Next Chapter - SABRE FOR SALE

The 2013 Sabre 48 Salon Express Next Chapter distinguishes itself as a standout iteration of this highly coveted Downeast luxury motor yacht, uniting enduring New England lines, superb craftsmanship, and confident, efficient cruising capability. Impeccably cared for with a sterling ownership record, she presents exquisitely and awaits her next custodian.

From 2013 through 2020, Next Chapter lived exclusively in Great Lakes freshwater and was laid up indoors for roughly half the year. After relocating to Florida in 2020, she was run only seasonally from November through March, then secured in a temperature-controlled indoor facility. In December 2024, she returned north to the Great Lakes, where she has been enjoyed during the summer months since. With minimal environmental exposure and a rigorous service regimen, she shows significantly newer than her model year suggests.

Power comes from twin 550 hp Cummins QSC 8.3 diesel engines paired with Zeus pod drives, delivering an effortless mid‑20‑knot cruise and peak speeds in the low 30s. Joystick handling makes close‑quarters maneuvering intuitive, while the pod‑drive architecture ensures a composed, quiet ride befitting a premium cruising yacht.

Below, a full‑beam midship owner’s suite and forward VIP stateroom each enjoy private en suite heads, complemented by the optional crew cabin featuring a double berth, its own head, a washer/dryer, and generous stowage.

The light‑filled salon, helm, and fully equipped galley flow together to create an inviting hub for entertaining or extended passagemaking. Offering the volume and comfort of a larger luxury yacht yet retaining the effortless handling of a 48‑foot express cruiser, Next Chapter is a truly turnkey opportunity.

Recent improvements

Thoughtfully modernized to elevate comfort, reliability, and performance, this yacht received a new ice maker (2025), a replaced air horn compressor (2025), a new washer and dryer (2026), and a new spotlight (2025). Starlink was installed (2026) to ensure seamless connectivity offshore, while new house batteries (2026) bolster dependable onboard power. Tender handling was refined with replaced Freedom Lift cylinders (2026), and alfresco living was enhanced by a new custom aft deck folding table (2025). All brightwork was meticulously stripped and varnished (2026) to a deep, lustrous finish, and the pods were fully serviced (2026) to preserve smooth, efficient operation.

Hull

A modified deep-V planing hull with shallow pod-drive tunnels delivers poised performance and efficient tracking, with a deadrise of 14° at the transom and 23° amidship, and an overall length without the swim platform or bow roller of 47’ 6”. The exterior is finished in ISO NPG white gelcoat with vinylester back-up resin, while the bottom, topsides, and transom are VIP resin-infused biaxial E-glass with Airex C70 foam core for optimal strength-to-weight. Structural integrity is further ensured by a biaxial E-glass stringer system with foam core and vacuum-bagged biaxial E-glass bulkheads featuring a polypropylene honeycomb core. A molded E-glass swim platform with a molded-in anti-skid surface enhances safety and convenience, complemented by hull-side rubbing strakes and a PVC rub rail capped in stainless steel. The presentation is striking, with a Claret Red painted hull completed in January 2022, an IMRON-painted double boot top, and a gold recessed cove stripe that underscores the yacht’s refined profile.

Deck and hardtop

Crafted for confident passagemaking and effortless outdoor living, the deck and hardtop showcase ISO NPG gelcoat over VIP resin-infused biaxial E-glass with balsa core, delivering enduring gloss, strength, and weight savings. Molded-in anti-skid deck surfaces provide secure footing, while a bow sunpad invites relaxation at anchor. An upgraded Boston Whaler 11’ 4” center-console tender rides securely on an upgraded Freedom Lift, ensuring launch and retrieval are as refined as the ride itself.

Seamless movement between cockpit and salon comes courtesy of a bi-fold aft salon door to port, sliding windows in the salon on the cabin sides, and an electric opening window in the salon aft bulkhead that ushers in sea breezes at the touch of a switch. Practicality meets safety with a hinged access door to the side deck at the helm and a flush, outward opening transom door with latch, while an anchor locker keeps ground tackle organized. A large lazarette and engine room access hatch in the cockpit sole, secured with compression latches, simplifies service and stowage.

