Photo Courtesy of Sabre
Sabre 48 Salon Express
The best-laid plans of mice and men may often go awry, but it certainly seems they turned out all right for Sabre Yachts and its 48 Salon Express, which splashed this past April. Every aspect of her plan combines to make her an excellent cruiser that makes efficient use of every bit of space. Integral to that accomplishment was inclusion of a Zeus pod-drive system that increases the boat’s interior volume—and, of course, makes docking a breeze. Twin 550-hp Cummins diesels combine with the pods to produce a reported 31 mph cruise speed, topping out at 38.
Her aft saloon doors open wide to meld the interior space to her roomy cockpit, making for an excellent, all-purpose entertainment area. At the helm, a standard Stidd chair ensures the captain will be comfortable and in complete control while he enjoys the sounds of silence—according to Sabre, the saloon decibel level doesn’t exceed 75 dB-A—only slightly louder than normal conversation. And that conversation could no doubt get boisterous, with ample seating in the saloon making it an ideal place to gather should the weather turn too hot, or heaven forbid, rainy. A two-cabin, two-head layout below makes the 48 an inviting boat for an overnight cruise (a space forward of the engine room can serve as crew quarters). Also, a standard side-deck door is a boon for couple-only operation as it facilitates line handling and makes it a breeze to get back onto dry land, though with this level of fit and finish onboard, you may never want to leave.
Specifications
- Builder: Sabre Yachts
- Boat Type: Cruiser
- Base Price: $920,000
- LOA: 47’6″
- Draft: 3’9″
- Beam: 15’4″
- Standard Power: 2/550-hp Cummins QSC 8.3 diesels w/Zeus drives
- Speed: 38 mph
This article originally appeared in the July 2011 issue of Power & Motoryacht magazine.
