SCRIMSHAW - SABRE FOR SALE

SCRIMSHAW is a 40-foot fiberglass performance cruiser-racer rigged as a sloop. Drawn by Jim Taylor and crafted in Maine by Sabre Yachts, the Sabre 402 marries offshore speed with inviting coastal-cruising amenities for small crews or families.

Specifications and dimensions

SCRIMSHAW is a 2002 Sabre 402 performance cruising sailboat listed at $184,000 in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, USA. Designed by Jim Taylor and built by Sabre Yachts, this forty-foot fiberglass sloop carries a sloop rig and a shoal-draft fin keel drawing 4' 11". Her principal dimensions are 40' 2" LOA, 34' 0" LWL, and a 13' 4" beam, with a displacement of 19,760 lbs and 7,500 lbs of lead ballast. Propulsion is provided by a Westerbeke W55A 55 HP diesel showing approximately 1,760 hours as of September 2026. Tankage comprises 50 gal of fuel, 107 gal of water distributed across three tanks, and 30 gal of holding capacity. Accommodations sleep six between two private cabins and the salon. Notable upgrades include updated B&G Zeus 3 electronics and bimini-mounted solar panels, and the yacht has benefited from the same owner’s care since 2015.

Vessel highlights and recent upgrades

A proven performer with pedigree, this yacht was named Cruising World’s 1997 Overall Boat of the Year and showcases a lightweight carbon fiber rudder post paired with a fast, responsive Jim Taylor hull for exhilarating, confidence-inspiring sailing. Modern navigation and power systems include a full B&G Zeus 3 electronics package and bimini-mounted solar panels that efficiently sustain onboard energy needs. Meticulous care is evident, with the same owner since 2015, annual standing rigging inspections, and a history of light New England coastal cruising. Recent equipment replacements further enhance reliability, including a new cutlass bearing, new alternator, new starter battery, and new lifelines. Comfort on board is assured by a welcoming two-cabin layout with an American cherry interior sleeping six, a complete navigation station, a U-shaped galley with generous counter space, and a dedicated head with a separate shower stall.

Faqs

SCRIMSHAW, a 2002 Sabre 402, is a 40-foot fiberglass performance cruiser and racer rigged as a sloop, designed by Jim Taylor and built in Maine by Sabre Yachts. She blends true offshore speed with the comfort and practicality needed for coastal cruising, making her equally at home with small crews or families.

Her shoal-draft fin keel with external lead ballast draws 4 feet 11 inches, opening up shallow harbors and gunkholes while preserving impressive stiffness and confident upwind performance. Below, the layout sleeps six across two private double cabins—fore and aft—plus the main salon, and is complemented by a single head with a separate adjoining shower stall, an L-shaped galley with expanded counter space, and a full-sized nav station.

Modernized where it matters, SCRIMSHAW features a complete B&G Zeus 3 electronics suite, solar panels on the bimini, an upgraded alternator, a new starter battery, new lifelines, and a new cutlass bearing.

Introduction

Well-maintained and ready to cruise, SCRIMSHAW is a handsome example of the Sabre 402, a proven design celebrated for its solid build quality, comfortable motion under sail, and timeless Sabre styling. Under the care of the same owner since 2015 and lightly cruised out of Fairhaven, MA, she presents with a clean, well-kept interior that reflects clear pride of ownership. Her two-cabin layout offers welcome privacy and generous space for a couple or small family. Standing rigging has been inspected annually, and she is equipped with a full B&G Zeus 3 electronics package and solar panels mounted on the bimini. Notable upgrades include a new cutlass bearing, alternator, starter battery, and lifelines. Lying in Fairhaven, MA, SCRIMSHAW represents a thoughtfully maintained opportunity to own one of Sabre’s most respected cruising designs.

Overview

The Sabre 402 is a 40-foot performance cruiser conceived by designer Jim Taylor in collaboration with the Sabre Design Team, marrying New England craftsmanship with modern engineering. Swift and responsive yet easily managed by a cruising couple, she features contemporary refinements including a carbon fiber rudder post and a finely tuned keel and rig package. Acclaim followed early: in 1997 she captured Cruising World’s Mid-Sized Cruiser title as well as the Overall Boat of the Year award, and she has since compiled impressive results both around the buoys and offshore, including class victories in hallmark contests such as the Newport/Bermuda race.

Belowdecks, the Sabre 402 showcases abundant counter space in the galley, a thoughtfully arranged navigation station, and a single head with an adjoining shower stall. Celebrated as a coastal performance cruiser, she remains a standout on the pre-owned market for her blend of speed, comfort, and build quality, with well-maintained examples like SCRIMSHAW continuing to command strong value.