Premium deck hardware underscores the yacht’s seakindly poise, starting with a 1 1/4-inch diameter type 316 stainless-steel perimeter rail system. Cleating options are comprehensive, with eight 12-inch stainless-steel cleats—two forward, four midship, and two in the aft cockpit—augmented by a ten-inch stainless-steel cleat to starboard of the windlass as an anchor rode tie-off. Line handling is refined by four custom-cast stainless-steel mid-rail line chocks, custom-cast stainless-steel skene chocks forward, and custom folding stainless-steel mooring cleats aft. At the bow, a pulpit with dual anchor roller pairs with a Quick anchor windlass of electric rope-chain type to streamline anchoring duties. Daylight and ventilation are enhanced by six low-profile stainless-steel hatches with screens and six custom stainless-steel opening port lights. Warm teak accents, including toe rails and a cabin side eyebrow, add a timeless yachting aesthetic, complemented by a flag staff and socket on the taffrail, a burgee staff on the bow pulpit, and a custom-cast stainless-steel “SABRE” medallion that proudly signals heritage and craftsmanship.

Safety equipment

Confidence at sea begins with a single Kahlenberg chrome trumpet horn with compressor that cuts through fog and distance, while five fire extinguishers, each at two and one-half pounds, stand ready throughout the yacht. Every thru-hull fitting below the waterline is secured with Marelon sea valves, and a comprehensive bonding system safeguards against galvanic corrosion. In the engine space, an automatic fire extinguishing discharge system with override delivers decisive protection, complemented by three automatic 12V electric bilge pumps. Three high water switches and an alarm provide immediate notification, completing an integrated, vigilant safety suite.

Helm station

Command and safety converge at the helm with one Kahlenberg chrome trumpet horn driven by a compressor for authoritative signaling, while five fire extinguishers, each rated at two and a half pounds, stand ready for rapid response. Below the waterline, every thru-hull fitting is equipped with Marelon sea valves, integrated into a robust bonding system to safeguard against galvanic corrosion. An automatic fire-extinguishing discharge system protects the engine space and includes a manual override for assured control. Bilge management is handled by three automatic twelve-volt electric bilge pumps, complemented by three high-water switches with an alarm for early warning and complete peace of mind.

Engine & mechanical

Power comes from twin Cummins QSC 8.3 engines rated at 550 hp, freshwater-cooled and showing approximately 1,200 hours as of August 4, 2026, paired with twin CMD Zeus 3800 pod drives featuring integrated steering and trim that were fully serviced in July 2026. Each engine is equipped with 120 A, 12 V alternators, and the installation includes two exhaust bypass mufflers to further refine the running experience. The immaculate white gelcoated engine room is thoughtfully finished with an FRP anti-skid floor, aided by an engine room blower and engine room vent ducts for proper ventilation, while a Mylar face foam noise barrier helps keep mechanical sound levels impressively subdued.

The fuel system is designed for confident range and reliability, with two 250 USG diesel fuel tanks to port and starboard, Racor fuel filters fitted with water-in-fuel probes for early detection and protection, and two 2-inch “Diesel” deck fill plates for straightforward, secure fueling.

Effortless control is at your fingertips via a CMD helm with joystick, with trim tabs integrated in the CMD Zeus pod drives, an autopilot seamlessly integrated within the CMD Zeus system, and a “Skyhook” GPS position hold system with a dedicated GPS receiver to maintain precise station-keeping when you need it.

Electrical & systems

The 12VDC electrical system is anchored by two AGM Group 31 dedicated engine start batteries, three AGM 4D deep-cycle ship’s service batteries, and an AGM Group 24 generator start battery, all managed via remote-control battery switches with helm-mounted controls and a manual emergency battery crossover switch. Power distribution is clearly organized with illuminated main circuit breaker distribution and tracked by a digital battery monitor, while premium marine-grade, tinned wire is used throughout. Interior and exterior illumination is thoughtfully curated, featuring St. Maarten amber cabin reading lights, high-output LED overhead lights, halogen bar lighting in appropriate locations, fluorescent engine room lighting, and cockpit courtesy lights.

