Sabre 43 Salon Express

Like her sisterships, the 43 combines iconic Down East heritage with modern technology.

By Lidia Goldberg

September 9, 2022

While the traditional, handsome Down East vessels that Sabre Yachts builds are inspired by the working boats that ply the waters around the Maine shipyard, the new 43 Salon Express is the builder’s first model smaller than 58 feet length overall to be a “full network” boat, giving owners an entirely new level of accessibility.

The 43 replaces the 42-foot Salon Express in the current model line, which also includes boats from 38 to 58 feet length overall. With the networking feature, owners can check critical functions and control any circuit on the boat from the helm multifunction displays or a tablet. When owners are away from their vessel, they can remotely access a wealth of data—including GPS monitoring, geofencing, trip-logging and NMEA 2000-connected
devices (think bilge alarms and batteries) via the Sentinel Telematics feature.

“You can change the lighting and get the lights turned on before you even get down to the marina,” says Sabre Marketing Manager Brian Wold.

On board, owners can control the “mode of operation” or “scene,” setting the lighting and circuit configuration with the touch of a button.

Also in terms of easy operation, the 43 (like the rest of the Salon Express models) is a Volvo Penta IPS-powered boat. Standard equipment therefore includes Volvo Penta’s Automatic Interceptor trim tabs, autopilot and Dynamic Positioning System. “It’s like a pause button,” Wold says of DPS. “It keeps you in exactly the same spot you were in.” Twin, 17-inch Garmin MFDs and a pair of Stidd helm seats (with the joystick control in the pilot seat’s armrest) complete the standard package.

Designers added large, fixed windows and substantial stowage to the mix, making the 43 Salon Express a good option for long weekends of coastal cruising. There’s a two-stateroom layout, an up-down galley and a utility room beneath the salon sole that can be home to a washer/dryer, wine chiller or more stowage. American cherry is used liberally throughout
her interior.

Standard power for the 43 is the twin 380-hp Volvo Penta D6-IPS500s, with 440-hp and 480-hp IPS models as options. In all configurations, the builder says the boat uses 30 percent less fuel and emits 30 percent less carbon dioxide than with traditional shaft drives. With the 440-hp IPS600s, the Sabre 43 is expected to have a top speed just under 32 knots and a fast cruise of 27.1 knots, with a 300-nautical-mile range.

Options for the 43 Salon Express include a Seakeeper 6 gyrostabilizer, a Freedom tender lift and storage system, hyrdaulic swim platform and power sunroof.