Construction

The hull is one hundred percent hand-laminated F.R.P., engineered with Airex foam coring in the topsides. The hull-to-deck joint is bolted and bedded with 5200 adhesive sealant, while bulkheads, berth faces, shelves, and floor stringers are laminated to the hull to provide integral structural strength. The finish showcases a Flag Blue gelcoat. The deck is balsa-cored, hand-laminated F.R.P., with mahogany plywood employed in place of balsa in high-stress areas, and it is bonded to the hull using stainless steel thru-bolts spaced every six inches.

Cockpit

Thoughtfully appointed for cruising and effortless days underway, the cockpit offers a deep storage locker to port and a cockpit locker to starboard featuring a Lewmar hatch that provides access to the aft cabin. Stowage continues with two lazarette lockers and a dedicated stove fuel storage locker in the starboard side deck, while practical drainage is assured by two cockpit scuppers to sea valves. At the helm, a solid teak cup holder crowns the pedestal alongside a B&G chartplotter, and entertaining is easy around the varnished folding cockpit table. A neatly sculpted transom completes the area with a folding swim ladder fitted with teak treads.

Interior

Thoughtfully arranged in a two-stateroom layout with an owner's suite forward, the interior showcases varnished American red cherry joinery complemented by a varnished teak and holly cabin sole and solid cypress strip ceilings. The main cabin offers six feet six inches of headroom for exceptional comfort, while the main salon features sumptuous blue UltraSuede upholstery, and the cabins are finished in refined blue patterned fabric.

Accommodations

From forward, the layout opens with an owner’s cabin featuring a V-berth, a cedar-lined hanging locker, and a vanity with sink and bench. The main salon is spacious and warm, with an L-shaped settee wrapped around a drop-leaf centerline table that converts to a double berth to port, while to starboard a straight settee is complemented by a forward-facing navigation station with an opening chart table. Lovely natural light streams through the overhead hatch, opening ports, and coach roof portlights.

To port, the U-shaped galley is well appointed with sizable refrigeration, a Force 10 stainless steel three-burner gimballed stove with oven, and plenty of storage. A head with shower lies aft to starboard, and a guest cabin with double bunk is positioned aft to port; the aft head has a private door into the aft cabin as well as a door to the salon. Ventilation and ample lighting are found throughout.

Galley equipment

The galley is appointed with twin stainless steel sinks, complemented by a trash bin tucked beneath the basin and ample drawer and locker storage for organized provisioning. Cold storage is expertly handled by a Sea Frost refrigerator and freezer combination featuring top-opening lids and a convenient front door, with power flexibility via shore assist or engine-driven operation. Culinary duties are centered around a Force 10 three-burner propane stove with oven, while salt and freshwater foot pumps at the sink provide efficient, low-draw water options.

Deck equipment

Forward, a 35 lb CQR anchor rides on an aluminum bow roller, served by approximately 30 feet of 5/16-inch chain and 250 feet of 5/8-inch rode, all feeding cleanly into an in-deck chain locker. A spare 35 lb CQR and a small Danforth with chain are stowed neatly in the port helm seat locker. Anchoring is effortless with a Lewmar horizontal gypsy mounted in the bow anchor locker and controlled by convenient deck switches. Natural light and ventilation are optimized by Lewmar deck hatches, complemented by stainless steel and plastic opening ports and fixed ports in the main salon, each finished with interior trim and insect screens. Hardware throughout is premium, including cast stainless steel cleats, chocks, and hawse holes set into the toe rails, and a robust stainless steel tube bowrail. A split stair rail leads to a fold-down swim ladder off the scoop transom for easy water access. Safety is ensured by tapered stanchions and double vinyl-covered stainless steel lifelines standing 30 inches high. The finishing touch comes with three-inch varnished teak toe rails and beautifully varnished teak handrails, while additional stainless steel opening ports serve both the main and forward cabins.

Canvas

The light tan canvas suite sets a warm, refined tone across the deck, anchored by a dodger with an elkhide grabrail for confident movement in all conditions. Overhead, a bimini with integrated solar panels delivers silent, sustainable power while casting generous shade. A dedicated wheel and pedestal cover preserves the helm’s finish, and plush cockpit cushions elevate comfort whether underway or at anchor.

Sails

A North Sails mainsail and genoa compose a refined, performance‑focused wardrobe, delivering dependable power, precise trim, and enduring quality across a wide range of conditions.

