The all-new Sabre 45 Salon Express just won The People’s Choice Award at the Newport International Boat Show, meaning that more people who paid to go to the show liked this classic Down East two-stateroom, two-head, user-friendly cruiser than any other boat there. And it’s easy to see why.
From start to finish, this new built-in-Maine beauty is made for the way people cruise today. At 45 feet, with IPS joystick controls, it’s easy for a relatively new cruising couple, or a pair of old salts, to handle. They can live on it for a long time, cruising by themselves, if they want; they also can cruise with a pair of guests in a separate stateroom (friends, children, grandchildren, whatever), or they can go out for the day with a lot of friends who just want to relax in the bright, light-filled salon and sociable cockpit.
Even the mid-level galley, two steps down from the helm, is still part of the social scene, and it too is bright, with light streaming in from the windshield and salon windows above and a portlight over the sink.
Two more steps down, in the accommodation deck, the master stateroom forward has a large centerline island bed with several lockers and drawers. The iconic Herreshoff-styled cherry interior will delight the most ardent nautical purist. The master head has a separate stall shower and ceramic tile sole. The guest cabin, on the starboard side, has twin beds on tracks. You can slide them together to form a single island bed if you want. It shares the day head, with shower. Just aft of the guest stateroom is a small storage room with room for a gyro, a washer/dryer or perhaps a wine cellar.
For the captain, driving is easy, with excellent visibility all around. He and his mate can relax in matching Stidd helm seats. A side door opens to the starboard deck, a big advantage when docking or going through a lock. The salon has a bench settee on the port side and an L-shaped settee to starboard, with a high-gloss varnished hi-low table.
In the cockpit, a U-shaped lounge is aft against the transom, with a two-person bench set against the aft bulkhead on the starboard side. The forward part of the cockpit is protected by an overhang from the cabin roof; an optional SureShade offers more protection. A polished stainless-steel-and-glass door leads in to the salon.
Above all, the Sabre 45 is a sea boat, true to its heritage. With twin 435-hp Volvos, it tops out at 32 knots. At a 15-knot loafing cruise, it burns only 18 gph, and is unusually quiet, registering just 73 dB(A) at the helm, making for a comfortable cruise for all on board.
Specs.: LOA: 49’0: Beam: 14’8”; Draft: 3’9”; Disp.: 37,000 lbs.; Fuel: 450 gals.; Water: 150 gals.; Power: 2×435-hp Volvo D6 engines with IPS pod drives. For more: http://sabreyachts.com
