The Dark Side - SABRE FOR SALE

The Dark Side, a downeast-inspired jewel in a rich Claret hull, turns heads instantly. This luxury express cruiser marries classic lines with contemporary performance and poise.

Cared for by seasoned, detail-obsessed owners, she has enjoyed open-checkbook maintenance to keep her in impeccable, yacht-show condition.

Driven by Zeus pod drives, she is easy to command, efficient, and impressively quiet underway. Joystick docking and station-keeping simplify close-quarters handling. She settles into a 27-knot cruise and sprints beyond 32 knots at full throttle—true sport cruiser capability.

Her galley-down arrangement sits opposite the owner’s suite, a chef-friendly space with generous counters, ample stowage, and everything needed for elegant entertaining and gourmet cuisine.

The owner’s stateroom is amidships at the boat’s widest beam, providing full walkaround berth access, abundant storage, and a tranquil Shoji-inspired style.

A private forward guest cabin is thoughtfully separated from the owner’s quarters for superb privacy.

Both staterooms feature en-suite heads with separate showers.

Enter the bright main salon from the expansive cockpit and enjoy 360-degree views beneath a large skylight perfect for stargazing. The helm on this motor yacht offers excellent sightlines and effortless control.

Outside, generous lounging and social zones invite relaxation, with space tailored for hosting in comfort.

Gracefully balanced on her lines, she draws admiring looks in every harbor. A standout among premium cabin cruisers, powerboats, and luxury motor yachts—don’t delay; she’s exquisite.

Description

The Dark Side, with her downeast design and Claret hull, is arrestingly beautiful, the kind of profile that turns heads before she even leaves the dock. Meticulously maintained and presented by deeply knowledgeable owners who spared no expense, she has been elevated at every opportunity to be the very best version of herself. Her Zeus pod-drive system makes every departure effortless and every arrival precise, delivering notable efficiency and a wonderfully quiet, composed ride; she cruises at 27 knots and will run beyond 32 knots at wide open. The galley is set down to port directly across from the owner’s stateroom and is a chef’s delight, with abundant counter space and storage that make hosting and gourmet meal preparation genuinely easy. Amidships, the owner’s stateroom benefits from the yacht’s maximum beam, allowing full walkaround access to the bed, plentiful storage, and an ambiance that is simply gorgeous thanks to Sabre’s signature Shoji-style design. The guest stateroom lies forward, thoughtfully separated from the owner’s space for added privacy, and both staterooms enjoy their own private heads with showers. From the large cockpit you step into a main salon that is bright and uplifting, offering 360-degree views and a generous skylight for stargazing, while the exterior lounging and dining areas are once again perfect for relaxing and entertaining. She sits exquisitely on her lines and will draw admiring glances wherever she goes. Don’t hesitate—she’s lovely.

Overview

Step aboard from the spacious swim platform through the cockpit door and enter a salon that is luminous and uplifting. To starboard, a settee comfortably accommodates 4, while opposite a sliding settee seats 2—dinner for 6 is effortless. Opposite the Stidd helm seats, a raised L-shaped settee offers elevated comfort for 3 and keeps conversation flowing underway. The helm itself, with double Stidd 500N series seats, is engineered for long passages with excellent sightlines to clearly legible gauges, and a hinged door outboard provides instant access to the side deck for stress-free docking. Down a few steps to port sits the midships galley—bright, airy, and rich in counter space—directly opposite the owner’s cabin, which features its own private head and shower; continue forward and a passageway leads to the guest cabin, also with a private head and shower. A truly unique feature is the living space/workroom forward of the engine room: slide the port-side salon settee and a staircase reveals a cooled utility area with workspace, storage, and a generous crew berth—perfect as crew quarters or a brilliant hideaway for projects. The interior in beautiful cherry is warm and welcoming, and the entire yacht is fully climatized with reverse-cycle heat and air for year-round comfort. Complementing her handsome lines, the hull was repainted in Awlgrip Claret Red in 2020, and the exterior brightwork was previously stripped and built back with 13 coats of Awlwood; in September 2024 the toe rail, cockpit table, and eyebrow were again stripped and refinished with 12 coats of AWLWOOD gloss—stunning.

In the main salon, a stainless-steel bi-fold door opens from the cockpit, and an opening sunroof floods the space with sky. The starboard L-shaped settee includes a filler to convert to a double berth when needed, while sliding windows on the cabin sides and an electrically operated window aft of the settee invite sea breeze at anchor. The table raises for dining or lowers for cocktail time, effortlessly adapting the mood. Slide the port-side settee to access the air-conditioned utility room/crew space, where a Splendide washer sits alongside a separate dryer, with dedicated workspace, drawers and a locker, plus a large crew bunk that makes extended cruising practical and easy.

The helm arrangement is impeccably equipped: twin Stidd 500N helm seats face a Stazo 400 mm teak steering wheel with tilt helm and Sabre logo; Cummins DTS single-lever electronic controls and a Cummins Smart Craft display provide engine data, tank levels, vessel info, and alarms at a glance. Switches for horn, running lights, anchor light, engine room blower, and optional systems sit intuitively to hand, triple windshield wipers and washers clear the view in moments, and a Ritchie compass keeps you true. Across from the helm, a mate’s lounge with a chart locker elevates comfort, and the hinged access door to the side deck at the helm makes line handling a joy.

The midships galley is thoughtfully appointed with solid-surface countertops, an oval stainless-steel sink, a Nova Cool refrigerator and freezer, a Princess two-burner induction cooktop, and a Cuisinart microwave/convection oven. Natural light pours in through a large fixed deadlight in the hull over the counter, while an opening stainless-steel portlight above the galley invites fresh air.

