Sabre 402

The mandate given Jim Taylor and the Sabre Design Team was to design and build a sailing yacht with exceptional performance, yet still easily sailed by a couple. The Sabre 402 is fast but requires little physical effort to make her perform. She is ruggedly built and incorporates new technology such as a carbon fiber rudder post and state of the art keel designs. The Sabre 402 with her contemporary, wider beam – carried further aft than in her predecessors – has an abundance of interior volume. The main salon is impressive and takes full advantage of the 402’s beam of 13-feet 4-inches. Comfortable settees are found to port and starboard, with the port side convertible to a double berth. An elegant yacht table, which will comfortably seat six at meal time, is located on the centerline. Storage lockers above the berth backs provide ample space for stowage. Aft and to starboard is the forward facing navigator’s table, which has all of the space required for a sophisticated electronics system. The navigator’s seat also serves as a place for socializing with the cook when meals are being prepared in the galley to port. To starboard and aft of the nav station are the head and shower. Molded in fiberglass, this easily maintained unit incorporates a marine head, a sink recessed in the countertop, and lots of dry storage in the lockers outboard. A separate shower stall with teak seat is located aft of the head. This compartment has a door providing access to the aft cabin. The 50 horsepower auxiliary engine is located under the galley on the centerline. Keeping this weight and the weight of all tankage in the middle of the hull adds greatly to the sea kindliness and comfort of the yacht. The galley to port has ample storage lockers. Outboard, above the countertop, there are plenty of drawers and an ice box comparable in volume to a domestic refrigerator. A double stainless steel sink with mixing faucet is located in the island above the engine. A three burner propane stove with oven is found at the aft end of the galley. The aft cabin has a large berth with storage spaces and drawers underneath. The berth’s occupants can recline with open spaces overhead – unlike the aft cabins of many boats of this type. Outboard of the berth is a long shelf with lockers, a set of drawers, and a large hanging locker. At the forward end of the cabin on centerline is a convenient magazine – book rack. The bridgedeck – a safety feature in heavy seas – becomes a welcome interior space, providing ease of access from the head to the aft cabin. In the forward cabin, the Sabre 402’s hull volume comfortably houses a 6-foot 10-inch long center island berth surrounded by hanging lockers, storage lockers, and ample shelving; also in the forward cabin is a vanity with Corian counter, sink, and mirror. There is storage under the berth. At the bow, the custom cast anchor roller is designed to easily accommodate two anchors. Aft of the stem is the large chain locker which can also house the optional anchor windlass below deck level. Moving aft there are six small and two large deck hatches which allow plenty of light and air to fill the yacht’s interior. Along the sides of the house are eight stainless steel opening ports and two large fixed ports. Two chrome dorades ensure circulation of the interior air when the yacht is at rest. The AwIgrip finished, triple spreader rig, with aft swept spreaders and rod rigging, is the source of power which drives the performance of the Sabre 402. This mast section was chosen for its light weight and strength. A lighter mast causes the boat to heel and to pitch less, improving performance and adding comfort and safety. Her genoa tracks are placed well inboard for close sheeting angles and superb weather sailing performance. The Sabre 402 has a second set of genoa tracks on the wooden toe rail for use off the wind or when conditions require a more wide open slot between genoa and mainsail. Her cockpit is designed for maximum comfort and security at sea. Unlike many other 40 footers where “picnic” tables have become the most important feature of the cockpit, the crew of the Sabre 402 can always find a place to brace their feet on the face of the seat on the low side. The cockpit shapes required to house these tables typically rob the boat’s interior of much needed aft cabin volume. The bridgedeck at the forward end of the cockpit serves several purposes: it prevents flooding of the interior (in the event that a wave should board the yacht), it provides a well sheltered seat when used with a dodger if the weather is poor, and it allows standing headroom in the passageway from the head to the aft cabin.