Sabre 30 MK1

The following sentiments come from a Spinsheet review of the Sabre 30 and are accurate.Sad to say, but they just don’t build them like this anymore. At least, production sailboat builders don’t build 30-footers like this anymore. It’s not that they aren’t capable or that talented craftsmen aren’t available; it’s simply a business decision. It costs only a small amount more to design, tool, and build a 36-footer than a 30-footer, yet the larger boat sells for significantly more and earns the builder better profits. At the risk of offending with an overused cliché—it’s a no-brainer.Sabre 30 hulls are all hand-laminated, in the traditional method of quality fiberglass production, utilizing alternating layers of chopped strand mat and woven fiberglass cloth set in polyester resin. The deck and cabin structure use balsa wood core for stiffness and weight reduction. The two are joined on an inward hull flange with mechanical fasteners and sealant. Very little use was made of fiberglass liners for internal components resulting in quite good accessibility for inspection.The quality of construction and attention to finish detail are well above those of typical production boats aimed at first-time boat buyers.The Sabre 30 features a six foot and nine-inch-long cockpit which comfortably accommodates three or four adults in a mushroom arrangement around a pedestal-mounted wheel. Side decks are wide enough to allow for easy passage from the foredeck to the cockpit, and rigging shrouds are inboard to allow the genoa to be sheeted inside the lifelines. There is a small locker on the foredeck for storage of ground tackle. Acceptable cabin ventilation is provided by two deck hatches, one forward and one aft of the deck-stepped mast, and four opening ports in the cabin sides.Below, the Sabre 30’s accommodations follow the most basic arrangement plan. There is a V-berth forward followed by a port head and starboard hanging locker followed by the main saloon with opposing settees and a dining table, which drops down from the forward bulkhead. The galley is aft to starboard with a quarter berth and navigation station to starboard.For many used boat shoppers, there comes a time when, for about the same amount of money, they must decide between an older boat with some pedigree and prestige and a newer model of less noble heritage. For those who opt for pedigree, the Sabre 30 offers good value, style, and longevity.Show More