Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Sabre Yachts 38 Express 2012 vs Sabre Yachts 47 Motor Yacht 2008 — Same Brand, Different Boat
The Sabre Yachts 38 Express 2012 vs Sabre Yachts 47 Motor Yacht 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 47 Motor Yacht 2008 measures 47,0 feet overall (2008), giving it roughly 8,5 additional feet of deck space compared to the Sabre Yachts 38 Express 2012 at 38,5 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Sabre Yachts 38 Express 2012 tips the scales at 215 lbs — 172 lbs more than the Sabre Yachts 47 Motor Yacht 2008 at 43 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 Sabre Yachts 47 Motor Yacht 2008 tops out at 540 hp. Engine specs for the Sabre Yachts 38 Express 2012 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Sabre Yachts 47 Motor Yacht 2008 carries 605 gallons versus 35 gallons in the Sabre Yachts 38 Express 2012. 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 47 Motor Yacht 2008 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Sabre Yachts 38 Express 2012 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 47 Motor Yacht 2008 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Sabre Yachts 47 Motor Yacht 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 14 passengers and at 47,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Sabre Yachts 38 Express 2012 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
Model47 Motor Yacht
Model Year2012
Model Year2008
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam13 ft. 8 in. (4.20 m)
Beam15 ft. 0 in. (4.57 m)
Beam - Meters4.17
Beam - Meters4.57
Beam - Inches164
Beam - Inches18
Deadrise16℃
Deadrise14℃
Draft [max] - Detail3 ft. 4 in. (1.01 m)
Draft [max] - Detail4 ft. 5 in. (1.35 m)
Draft [max] - Meters1.02
Draft [max] - Meters1.35
Draft [max] - Inches4
Draft [max] - Inches53
Weight - Detail21,500 lbs. (9,773 kg)
Weight - Detail43,000 lbs. (19,504 kg)
Weight - kg9752.23
Weight - kg19504.46
Weight - lbs.215
Weight - lbs.43
Height - Detail13 ft. 5 in. (4.09 m) height over waterline with mast
Height - DetailDWL To Top of Trawler Mast: 24 ft. 2 in. (7.37 m) DWL To Top Of Freestanding Mast: 21 ft. 6 in. (6.55 m) Height Without Mast: 14 ft. 0 in. (4.27 m)
Height - Meters4.09
Height - Meters7.37
Height - Inches161
Height - Inches29
Length - Feet38.5
Length - Feet47
Length overall - Detail38 ft. 6 in. (11.73 m)
Length overall - Detail47 ft. 6 in. (14.48 m)
Length overall - Meters11.73
Length overall - Meters14.48
Length overall - Inches462
Length overall - Inches57
Length - Metersnot available
Length - Meters14.48
Length - Inchesnot available
Length - Inches6
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 Cummins 500 hp QSC 8.3M 6-cylinder, fresh water-cooled diesel engines
Fuel tank capacity - Detail350 gal. (1,325 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail605 gal. (2,290 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters1324.89
Fuel tank capacity - Liters2290.17
Fuel tank capacity - Gal35
Fuel tank capacity - Gal605
Fuel typeDiesel
Fuel typeDiesel
Drive typeInboard - Twin
Drive typeInboard
Engine maxnot available
Engine maxTwin 540 hp
Operational Info
Headroom6 ft. 6 in. (1.98 m)
Headroom6 ft. 6 in. (1.98 m)
Sleeping capacity4
Sleeping capacity6
Water capacity100 gal. (380 l)
Water capacity300 gal. (1,136 l)
Holding tank capacity - Detail40 gal. (150 l)
Holding tank capacity - Detail2 totaling 72 gal. (273 l)
Holding tank capacity - Liters151.42
Holding tank capacity - Liters272.55
Holding tank capacity - Gal4
Holding tank capacity - Gal72
Headnot available
HeadSee Features