New York (National) Boat Show

Until boats got really big and difficult to exhibit at indoor shows, the New York Boat Show, which runs this week from the 4th to the 8th, was known as the New York National Boat show. Today there are other shows like Miami and Ft Lauderdale that dwarf this show but nonetheless I have heard many stories about young boys and girls in the good old days, going to this show with their parents and falling in love with boating. I can see why. Th excitement of the city in the dreary days of winter can create some real magic.

So why not get the kids in the car or on the train, head into the city for the day and check out the boats and the gear. Boating is one of those family activities that makes families tighter knit and brings families closer together. There is nothing quite like it. See you in the Big Apple.

Under the Stars Sabre 456 "St Elmo"

Great video of the voyage of the Sabre 456 St Elmo from San Diego to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ja1qnjgYC1Y . This is truly what offshore voyaging under sail is all about. I only wish I had been aboard.

Sabre 456 to Puerto Vallarta

Last spring our west coast dealership JK3 Yacht Sales delivered a new Sabre 456 to David Jensen who has now set off on an adventure that he would like to share with our readers. David's blog is well written and has a lot of really nice photography for you to enjoy. Having sailed in the Bay of Banderas, I can attest to the natural beauty and terrific sailing conditions that can be found there.

Enjoy !

An Update from Sabre Yachts

The first rule of blogging is "Don't talk about yourself" which in this case is our company Sabre Yachts. Well I have never been much for rules so I am going to talk about us because we have a lot to tell you.

First and the fall boat shows were very good to us. Sales of sail and power yachts were strong and we feel a great relief as we head into the winter months with a strong backlog and the "help wanted" signs soon to be hung at the end of Hawthorne Road. The star of the show season was and continues to be the new Sabre 48 Salon Express. I personally have never worked a boat at a boat show that created so much buzz and excitement. Thank you to the owners who allowed us to show their boats; It really helped to get things rolling.

The second bit of news is a new design for the Sabre range to be launched next spring. The Sabre 38 Salon Express is being tooled in Cape Coral at present and molds and parts will be in our shop early in 2012. I will be covering this boat's "birth" on the blog so stay tuned right here.

The Sabre 38 Salon Express. Coming June 2012

 

 

An Update from Sabre Yachts

The first rule of blogging is "Don't talk about yourself" which in this case is our company Sabre Yachts. Well I have never been much for rules so I am going to talk about us because we have a lot to tell you.

First and the fall boat shows were very good to us. Sales of sail and power yachts were strong and we feel a great relief as we head into the winter months with a strong backlog and the "help wanted" signs soon to be hung at the end of Hawthorne Road. The star of the show season was and continues to be the new Sabre 48 Salon Express. I personally have never worked a boat at a boat show that created so much buzz and excitement. Thank you to the owners who allowed us to show their boats; It really helped to get things rolling.

The second bit of news is a new design for the Sabre range to be launched next spring. The Sabre 38 Salon Express is being tooled in Cape Coral at present and molds and parts will be in our shop early in 2012. I will be covering this boat's "birth" on the blog so stay tuned right here.

The Sabre 38 Salon Express. Coming June 2012

 

 

Great new Apps

I admit it: "My name is Bentley and I am an iPad/iPhone junkie". My app collection has everything from weather to navigation and NPR radio to Pandora and my favorite local radio station WCLZ. (try it you will like it)

But crossing my desktop today was an announcement from Sail Magazine that they had introduced an app for the New Sailboat Review. As it happens I met with Josh Adams and Andy Howe from the magazine last week and knew that this announcement was coming. I downloaded the app and for $2.99 it offers a lot  of great information. It's better than a magazine boat review because it has way more images, some video and all of the specifications for dozens of boats.

So if you are as hooked to this new medium as I am, go to the app store and search for NewSailboatReview. You won't be disappointed.

Open Boat Yard Days

As an active member of Maine Built Boats, Sabre Yachts wants to be sure you are aware of Maine's Open Boatyard Days coming up in August. Many of Maine's boat builders who will participate in the event. If you love boats you will love this inside look at our yards.
The 2nd Annual "Open Boatyard Days" will be held August 15 & 16, 2011, in boatyards and boat building companies across the state. The public is invited to tour the insides of companies which include boat builders, boatyards, and affiliated businesses across the state of Maine. This is a unique opportunity to learn more about boat building in Maine, and to see first hand the passion that boat builders have for their art. The dates will build upon the Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors Show, held in Rockland, August 12th-14th. People can visit the show and see a very broad array of boats, then go on to visit the boatbuilders, boatyards, and affiliated businesses at their location. More details will be posted as they become available.

"Oh What a Beautiful Morning"

My Dad used to sing that song when the sun was shining and the birds were chirping and long before I, as a teenager who could sleep forever, was willing to lift my head off the pillow. Now I am the guy who gets up early and tries to get a head start on the day. Few people are up and on the water at 06:30 except of course the commercial guys who are out there at 04:00.

Today's "chamber of commerce" morning began a classic Maine summer day. Crystal clear skies, 65 degrees (warming to 80 degrees this afternoon) and calm seas. And lucky me, "had" to be out there with the brand spanking new Sabre 54 Fly Bridge Sedan and two of my associates from Sabre, Aaron Crawford and Glenn Campbell. In the helicopter was professional photographer Billy Black and his assistant Meagan.

Here is just a hint of what Billy shot. We'll have plenty more to show you in the days ahead so stay tuned please. By the way the boat is going 32 knots in these shots.

The crew agreed that if you have to go to work at 06:30 this is the place to go to work.

First 54 Fly Bridge is "on the ways"

If you are wondering what "on the ways" means it refers to the way ships were launched before the days of modern dry dock shipbuilding. The largest of ships slid down the ways and came crashing into the water. It certainly made launch day exciting.

Ship talk aside we are very excited about the upcoming launch of the Sabre 54 Fly Bridge. I will have some great shots of the boat here and on our main web site within 30 days. Meanwhile one of the questions which arises is how we would protect the occupants of the fly bridge from sun or weather. Depending on the market, tops run the gambit from a simple bimini top to a full hard top with heavy weight EZ 2 CY screens. Hull #1 is going with the latter and this very elegant hard top design was created by J+J Marine. Their design uses elegant stainless steel structures and a light weight FRP hard top.

 
We can't wait to see all of this fine craftsmanship coupled to the bridge of the Sabre 54. She is going to be sensational.

 

The elegance of fine woodworking

At a time when European boat builders are staining their interior woods so dark that one cannot even tell if the wood is actually wood or some look-alike and many boat builders here in the USA are following like lemmings, I love to brag to the world about what goes on in our cabinetry shops here in Maine.

 

 

These two images of the new Sabre 48 Salon ExpressSalon and Helm show the true beauty of the American cherry wood that we use for our interior furniture. Note the inlays in the salon table top and in the small end table, aft of the helm chair. Only on a Maine built boat will you find such elegant details. It makes me very proud to be associated with these skilled boat builders.