Sabre Yachts 45 Salon Express Video Review

For Yachting Magazine, I’m captain Ken Chrysler. Welcome aboard. The timeless and pleasing exterior design of the Sabre 45 Salon Express is quite evident, whether she is underway, at a favorite Anchorage, or at the dock. She sits between the current Sabre 42 and 48 Salon Express models which have been in the line for over the past eight years. The Sabre design team saw an opportunity to split the difference and to offer their clients a very capable, long-range cruising yacht with space for guests and for all the utilities and appliances they may want to have onboard.

Boarding is safe and convenient via access gates to port and starboard and once in the cockpit you are greeted by an ample and well laid out seating area with a transom couch and accompanying table, perfect for alfresco dining.

Access to the engine room is via a large and sturdy hatch and, once inside, the hands-on skipper has all the room necessary to do all required maintenance and critical fluid checks. Yet one of the many examples of Sabres ability to utilize space. By the way, those are Volvo IPS 600 pod drives, allowing for the optional Seakeeper 5 gyro and standard Cummins Onan 11.5 kilowatt gen set. And when necessary, an electrically operated awning deploys with the touch of a button.

Entering the salon, one can’t help but notice the robust and sturdy stainless steel framed door. And once inside, Sabre’s attention to detail stands out. Deploy the aft window and the cockpit and salon join forces to create a joined space. There’s a seating area to starboard and a couch to port. And that starboard high-low table can create an extra sleeping berth if necessary.

Moving forward and to starboard are a pair of Stidd helm seats with a joystick controller conveniently located on the captain’s armrest.The helm itself, and as is found everywhere on the Sabre 45 Salon Express, is a masterpiece of fine wood with all controls and switches within easy reach. And for added convenience, to the starboard side, there is the standard helm door leading to wide walkways and sturdy rails. With wide windows everywhere and optional sunroof overhead there’s plenty of ambient light.

With her pod drive configuration, Sabre designers found yet more additional space below the salon’s deck. Here you will find a full size washer and dryer as well as more than ample room for a host of non-perishable items and other necessities for those extended cruising times.

Port of the helm and three easy steps down is the fully found galley, and again, a spacious storage is accessed by a convenient hatch in the deck. The galley’s proximity to the salon keeps up with the social theme of this boat’s layout and just opposite the galley on the bulkhead is the breaker panel. Three more steps down and you enter the living accommodations. Immediately to starboard are the double berth guest quarters which can convert to a single berth. Access to the head is via a door in the quarters or out in the hallway. Fully forward is the master stateroom with ensuite head. Surrounded by rich woodwork whose fit and finish lives up to Sabres standards of excellence, there is plenty of storage space in closets and drawers.

If you’re in the market for a fully found cruising yacht that sets itself apart from the others, you owe it to yourself to set up a visit and sea trial aboard the Sabre 45 Salon Express. You will not be disappointed. For Yachting Magazine, I’m Captain Ken Chrysler and I do hope you’ve enjoyed your time aboard this fine yacht as much as I have had showing you around. I’ll see you on the docks and hopefully out on the water.