Jupiter, on Florida’s Atlantic coast, is an upscale, picturesque community known for its waterfront estates and a roster of sports and entertainment figures. Moored in front of Down East Yachting, the Jupiter dealership for Sabre Yachts, the new Sabre 58 Salon Express belongs in a place like this. With traditional Downeast lines, broad teak decks and rich cherry joinery, the 58 SE looks as refined and well-crafted as many of the town’s finer coastal homes.
Although I could have spent the day relaxing on board at the dock, the morning was ideal for a sea trial. Captain Thomas Freeman arrived early to power up the optional Seakeeper 18 so it would be fully spun up by the time we left—the spin-up takes about 45 minutes. The Seakeeper gyrostabilization system is intended to reduce roll in rough water, but Freeman also demonstrated its value in tight quarters: “It makes your close-quarters docking so much easier; the boat’s not rocking,” he said.
Even without the Seakeeper, handling the Sabre 58 SE is straightforward. Sabre equips these yachts with Volvo Penta IPS pod drives and a joystick mounted on the arm of the Stidd helm chair, allowing you to “walk” the boat in any low-speed direction. “The Seakeeper works really well in conjunction with the IPS drives in docking mode. It keeps the boat flat, and very manageable,” Freeman added.
Though the exterior and interior styling lean classic, the Sabre 58 SE is thoroughly modern under the skin. Sabre builds with its Vacuum Infusion Process (VIP) resin-infusion construction for strength and durability, and the yacht incorporates current propulsion and electronics systems throughout.
The 58 SE marks an evolution in Sabre’s lineup by relocating the galley to the main deck aft, instead of belowdecks as on other models. Placing the galley aft allows it to serve both the salon dining area and the aft cockpit more conveniently. Bentley Collins, Sabre’s vice president of marketing and sales, said the design team consulted current owners about the galley location and found them evenly divided in preference—until they saw the layout at the Miami Yacht Show. “They were about evenly split,” Collins said. “Then, when they saw the boat at the Miami Yacht Show, they all loved it.”
The full-width galley features a U-shaped counter area to port with sink and stove, and a starboard counter that houses refrigerator and freezer drawers. The arrangement is practical for meal prep and socializing, opening seamlessly to the salon and aft deck.
One of the yacht’s visually striking features is the curved-glass aft windows—also found on Sabre’s 45 SE and 48 SE models—which are engineered with technology adapted from the automotive industry and integrated into Sabre’s Downeast aesthetic. Running the Intracoastal Waterway toward Lake Worth Inlet, those curved corner panes delivered wide, uninterrupted views of waterfront mansions.
Another design goal for the 58 SE was to include a full-beam master suite among the three lower-deck staterooms. Sabre achieved this by positioning the master’s king-size berth athwartships opposite the vanity and head, which includes a spacious, separate shower. The master’s aft bulkhead holds three hanging lockers comparable to home closets, and headroom measures 6 feet 6 inches.
A companionway forward of the master contains a washer/dryer concealed in a cabinet. To starboard is a guest stateroom with twin berths that convert to a queen and an ensuite head with shower. Forward is the VIP stateroom, which enjoys a private Jack-and-Jill access to the third head. Each of the three staterooms features traditional horizontal slats—referred to as hull ceilings—a hallmark of wooden boat construction that Sabre has adopted as part of its Downeast interior identity.
The helm showcases Sabre’s woodworking craft with elegant cherry joinery, while modern electronics are fully integrated. Two standard 17-inch multifunction displays are flush-mounted in the console and interface with Garmin electronics and the Volvo Penta IPS2-950 propulsion system. Those displays also bring up the CZone digital switching system, which monitors systems and alarms and provides touchscreen control over lighting and other functions.
After exiting Lake Worth Inlet into the Atlantic, we ran both north and south along the beach in a sloppy 3- to 4-foot beam sea with about 15 knots of wind. Sightlines from the Stidd helm chair were excellent; the yacht tracked true and responded precisely to the wheel. The 58 SE accelerated smoothly and reached an average top speed of 29.8 knots at wide-open throttle, roughly 2,500 rpm.
The Seakeeper limited roll throughout the trial, and the Volvo Penta 900 Interceptor trim system with Active Ride Control kept the bow down and the yacht level when we met waves and wakes. “It keeps the boat at its best performance,” Freeman noted. Overall, whether in choppy seas or calm water, the Sabre 58 SE delivered a remarkably smooth, quiet ride.
For owner-operators seeking larger accommodations without sacrificing maneuverability, the 58 SE is an excellent step up. Freeman, who conducts orientation sessions for new Sabre owners, praised the boat’s accessibility: “This boat is amazing. The company has really grabbed the cutting edge of yachting, so to speak,” he said. “I could teach anyone to run it and to dock it.”
Specifications
LOA: 66’0”
Beam: 16’2”
Draft: 4’9”
Fuel: 800 gals.
Water: 230 gals.
Displ.: 63,000 lbs.
Power: (2) 725-hp Volvo Penta IPS2 950
Price (as tested): $2.5 million
This article originally appeared in the June 2020 issue.