Sabre 34
Built 1976–? by Sabre Yachts
About the Sabre 34
Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.
- Built
- 1976–?
- Builder
- Sabre Yachts
- Designer
- Roger Hewson
- Length
- 34.18 ft
- Waterline
- 26.25 ft
- Beam
- 10.5 ft
- Draft
- 5.5 ft
- Displacement
- 11,400 lb
- Ballast
- 4,600 lb
- Hull / keel
- fin keel
- Rig
- sloop
- Propulsion
- inboard
- Fuel
- 20 gal
- Number built
- 255
- Stern thruster
- none
Sources disagree on last year, water tank — left blank rather than guessed.
Original (Mk I) Sabre 34, hulls 1-255. Sailboatdata gives 1976-1985; SpinSheet says introduced 1977 and built until 1984, with the redesigned Mk II from 1985 (sailboatdata says 1986). Keel/centerboard version draws 3 ft 11 in board up. Early boats had the Atomic 4 gas engine; after the first year Volvo or Westerbeke diesels were standard (hp not given). Single-spreader masthead rig. Deck and cabin balsa-cored; hull hand-laid glass with encapsulated stringers and frames. The Mk II (1985 on) is a different boat: 11,500 lb, keel-stepped double-spreader rig, 27 hp Westerbeke, fin/centerboard/wing keel options. Hull material left null: sources describe a hand-laid hull but do not state solid vs cored.
Known problems for this model
-
Deck core rot at unsealed fastener holes deck
Handrails and other fittings were through-bolted into the balsa-cored deck and cabin top without sealing the core; a surveyor reports serious delamination on several boats, costing several thousand dollars to repair.spinsheet.com
-
Moderate osmotic blistering hull
The hand-laid hull rarely has structural problems, but moderate blistering below the waterline is fairly common.spinsheet.com
-
Two-cylinder Volvo is rough engine
All engines fitted are adequate when maintained, but the two-cylinder Volvos are louder and vibrate more than the Universal and Westerbeke options.spinsheet.com
Engines & parts
Universal Atomic 4 parts: good
Factory standard engine — you entered “Universal Atomic 4”
Tens of thousands were built (sources say from 40,000 to 50,000). Despite being out of production for decades, the engine is well supported: Moyer Marine sells parts, rebuilt engines, fuel pump rebuilds and exhaust parts, and hosts an owners' forum; Old Lyme Marina and others also supply parts, and electronic ignition upgrades are available.
Parts sources: Moyer Marine
Common problems (3)
-
Raw-water cooling scale and corrosion cooling
Most Atomic 4s are raw-water cooled, so the block scales up and corrodes, especially in salt water; cranking without starting can also flood the engine with seawater through the exhaust.goodoldboat.com · moyermarineforum.com · keelindex.com
-
Gasoline vapor fire/explosion risk fuel
Gasoline vapor is heavier than air and settles in the bilge, so ventilation, blower use and shutting the fuel valve (a stuck carburetor float can overflow) matter.goodoldboat.com
-
Ignition and fuel system faults electrical
Points, condenser, cap and wires, plus gummed carburetors and contaminated fuel, are the most common reasons an Atomic 4 won't run well.keelindex.com · goodoldboat.com
Sources disagree on first year, last year, number built — left blank rather than guessed.
Model sources (5)
sailboatdata.com · spinsheet.com · practical-sailor.com · sailingmagazine.net · goodoldboat.com
Other Sabre models
- Sabre 28 1971–1986
- Sabre 30 1979–1993
- Sabre 36 1985–1990
- Sabre 38 Mk I 1981–1987
Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.