Sabre 38 Series I
Description
The Sabre 38 Series I, also known as the Mark I, is the original iteration of the acclaimed Sabre 38 racer-cruiser, designed by Roger Hewson and the Sabre Design Team for Sabre Yachts in Wiscasset, Maine, USA. Launched in 1981, it blends speed and seaworthiness with luxurious teak interiors, making it ideal for coastal racing, club events, or family overnights. The hull's fine entry and generous sail plan deliver strong upwind performance (PHRF 111 average), while the high ballast ratio (~42%) ensures stability in heavy air. Hand-laid fiberglass construction (solid below waterline) and a skeg-hung rudder provide a dry, forgiving ride. An optional keel/centerboard (CB) variant suits shallow-water explorers, with drafts from 4.25 ft up to 6.75 ft down. Exactly 100 hulls were built from 1981 to 1987, before the Mark II (1988–1995) introduced a longer LOA and wing keel options. As of January 2026, these classics are prized for their timeless lines and durability, with robust owner support via Sabre's heritage resources.
Construction Details
| Designer | Roger Hewson |
|---|---|
| Builder | Sabre Yachts (USA) |
| Length | 37.832 ft |
| LOA | 37.830 ft |
| LWL | 31.170 ft |
| Beam | 11.500 ft |
| Displacement | 15200 lb |
| Ballast | 6400 lb |
| Max Draft | 6.750 ft |
| Min Draft | 4.250 ft |
| Year Built | 1981 |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 49.50 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 15.75 ft |
| p | 43.42 ft |
| e | 13.75 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49.50 ft | 15.75 ft | 43.42 ft | 13.75 ft | - | - | - | - |
Documents
Sails
Sabre 38 Series I - MAINSAIL
| Luff | * 43.42 ft - (13234 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 13.75 ft - (4191 mm) |
| Leech | * 44.94 ft - (13698 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88.02 ° |
| Diagonal | * 45.09 ft - (13743 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 6 in - (152 mm) |
| Area | 298.2 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Sabre 38 Series I - JIBSAIL
| Luff | * 41.56 ft - (12667 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 20.84 ft - (6352 mm) |
| Leech | * 36.12 ft - (11009 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 115 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 18.11 ft - (5520 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 12 ° |
| Area | 376.36 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Sabre 38 Series I - GENOA
| Luff | * 49.35 ft - (15042 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 25.42 ft - (7748 mm) |
| Leech | * 46.43 ft - (14152 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 23.63 ft - (7202 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4 ° |
| Area | 582.97 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Sabre 38 Series I - SPINNAKER
| Stays | * 49.35 ft - (15042 mm) |
|---|---|
| MidGirth | * 28.35 ft - (8641 mm) |
| Foot | * 28.35 ft - (8641 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | 1189.21 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Disclaimer. Boats are not all the same -- even when produced in the same factory of the same model. Sailrite does its best to publish accurate dimensions, but we often find it worthwhile to have our customers measure their boats carefully before we produce kits for them. You should take the same precautions, especially when the data is not from Sailrite. The information on this site is not guaranteed to be accurate. Sailrite offers this content as a service to our community, but takes no responsibility for the reliability of the data provided.