Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Sabre Yachts 38 Express 2010 vs Sabre Yachts 42 Sedan 2008 — Same Brand, Different Boat
The Sabre Yachts 38 Express 2010 vs Sabre Yachts 42 Sedan 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.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Sabre Yachts 42 Sedan 2008 measures 42,0 feet overall (2008), giving it roughly 3,5 additional feet of deck space compared to the Sabre Yachts 38 Express 2010 at 38,5 feet (2010). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Sabre Yachts 38 Express 2010 tips the scales at 215 lbs — 212 lbs more than the Sabre Yachts 42 Sedan 2008 at 3 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 540 hp, the Sabre Yachts 42 Sedan 2008 has a 60-hp advantage over the Sabre Yachts 38 Express 2010'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 42 Sedan 2008 carries 45 gallons versus 35 gallons in the Sabre Yachts 38 Express 2010. 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 42 Sedan 2008 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Sabre Yachts 38 Express 2010 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 42 Sedan 2008 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Sabre Yachts 42 Sedan 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 42,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Sabre Yachts 38 Express 2010 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
Model42 Sedan
Model Year201
Model Year2008
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam13 ft. 8 in. (4.20 m)
Beam14 ft. 4 in. (4.34 m)
Beam - Meters4.17
Beam - Meters4.37
Beam - Inches164
Beam - Inches172
Deadrise16℃
Deadrise16℃
Draft [max] - Detail3 ft. 4 in. (1.01 m)
Draft [max] - Detail3 ft. 9 in. (1.15 m)
Draft [max] - Meters1.02
Draft [max] - Meters1.14
Draft [max] - Inches4
Draft [max] - Inches45
Weight - Detail21,500 lbs. (9,773 kg)
Weight - DetailFull Load: 30,000 lbs. (13,610 kg)
Weight - kg9752.23
Weight - kg13607.76
Weight - lbs.215
Weight - lbs.3
Height - Detail13 ft. 5 in. (4.09 m) height over waterline with mast
Height - DetailHeight To Top of Optional Mast: 20 ft. 3 in. (6.17 m) Height DWL to Top of Command Bridge Rail: 13 ft. 7 in. (4.06 m)
Height - Meters4.09
Height - Meters6.17
Height - Inches161
Height - Inches243
Length - Feet38.5
Length - Feet42
Length overall - Detail38 ft. 6 in. (11.73 m)
Length overall - Detail42 ft. 3 in. (12.88 m)
Length overall - Meters11.73
Length overall - Meters12.88
Length overall - Inches462
Length overall - Inches507
Length - Metersnot available
Length - Meters12.88
Length - Inchesnot available
Length - Inches3
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeDeep Vee
Hull typenot available
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine/s standardTwin Yanmar 380 hp 6LY3A-UTP electronic diesel engines
Engine/s standardTwin Yanmar 6LY 3A-STP 440 hp 6-cylinder electronic
Fuel tank capacity - Detail350 gal. (1,325 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail450 gal. (1,703 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters1324.89
Fuel tank capacity - Liters1703.43
Fuel tank capacity - Gal35
Fuel tank capacity - Gal45
Fuel typeDiesel
Fuel typeDiesel
Drive typeInboard
Drive typeInboard
Engine maxTwin 480 hp
Engine maxTwin 540 hp
Operational Info
HeadSee Features
HeadSee Features
Headroom6 ft. 6 in. (1.98 m)
Headroom6 ft. 6 in. (1.98 m)
Sleeping capacity4
Sleeping capacity6 (6 ft. 8 in. (2.03 m))
Water capacity100 gal. (380 l)
Water capacity160 gal. (606 l)
Holding tank capacity - Detail40 gal. (150 l)
Holding tank capacity - Detail60 gal. (227 l)
Holding tank capacity - Liters151.42
Holding tank capacity - Liters227.12
Holding tank capacity - Gal4
Holding tank capacity - Gal6