The owner’s stateroom amidships is exactly where it should be—where motion is most subdued—creating a serene retreat with a queen island berth. Sabre’s signature Shoji-style doors and trim elevate the aesthetic, and the ensuite master head features a Corian sink, a cherry-framed mirror, a ceramic tile sole, and a shower stall with a glass divider and glass-tile accents. Storage abounds under the queen berth, in two hanging lockers, and in multiple drawers, all finished in particularly beautiful cherry. Forward, the guest/day head lies to port and offers full amenities including a circular shower enclosure. Beyond, the guest cabin is airy by day and intimate by night, with a centerline queen bed, additional storage, and two hanging lockers—a delightful haven for friends and family.

Navigation and entertainment systems are comprehensive and modern: a pair of Raymarine multifunction touch screens—Raymarine GS165 15" Glass Bridge displays—anchor the dash, aided by a remote keypad. A Raymarine Super HD 4KW Radar with Raynet, Raymarine AIS Class B transceiver, and Raymarine CAM100 cameras—two thermal units in the engine room and one aft view, three total—expand awareness. Weather intelligence arrives via the Raymarine SR 150 Sirius XM weather receiver and the Airmar 150WX weather station. Precision boat control is enhanced by the Skyhook GPS position-hold system with a dedicated GPS receiver. Communications and alerts are delivered by an ICOM504 VHF and a Speco hailer horn, while entertainment is handled by a Fusion stereo system that is Sirius-ready and LG televisions; with the TVs no longer connected to KVH, it is the perfect time to move to Starlink. Security is provided by a GOST system.

Life in the cockpit is both social and serene: enter from the swim platform, relax on the large forward-facing L-shaped settee with seating for 6, gather around the beautiful high-gloss teak table, or enjoy the aft-facing settee for 2. Steps lead up to the side decks, LED courtesy lighting sets the evening tone, and a SureShade electric retractable awning extends shade at the touch of a button. On deck, a QUICK electric anchor windlass, bow pulpit with dual anchor rollers, a Rocna 33KG anchor, and a 1 1/4" diameter 316 stainless-steel perimeter rail speak to purposeful cruising. Her Awlgrip Claret Red hull—three coats of primer and three coats of paint with a clear coat in 2020—shines with depth, and brightwork refinished in September 2024 with 12 coats of AWLWOOD gloss underscores the care invested. The tender package is equally thoughtful: a Yamaha 20HP four-stroke outboard (2018) powers an aluminum AB RIB with console steering, carried on a Freedom Lift with remote key fobs and a hard-wired controller to make launch and retrieval effortless.

Electrical systems are robust and well organized. On the 12V DC side, there are two AGM Group 31 dedicated engine-start batteries (2021), three AGM 4D deep-cycle house batteries (2021), and one AGM Group 24 generator-start battery (2021). Remote-control battery switches are duplicated at the helm, and a manual emergency crossover lets you draw on the house bank if a start battery fails. An illuminated circuit-breaker panel sits at the galley steps, complemented by a digital battery monitor. Lighting includes ST Martin amber cabin reading lights, LED overheads in the cabins, bar lights, fluorescent engine room lighting, and cockpit courtesy lights, with many 12V outlets distributed throughout. Three automatic 12V electric bilge pumps, along with three high-water switches and alarms, provide vital redundancy. On the 120V AC side, power comes from an Onan 13.5KW genset with an interface to the Cummins Vessel View display and its dedicated start battery, and from 50 AMP shore power via a 50 ft cord on a Glendinning Cablemaster. A BlueSeas AC/DC electrical panel with multi-meters, a galvanic isolator, a digital AC system monitor, and 120V GFCI outlets in the engine room and cabins round out protection and control. Charging and comfort are assured by a 50AMP three-bank battery charger, a 3000 inverter/charger, and four-zone reverse-cycle heat and air.

Mechanically, The Dark Side has enjoyed exemplary care by her marina. Commissioning and decommissioning include inspections, battery checks, and oil analysis. In 2023, minor leaks were noted at the shaft seals; the gear cases were torn down, prop-shaft hubs removed, new shafts installed, and the entire system serviced, then monitored with excellent results. Later in 2023, after a possible distant lightning event, the autopilot module, a CCM module, and a J Box were replaced; sea trials and thorough testing followed, and operation has been perfect. Her mechanical specification inspires confidence: twin Cummins QSC 8.3 550HP electronic engines drive twin CMD Zeus 3800 pod drives with integrated trim and steering. A “1000” service in 2022 included, among other items, replacement of thermostats and hoses, and cleaning of heat exchangers and Airseps; in 2023 she received the new shafts and a complete service; and in October 2024 a 25-hour service reported clean, clear fluid in the pods. Additional features include two exhaust by-pass mufflers, an engine room blower, a white gelcoated engine room with FRP anti-skid flooring, twin Racor fuel filters with water-sensor alarms, a CMD helm with joystick, and autopilot and trim tabs fully integrated into the CMD Zeus system.

Plumbing is equally comprehensive: two 250 Gal diesel fuel tanks are fitted port and starboard with 2" deck fill plates; fresh water capacity is 160 gal. A shore water inlet was added in 2017, and a 20 gal stainless-steel hot-water heater operates on shore power or via the engine heat exchanger, with a bypass manifold and drain installed in 2018. A fresh-water spigot serves the engine room, and the anchor washdown has been recently replaced. The sanitation system includes a 70 gal poly holding tank, a Jabsco Quiet Flush fresh-water toilet in the guest/day head, and a Tecma Eco toilet in the master head; the macerator pump and all head hoses were replaced in 2020. For laundry, a Splendide washer and a separate dryer are installed side by side in the utility room with two drawers below. This is a yacht designed to be used, loved, and admired—every passage as graceful as her lines.