The 120VAC electrical system is equally robust, centered on an Onan 11.5 kW generator showing 798 hours as of 8/4/26, interfaced to the Cummins Vessel View display and supported by a dedicated start battery, a water lift muffler, a cooling water intake strainer, a sound shield, and a transfer switch. Shore power arrives via 50A service with a Glendinning Cablemaster and a 50 ft. cord, protected by a fail-safe galvanic isolator, and organized through an illuminated main circuit breaker distribution panel with a digital AC system monitor. Convenience and safety are enhanced with 120V GFCI-protected outlets in each cabin and the engine room, a 50A three-bank battery charger, and reverse-cycle heat and air conditioning delivered in three zones.

Freshwater systems

Designed for extended cruising comfort, the freshwater system delivers a generous 160 gallons of capacity, managed by a robust 12 V hot-and-cold water pressure system that feeds the entire yacht with reliable flow. A 20-gallon stainless-steel water heater provides plentiful hot water, operating seamlessly on 110 VAC or via engine heat, while a temperature control valve on the hot-water supply ensures safe, consistent delivery. Practical touches include a freshwater spigot in the engine room for service and rinsing, and the option to elevate outdoor convenience with a hot-and-cold cockpit shower and a freshwater washdown in the anchor locker, each available as an optional upgrade. Waste handling is equally refined, with a polyethylene holding tank offering 70 gallons of capacity, a Jabsco Quiet Flush freshwater MSD serving the guest head, a Tecma Eco MSD fitted in the master head, and a diaphragm waste pump on the holding tank to promote clean, dependable operation.

Crew and utility room

The upgraded crew quarters provide a comfortable retreat with a double bed and an en suite head. A separate washer and dryer, installed in 2026, streamlines turnarounds, while additional storage drawers and shelves in the utility room keep gear neatly organized and readily accessible.

Accommodation

The salon invites with an L-settee to starboard concealing generous storage and a Sabre tool drawer beneath, centered around a high-gloss Hi-Lo table on a pedestal with an angled slide mechanism that lowers to coffee-table height. To port, an entertainment unit houses a 26-inch flatscreen LCD TV on a lift paired with a DVD player, while sound-deadening soft headliner panels hush the space. A raised companion L-settee sits to port of the helm seat, and movement is effortless thanks to the stainless-steel bi-fold door to the cockpit, the electrically operated window aft of the L-settee, and a swing door at the helm leading to the starboard side deck. Forward of the L-settee, a deep chart table stands ready for passage planning.

In the galley, an Isotherm stainless-steel stand-up refrigeration/freezer partners with a two-burner electric cooktop and a convection microwave with a stainless-steel face. A solid-surface countertop frames a stainless-steel under-mount sink with cover and pull-out faucet, and thoughtful organization comes by way of drawers and storage lockers below the counter.

The décor is refined throughout, with a varnished cherry interior finish, screens on all opening ports, and screens and blinds fitted to the deck hatches. Privacy and light control continue with pleated blinds on the side windows and side door, complemented by drapes that trace the aft curved windows.

Master accommodations

The master stateroom centers on a spacious athwartship island berth with laminated trim, framed by Cherry hull ceilings and set atop a teak and holly sole. Natural light filters through a hull side deadlight overhead board, while shoji style passageway and closet doors and matching shoji style portlight screen panels lend an understated serenity. Thoughtful storage abounds with drawers under the berth and in the bulkhead aft of the berth, complemented by two hanging lockers fore and aft of the berth. Comfort and convenience are enhanced by sound deadening soft headliner panels, an LED flatscreen TV, and a pocket door leading to the master head compartment.

Private access from the master stateroom reveals a refined head featuring a glass vessel style sink poised on a high gloss finish over a solid Cherry counter, with a vanity cabinet below the sink, storage outboard, and a Cherry-framed mirror above the vanity. A separate shower stall with a clear bi-fold enclosure and a glass tile accent wall within, with custom tile and sole, is served by an electric shower sump pump. An opening port to the side deck and a deck hatch with blind and screen overhead invite fresh air and daylight, assisted by a ventilation blower, while stainless steel towel bars provide the finishing touch.