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Sabre 38 Mkii
Designer: Roger Hewson  ·  Builder: Sabre Yachts (Usa)  ·  First built: 1988
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About the Sabre 38 Mkii

Built from 1988 to 1995 by Maine's respected Sabre Yachts, the 38 MkII represents a thoughtful evolution in mid-sized cruising sailboats. Designer Roger Hewson created a balanced platform that emphasizes comfort and seaworthiness over pure performance, making this masthead sloop particularly well-suited for coastal cruising and extended passages. With 114 hulls produced during its seven-year run, the MkII demonstrates the moderate displacement philosophy that defined quality American boatbuilding in the late 1980s. The fin keel with rudder on skeg configuration provides reliable tracking and confident handling, while the fiberglass construction ensures durability for long-term ownership. The boat's comfortable 27.4 comfort ratio and conservative 1.93 capsize screening value reflect its cruising-oriented design priorities. These numbers translate to a stable, forgiving boat that prioritizes crew comfort over racing performance. The generous beam of 12.33 feet creates spacious accommodations below, while the substantial ballast-to-displacement ratio of 39% provides reassuring stability in challenging conditions. This design appeals to sailors seeking a well-built vessel capable of handling both weekend coastal adventures and longer offshore passages, backed by Sabre's reputation for quality construction and attention to detail.

Market Price Estimate Beta
Small sample size. This estimate is based on fewer than 5 listings and may not be representative of the true market. Use with caution.
$75,000 – $75,000
typical asking price
Median $75,000  ·  1 listing used
All listings
$75,000 – $75,000 1
Rate a listing price
$
About this estimate
  • Prices are based on recent asking prices from public listings — not actual sale prices, which are typically lower.
  • Condition is not factored in. A well-maintained boat with new sails and engine can be worth significantly more than a project boat of the same model.
  • Location affects price. Boats in landlocked states or areas with fewer buyers often sell for less than those on the coast.
  • Year of manufacture is not filtered. Older examples of this model will generally be priced lower than newer ones.
  • Included equipment varies widely. A boat with a full suite of electronics, dodger, and new standing rigging may command a large premium.
  • Outliers are automatically excluded using statistical filtering to improve accuracy, but some bad data may remain.
Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 38.67 ft / 11.79 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 31.42 ft / 9.58 m
Beam 12.33 ft / 3.76 m
Max Draft 6.50 ft / 1.98 m
Displacement 16,900.00 lb / 7,666 kg
Ballast 6,600.00 lb / 2,994 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 691.00 ft² / 64.20 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Roger Hewson
Builder Sabre Yachts (USA)
First Built 1988
Last Built 1995
Number Built 114
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Known Issues & What to Watch For

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Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
16.85
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
39.05
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
243.23
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
27.4
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
1.93
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 7.51 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
2.22
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 1,384.25 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 16.84
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 49.75 ft / 15.16 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 14.60 ft / 4.45 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 43.50 ft / 13.26 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 15.06 ft / 4.59 m
SA Fore 363.18 ft² / 33.74 m²
SA Main 327.56 ft² / 30.43 m²
SA Total (100%) 690.74 ft² / 64.17 m²
Est. Forestay Length 51.85 ft / 15.80 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Westerbeke
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 33
Fuel Capacity 45 gals / 170 L
Water Capacity 106 gals / 401 L
How It Compares

vs. Catalina 387, Dehler 38, Sweden Yachts 38

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Sabre 38 Mkii ★
38.7 ft
Catalina 387
38.7 ft
Dehler 38
38.7 ft
Sweden Yachts 38
38.7 ft
LWL
Sabre 38 Mkii ★
31.4 ft
Catalina 387
33.3 ft
Dehler 38
31.5 ft
Sweden Yachts 38
31.2 ft
Beam
Sabre 38 Mkii ★
12.3 ft
Catalina 387
13.0 ft
Dehler 38
12.5 ft
Sweden Yachts 38
12.7 ft
Displacement
Sabre 38 Mkii ★
16 lbs
Catalina 387
16 lbs
Dehler 38
12 lbs
Sweden Yachts 38
16 lbs
Ballast
Sabre 38 Mkii ★
6 lbs
Catalina 387
6 lbs
Dehler 38
2 lbs
Sweden Yachts 38
Sail Area
Sabre 38 Mkii ★
691 sq ft
Catalina 387
710 sq ft
Dehler 38
627 sq ft
Sweden Yachts 38
741 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Sabre 38 Mkii ★
Catalina 387
135 s/nm
Dehler 38
93 s/nm
Sweden Yachts 38
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Sabre 38 Mkii ★
16.9
Catalina 387
17.4
Dehler 38
19.1
Sweden Yachts 38
18.5
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Sabre 38 Mkii ★
39.1 %
Catalina 387
39.5 %
Dehler 38
23.1 %
Sweden Yachts 38
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Sabre 38 Mkii ★
27.4
Catalina 387
24.1
Dehler 38
19.4
Sweden Yachts 38
25.7
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Sabre 38 Mkii ★
1.93
Catalina 387
2.04
Dehler 38
2.17
Sweden Yachts 38
2.00
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Sabre 38 Mkii ★
243
Catalina 387
202
Dehler 38
173
Sweden Yachts 38
240
Hull Speed
Sabre 38 Mkii ★
7.5 kts
Catalina 387
7.7 kts
Dehler 38
7.5 kts
Sweden Yachts 38
7.5 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Sabre 38 Mkii ★
2.2
Catalina 387
Dehler 38
3.3
Sweden Yachts 38
2.4
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