Rig and sail handling

A Hall Spars painted white aluminum triple spreader mast and boom form the powerful heart of the rig, complemented by a Hall QuikVang for crisp mainsail control and a Selden Furlex 300S aluminum foil with a drum furler and swivels to streamline headsail management. Dedicated main and genoa halyards stand ready, while a flagpole on the stern rail adds a classic finishing touch. The standing rigging is all Navtec, featuring stainless steel rod with stainless steel end fittings, open barrel turnbuckles, and stainless steel toggles, all tuned through a Navtec hydraulic backstay adjuster. Precision sail shape is further refined by adjustable inboard genoa car tracks, and effortless line handling comes courtesy of a Lewmar #44CEST 2-speed electric winch on the starboard housetop, a Lewmar #44CST 2-speed winch on the portside cabin top, and two Lewmar #54 CST 2-speed primary winches on the coamings.

Engine and mechanical equipment

Power comes from a Westerbeke W55A Four 55 hp diesel engine showing approximately 1,760 hours, breathing cleanly through a Racor R24T filter. The driveline features a one-and-three-eighths-inch stainless-steel shaft equipped with stainless-steel line cutters, turning a Maxprop three-blade feathering propeller for efficient thrust and precise handling. Electrical output is delivered by a Powermax 12V/100A alternator paired with a Balmar ARS-5 multi-stage regulator to maintain steady, reliable charging. Climate control is provided by a Marine Air Systems HVAC unit rated at 16,000 BTU.

Tankage and plumbing

Engineered for dependable operation and effortless cruising, the tankage and plumbing integrate a Sealand Vacuflush freshwater flush system for sanitary reliability. In the deep bilge sump, a Rule 1500 paired with a Rule-a-matic Plus float switch provides automatic dewatering, complemented by a Whale Gusher Titan manual pump positioned in the cockpit. Fuel capacity stands at 50 US Gallons in the main tank, while freshwater supply totals 107 US Gallons divided among three tanks, and waste is contained in a 30 US Gallons holding tank monitored by a Tankwatch 4 gauge. For offshore compliance and convenience, a macerator with a legal offshore Y-valve enables direct discharge where permitted.

Electrical system

The yacht’s robust electrical suite centers on five 2017 MK Powered 8A27 12-volt AGM batteries, managed by a Victron battery monitor and supported by a Heart Freedom 25 2500 watt inverter/charger. Charging versatility comes from a solar panel on the bimini and a flexible PV panel with a Ferris Powerboost 200 MPPT solar charge controller, complemented by a Xantrex 15-amp Digital echo-charge dedicated to the engine start batteries. Shore connectivity is ensured via twin Marinco 30A/125V connectors and fifty-foot 30A/125V cords, while distribution and protection are handled by a Bass circuit breaker panel paired with Lewmar high-amp circuit breakers, and system oversight is provided by Bass DC volts and amps instrumentation with a Heart Interface Link 2000 remote panel. Onboard comfort and ambiance are elevated by recessed overhead lighting with a dimmer switch, red courtesy lights for safe night running, and Hella cabin fans.

Navigation and communication electronics

Command and clarity are assured with an Icom IC-M504 VHF at the navigation station, complemented by an Icom Command Mic II at the helm. At the helm pedestal, a B&G Zeus3 nine-inch multifunction chartplotter provides crisp guidance, while a second B&G Zeus3 nine-inch display integrates with a B&G Halo20+ pulse compression radar antenna for confident passage-making. A B&G Triton2 multi display positioned over the companionway delivers instant performance data, and a B&G Triton2 autopilot with keypad at the helm ensures precise course control. A Simrad AIS further heightens situational awareness, while the full suite of navigation lighting includes dedicated navigation lights, a tri-color masthead light, and steaming and foredeck lights. Connectivity and entertainment are elevated by an Uber cell signal booster and a West Marine WM4000 with Bluetooth, USB, and AUX, paired with Bose speakers.

Safety equipment

A comprehensive suite of safety gear underscores the yacht’s commitment to seamanship, including life jackets, a Lifesling with bag and hoisting tackle, a horseshoe life ring buoy, and fire extinguishers. For redundancy under way, an emergency tiller and an Edson hand-operated emergency bilge pump stand ready, while an EPIRB and locator beacon provide global alerting and position recovery, and efficient cockpit drains keep the deck clear and secure.

Additional equipment

Thoughtfully outfitted for seamless cruising, this yacht is supplied with dock lines and fenders, a boat hook, assorted winch handles, miscellaneous spare parts, and an array of ship’s gear, and it is accompanied by most original equipment manuals to streamline ownership, operation, and maintenance from day one.

Exclusions

All personal effects, together with any equipment or accessories not specifically enumerated in the foregoing inventory, are expressly excluded from the sale.