Sabre 52 Salon Express
About 20 years ago, when Maine-based sailboat builder Sabre sought to expand its line, someone might’ve glanced at the workboats on nearby Casco Bay for inspiration: In 1989 the company launched the Downeast-inspired, 36-foot Fast Trawler. Today more than half of its models built at its South Casco facility are powerboats.
The recent launch of Sabre’s new flagship, the 52 Salon Express, was a corker—Maine governor John Baldacci spoke at the event. Like the 34 Hard Top, the 52 is a Downeast darling, as evidenced by her profile: Hull No. 1 has an Awlgripped dark-blue hull set off with a gold stripe, teak toerails, and a white coach roof with rectangular ports.
From her fiberglass swim platform (teak is optional), a transom gate leads into the cockpit and its generous seating area. A forward-facing settee offers a sun-drenched venue for up to four guests, with a two-seat, aft-facing settee shaded by the hardtop overhang. However, most guests will likely be drawn into the 52’s pilothouse by the handsome hue of its cherry interior and teak-and-holly soles and, on hot days, its standard 32,000-Btu air conditioning. Here, a port-side, C-shape settee is finished in beige leather to match the pair of standard Stidd helm seats; it’s just abaft of a wet bar with an ice maker. On days when air conditioning isn’t needed, sliding side windows and an electric sunroof let in cool breezes.
From the pilothouse, a centerline companionway leads below decks to an amidships master and a forepeak VIP; both are served by en suite heads with showers. Adjacent to the master stateroom is the galley, which features high-end appliances from Fisher & Paykel and Sub-Zero as well as optional bullnose granite countertops.
Standard twin 865-mhp Caterpillar C15s reportedly will push the 52 to a cruise speed of 29 mph and a top speed of 36 mph.
Length overall: 53’2″
Beam: 16’0″
Accommodations: 2 queen berths, settee converts into double berth
Standard engines: 2/865-mhp Caterpillar C15 ACERT diesel inboards
For more information on Sabre Yachts, including contact information, click here.
Classic Beauty Revisited
Chris-Craft Catalina 29
This is the latest addition to Chris-Craft’s fish-friendly, center-console Catalina line; a 23-footer was launched last year. With standard teak accents in the swim platform, helm, and sheer and an all-teak foredeck, the 29-footer retains stylistic ties to her builder’s 133 years of boatbuilding. Features include a 28-gallon livewell, two in-sole fishboxes, a fiberglass hardtop, 12 rod holders (four flush-mounted and eight rocket launchers), removable coaming padding, a Kenwood AM/FM stereo/CD player, and a Tecma MSD. Options include 15-foot radial outriggers and a Raymarine C80 or E80 electronics package. Pricing on the Catalina 29 is $160,949 with standard 250-hp Yamaha F250 four-stroke gasoline outboards.
Length overall: 29’5″
Beam: 10’2″
Accommodations: none
Standard engines: 2/250-hp Yamaha F250 four-stroke gasoline outboards
For more information on Chris-Craft, including contact information, click here.
Specifications
- Builder: OTHER
This article originally appeared in the August 2007 issue of Power & Motoryacht magazine.
