Sabre 42
Description
The Sabre 42 is a high-performance cruiser designed by Roger Hewson for Sabre Yachts in Wiscasset, Maine, USA, embodying the late-1980s racer-cruiser ethos with a focus on speed, stability, and offshore capability. As one of Sabre's larger sailboats, it features a moderate-displacement hull with a fine entry for efficient upwind work (PHRF ~90–102) and a generous sail plan for light-air performance, while the high ballast ratio (~41%) ensures stiffness in 25+ knot winds. Available as a masthead sloop with fin keel standard or optional keel/centerboard (CB) for shoal-draft versatility (up: 4.75 ft; down: 8.50 ft), it's celebrated for its balanced handling, dry ride, and teak-rich interiors suitable for couples or small families on coastal or transoceanic passages. Hand-laid fiberglass construction and skeg-hung rudder add to its "bulletproof" reputation. Only 62 hulls were produced from 1987 to 1989, before evolving into the Sabre 425 (1990–2004) with refined lines and ketch options.
Construction Details
| Designer | Roger Hewson |
|---|---|
| Builder | Sabre Yachts (USA) |
| Length | 41.750 ft |
| LOA | 41.750 ft |
| LWL | 34.000 ft |
| Beam | 12.670 ft |
| Displacement | 18800 lb |
| Ballast | 7800 lb |
| Max Draft | 8.500 ft |
| Min Draft | 4.750 ft |
| Year Built | 1987 |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 52.50 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 14.33 ft |
| p | 45.83 ft |
| e | 16.54 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52.50 ft | 14.33 ft | 45.83 ft | 16.54 ft | - | - | - | - |
Documents
Sails
Sabre 42 - MAINSAIL
| Luff | * 45.83 ft - (13969 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 16.54 ft - (5041 mm) |
| Leech | * 47.9 ft - (14600 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88 ° |
| Diagonal | * 48.18 ft - (14685 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 6 in - (152 mm) |
| Area | * 388.74 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Sabre 42 - JIBSAIL
| Luff | * 43.54 ft - (13271 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 18.54 ft - (5651 mm) |
| Leech | * 38.73 ft - (11805 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 115 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 16.48 ft - (5023 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 11.99 ° |
| Area | * 358.79 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Sabre 42 - GENOA
| Luff | * 51.7 ft - (15758 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 22.77 ft - (6940 mm) |
| Leech | * 49.15 ft - (14981 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150.03 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 21.5 ft - (6553 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 3.97 ° |
| Area | * 555.75 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Sabre 42 - DRIFTER
| Luff | * 51.7 ft - (15758 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 23.58 ft - (7187 mm) |
| Leech | * 47.2 ft - (14387 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 150.03 % |
| Length Perp | * 21.5 ft - (6553 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 8.97 ° |
| Area | * 555.8 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Sabre 42 - ASYMMETRICAL
| Luff | 52 ft - (15850 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | 25.75 ft - (7849 mm) |
| Leech | 49 ft - (14935 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 165 % |
| Area | * 1004 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Sabre 42 - SPINNAKER
| Stays | * 51.7 ft - (15758 mm) |
|---|---|
| MidGirth | * 25.79 ft - (7861 mm) |
| Foot | * 25.79 ft - (7861 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | * 1133 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Sabre 42 - STORMJIB
| Luff | * 29.93 ft - (9123 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 10.41 ft - (3173 mm) |
| Leech | * 25.55 ft - (7788 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 60.01 % |
| Length Perp | * 8.6 ft - (2621 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 19.06 ° |
| Area | * 128.66 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.