Sabre 48 Salon Express

Americans living on the northeast coast of the USA clearly have similar ideas about boating as Australians living on the Gold Coast or in Melbourne or Sydney -- they want comfortable mid-sized boats that are ideal for a sunny day afloat and which can also be comfortable for a weekend away.

The new Sabre 48 Salon Express, which has just been launched, is sure to find a home among Australian luxury boat buyers as it ticks all the right boxes.

It combines Sabre's traditional 'downeast' styling with advanced construction techniques and the innovative pod-drive propulsion system -- which gives the helmsman remarkable control while also enhancing interior room on the boat.

This is the fifth Sabre model to employ Zeus pod-drives and they are mated to twin Cummins QS8.3 550hp engines to give a comfortable cruising speed on around 27 knots and a top speed in excess of 34 knots. The hull shape follows Sabre's proven high-performance deep-vee design and incorporates long, sweeping, spray chines to keep things dry when venturing offshore.

The Zeus pod drives, combined with the remarkable Skyhook positioning system, allows even skippers without years of experience to negotiate the tightest berths and most crowded marinas and anchorages.

The state-of-the-art infusion hull construction keeps the vessel light while not compromising strength. The low weight ensures excellent fuel economy.

All the major social spaces aboard the Sabre 48 are above decks. The sprawling deckhouse incorporates not just the helm area but a saloon with a comfortable L-shaped settee, a solid wood table and another settee which can slide forward to create a comfortable dining space.

The all-electric galley is just off the main saloon and features a microwave, an electric cooktop and a stand-up stainless steel fridge/freezer. An 11.5W Onan generator is fitted as standard to provide the power for all the on-board systems.

Accommodation focuses on two staterooms each with a queen-sized berth and private ensuites with separate shower cubicles. There is storage below each berth and built-in lockers. Beneath the saloon there is additional space, opened up by the use of the Zeus pod drives that can be fitted out as a crew cabin -- with its own head -- or as a workshop or laundry.

 All the interior joinery work is handcrafted using solid cheery wood, and the teak-and-holly floors give a warm and traditional look throughout the boat.

The Sabre 48 Salon Express is priced from around $1m and is imported into Australia by Emarine Australia. Further information can be found at www.emarine.com.au