basic rig plans, and is complemented by the Sabre Design Team, headed by George Menezes, in developing the full details of the deck and interior accommodation layout.

Sabre sailing yachts are designed for a high load carrying capacity, and stability is achieved both by hull form and by high ballast-to-displacement ratios. Efficient keel shapes allow optimum lift and provide excellent performance and close upwind pointing angles.

Sail plans are developed to offer the best possible balance of light air performance and heavy weather stability. Sail areas are selected to allow a full mainsail and 150% genoa to be comfortably carried up to 14 knots of wind. This "rule of thumb" will vary depending on the sail cut and rig tension of individual boats.

Sabre's designs are not wet race boats nor are they heavy displacement "tanks". They are comfortable, fast and highly refined yachts, which evoke a pride of ownership and are a true pleasure to sail.

THE SABRELINE MOTORYACHT DESIGN CONCEPT

The Sabreline range is a development of the style and comfort of the traditional "Downeast style" yacht blended with the performance of a contemporary motoryacht. Typical cruising speeds, with average weight conditions and sea state, are in the 20 knot range and top speeds, with average load conditions are around 30 knots. Higher speeds are available on some specific models.

At low engine speeds, the Sabreline range is very fuel efficient and at speeds of 8-10 knots, where typical trawler yachts operate, low speed gunkholing is a pleasure. But when conditions or time allow for higher speed, the performance of the Sabreline deep-vee hulls truly comes into it's own.

In rough sea conditions, the spray rails and chines of the Sabreline hull keep the deck and windshield dry.

The range encompasses two aft cabin motoryachts, the 43 and 47. The largest design, the Sabreline 47, is an aft cockpit motoryacht and the smallest. The 36 Express Cruiser, a departure from the fundamental concepts of the range, has the same stability and handling characteristics of her Sabreline cousins but, with a considerably lower displacement weight and lower center of gravity, the 36 Express will run at speeds up to 35 knots. The latest additions to the line are the 36 and 42 Sedans which are available with or without fly bridges and an optional extended hard top which covers the cockpit area is also available.

This diversity of product styles makes the Sabreline range one of the most flexible and versatile ranges in the boating industry today.

Sabre Sailing Yachts and Their Years of Production

Sabre 28 I Hull #1 - 199 Built 1970-75

Sabre 28 II Hull #212-#539 Built 1976-82

Sabre 28 III Hull #540 - #588 Built 1983-86

Sabre 30 I Hull #1 - #100 Built 1979-82.

Sabre 30 II Hull #101 - #136 Built 1983-85

Sabre 30 III Hull #137 - #244 Built 1986-93

Sabre 32 Hull #1- #87 Built 1983-87

Sabre 34 I Hull #1 - #255 Built 1976-85

Sabre 34 II Hull #256 - #430 Built 1986-91

Sabre 36 Hull #1 - #106 Built from 1985-90

Sabre 362 Hull #107 - present. Introduced 1993

Sabre 38 I Hull #1 - #100 and #104 Built 1981-87

Sabre 38 II Hull #101 - #215 Built 1988 - 1995

Sabre 402 Hull #001 - present. Introduced 1996

Sabre 42 Hull #1 - #62. Built 1987-89

Sabre 425 Hull #63 - #91 Built 1990-1995

Sabre 426 Introduction September 2002

Sabre 452 Hull #001 - present. Introduced 1998


Sabreline Motoryachts and Their Years of Production


Sabreline 34 Hull #1 - present. Introduced 1991

Sabreline 36 Hull #1 - present (no Hull #13) Introduced 1989

Sabreline 36 Express Hull #051 – Hull #106. Introduced 1995

Sabreline 36 Express MKII Hull #107 - present. Introduced 1999

Sabreline 36 Sedan October 2001 to present

Sabreline 42 August 2000 to present

Sabreline 43 Hull #1 - present. Introduced 1995

Sabreline 47 Hull #001 - present. Introduced 1997 Model Year