Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Sabre Yachts 38 Express 2012 vs Sabre Yachts 52 Salon Express 2008 — Same Brand, Different Boat
The Sabre Yachts 38 Express 2012 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 Sabre Yachts 52 Salon Express 2008 tops out at 865 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 38 Express 2012 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 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 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 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
Model52 Salon Express
Model Year2012
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 - Detail13 ft. 5 in. (4.09 m) height over waterline with mast
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 - Feet38.5
Length - Feet53
Length overall - Detail38 ft. 6 in. (11.73 m)
Length overall - Detail53 ft. 2 in. (16.37 m)
Length overall - Meters11.73
Length overall - Meters16.21
Length overall - Inches462
Length overall - Inches638
Length - Metersnot available
Length - Meters16.37
Length - Inchesnot available
Length - Inches2
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 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 - Twin
Drive typeInboard
Engine maxnot available
Engine max865 mph
Operational Info
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. (380 l)
Water capacity200 gal. (757 l)
Holding tank capacity - Detail40 gal. (150 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
Headnot available
HeadSee Features