Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Sabre Yachts 38 Express 2008 vs Sabre Yachts 52 Salon Express 2008 — Same Brand, Different Boat
The Sabre Yachts 38 Express 2008 vs Sabre Yachts 52 Salon Express 2008 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 865 hp, the Sabre Yachts 52 Salon Express 2008 has a 385-hp advantage over the Sabre Yachts 38 Express 2008's 480-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Sabre Yachts 38 Express 2008 carries 35 gallons versus 8 gallons in the Sabre Yachts 52 Salon Express 2008. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Sabre Yachts 52 Salon Express 2008 is rated for 16 passengers, while the Sabre Yachts 38 Express 2008 caps at 11. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Sabre Yachts 52 Salon Express 2008 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Sabre Yachts 52 Salon Express 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 16 passengers and at 53,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Sabre Yachts 38 Express 2008 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 11 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeSabre Yachts
MakeSabre Yachts
Model38 Express
Model52 Salon Express
Model Year2008
Model Year2008
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam13 ft. 8 in. (4.20 m)
Beam16 ft. 0 in. (4.92 m)
Beam - Meters4.17
Beam - Meters4.88
Beam - Inches164
Beam - Inches192
Deadrise16℃
Deadrise15℃
Draft [max] - Detail3 ft. 4 in. (1.01 m)
Draft [max] - Detail4 ft. 3 in. (1.30 m)
Draft [max] - Meters1.02
Draft [max] - Meters1.3
Draft [max] - Inches4
Draft [max] - Inches51
Weight - Detail21,500 lbs. (9,773 kg)
Weight - Detailnot available
Weight - kg9752.23
Weight - kgnot available
Weight - lbs.215
Weight - lbs.not available
Height - DetailHeight Over Waterline With Mast: 13 ft. 5 in. (4.09 m)
Height - DetailFrom Waterline To Top of Hardtop: 11 ft. 5 in. (3.5 m)
Height - Meters4.09
Height - Meters3.48
Height - Inches161
Height - Inches137
Length - Meters11.85
Length - Meters16.37
Length - Feet38
Length - Feet53
Length - Inches6
Length - Inches2
Length overall - Detail38 ft. 6 in. (11.85 m)
Length overall - Detail53 ft. 2 in. (16.37 m)
Length overall - Meters11.73
Length overall - Meters16.21
Length overall - Inches462
Length overall - Inches638
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine/s standardTwin Yanmar 380 hp 6LY3A-UTP electronic diesel engines
Engine/s standardTwin diesel CAT C15, fresh water-cooled
Fuel tank capacity - Detail350 gal. (1,325 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail800 gal. (3028 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters1324.89
Fuel tank capacity - Liters3028.33
Fuel tank capacity - Gal35
Fuel tank capacity - Gal8
Fuel typeDiesel
Fuel typeDiesel
Drive typeInboard
Drive typeInboard
Engine maxTwin 480 hp
Engine max865 mph
Operational Info
HeadSee Features
HeadSee Features
Headroom6 ft. 6 in. (1.98 m)
Headroom6 ft. 6 in. (2 m)
Sleeping capacity4
Sleeping capacity6 / 6 ft. 8 in. 4 / 2.03 m
Water capacity100 gal. (379 l)
Water capacity200 gal. (757 l)
Holding tank capacity - Detail40 gal. (151 l)
Holding tank capacity - Detail80 gal. (302 l)
Holding tank capacity - Liters151.42
Holding tank capacity - Liters302.83
Holding tank capacity - Gal4
Holding tank capacity - Gal8