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Sabre’s 66 Dirigo is a Downeast Classic

• By Chris Caswell
• Updated: October 16, 2018

Before you step aboard Sabre ‘s 66 Dirigo Flybridge, throw away the standard methods of judging a yacht. Hold off on the tour through the staterooms, poking around the galley and sitting in the helm seat.

First, step into the salon and run your fingers lightly over the fluted pillars, with American cherry joinery. Go to the galley, where every locker, drawer front and the fridge has raised panels, a hallmark of fine cabinetry. Each drawer is handcrafted maple with dovetail joints that should hold together for decades, even without glue. Every stateroom door is arched and hearkens back to Horatio Hornblower days. Sure, square doors would have been faster and cheaper to build. And the yard could have used inexpensive, preformed drawers. But that isn’t the Sabre Yachts way. The company motto is “Crafted in the Maine Tradition.”

Every Dirigo (Latin for “I lead” and the motto of Maine) is a semicustom creation. She comes from the boards of in-house designer Kevin Burns (see sidebar) and is available as a Salon Express or as the Flybridge version we tested. This new Sabre flagship is 14 feet longer than the now-retired Sabre 54, and the added length makes her even more graceful, carrying the flybridge without adding bulk.

Most builders would convert that extra length into additional staterooms, but Sabre gave more generous amounts of space to the existing three staterooms and salon. The master spans the yacht’s 18-foot beam and includes a walk-in closet, a 6-foot sofa, and a shower stall that’s more than 4 feet wide.

The yacht’s salon is also an airy retreat, with 6-foot-2-inch headroom and six opening windows for panoramic views from the 10-foot couch and loose chairs. Double-wide sliding doors open to the cockpit, where there is another high-low dining table and settee, and a clever touch is the glass-enclosed stairway to the bridge — so the salon view isn’t blocked. Just inside the sliders are a wet bar and fridge.

The helm is an open pilothouse, raised slightly to provide the skipper with wraparound visibility. An L-shaped settee for companions is to port of the helm console, which has room for four displays. The skipper has a joystick control in the armrest of the Stidd helm seat.

As you step down to the galley, admire the complicated handrail, supported by fluted newel posts, that wraps nonstop from the helm, past the galley and down to the master stateroom. The galley runs fore and aft to starboard, with a Wolf four-burner cooktop, Sub-Zero fridge with freezer drawers, and granite countertops.

Opposite the galley is the VIP stateroom with an athwartships queen berth, an en suite head and shower, and sliding shoji screens over the ports for privacy. Forward, the third stateroom has a double berth that splits electrically into twin berths as needed. This stateroom has access to the day-head, as well as a private shower compartment to port.

Noteworthy details include the pump room under the galley sole that has step-in access to systems and plumbing. Redundancy is a byword for the Sabre 66, because you don’t want the air conditioning or fresh water to go out on a cruise, so there are backups installed, and the audiovisual cabinet in the companionway has electronics on sliding racks for easy service.

The flybridge is traditional with the helm console forward, an L-shaped settee wrapping around an electric high-low dining table, and a console with a grill, sink and two-drawer fridge. With a fiberglass hardtop, the bridge can be enclosed for all-weather use.

Power for this yacht is twin 900 hp Volvo Penta IPS1200 drives with D13 diesels. A cockpit hatch leads to the full-headroom engine room with space on all sides of the engines. A pair of Onan Quiet series generators provide 21.5 kW on the primary and 13.4 kW on the secondary unit. Switching between AC shore and generator power is automatic, and a Mastervolt 3.4 kW high-output inverter/charger backs up the stand-alone 100-amp charger.

The Sabre 66 Dirigo is surprisingly quick, considering the 40-ish tons of fine woodwork and amenities. Our test boat had a 24.6-knot cruise speed while her engines burned 63 gph. The skipper of our test vessel says he averaged 24 knots from Maine to Florida at 65 gph.

A wealth of thoughtful touches, fine craftsmanship and classic styling should make the Sabre 66 Dirigo timeless.

Looking for something smaller? Sabre’s other flybridge models include a 42- and 48-footer. The builder’s Salon Express series has 38-, 42-, 45- and 48-footers.

The 66 has a 975-gallon fuel capacity: twin 225-gallon day tanks to port and starboard, and a 525-gallon main tank on centerline. There are also dual transfer pumps.

Sabre Designer Kevin Burns

After serving in the U.S. Coast Guard and Merchant Marine, Kevin Burns studied yacht design and worked with mentors before joining Sabre Yachts. There, he finds the family atmosphere productive. He can hear the sounds of the shop floor through his wall and smell the resins. “If I draw something up, I can bring it downstairs, and my guys can tell me if it’s going to work,” he says. “If not, back to the table.”

He sees good design as lasting. “I want a design that’s going to be just as appealing 10 years from now as it is today, without ever becoming old-fashioned,” he says. “Design must advance technology, and technology must advance design. But it has to be a boat first.”

Living with HAL

Nicknamed HAL after the talking computer in 2001: A Space Odyssey , a digital-switching network from Mastervolt CZone and Maretron is aboard the Sabre Yachts 66 Dirigo. It is displayed on the yacht’s Garmin screens and a pair of Apple iPad Minis that recharge on LaunchPort bases in the salon and master stateroom.

Nearly all of the vessel’s AC and DC systems are monitored and controlled through this setup, which has programmable modes for day cruising, night running and “dock unattended,” which not only sets the lighting and water pumps, but also monitors shore power to start the yacht’s generator should dockside power fail.

At the touch of a button, the skipper can also transfer fuel among the 66 Dirigo’s three tanks, check on the bilge-pump status, adjust the air conditioning and open the sliding doors. HAL’s comment in the movie sums up the magic of the onboard digital switching system: “I am putting myself to the fullest possible use.”

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Sabre 66 Dirigo

Get More Info

• LOA: 67′ 10
• Beam: 18′ 1
• Draft: 3′ 10
• Displacement: 82,500 lbs.

Tank Capacities

• Fuel: 1000 gal.
• Water: 300 gal.

Power Options

• Twin Volvo IPS 1200, 900hp

The largest and most luxurious Sabre motor yacht to date made her debut in the summer of 2015. The Sabre 66 Dirigo is the first American built, downeast-style motor yacht of this size to be introduced to the market. She is, as Designer Kevin Burns states “the highest expression of Sabre yet.”

From her functional foredeck to her spacious and comfortable cockpit, she is every bit a Sabre. The best deck hardware, on-deck walking surfaces that are safe and secure, and hand holds wherever they are needed all speak to Sabre’s 45 year history of building boats for people who know boats, and know how they should be equipped.

Her interior is crafted by boat builders with decades of experience. Her systems are modern and functional and her performance as invigorating as boaters have come to expect from Sabre Yachts.

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About Sabre Yachts

The sabre yachts story, sabre yachts has been crafting luxury yachts since 1970 when the company’s founder set out to build the finest possible 28-foot sailing yacht using production line methods and fiberglass technology. over the next 40 years, sailboat models from 28 to 45 feet were introduced. in 1989 sabre debuted the sabreline 36 “fast trawler,” a tri-cabin motoryacht with the spaciousness and comfort of the trawler design but with substantially better performance than traditional trawler hulls. this launched sabre’s industry-leading motor yacht range., in march 1995, sabre acquired north end composites of rockland, maine, a major manufacturer of marine molds and production fiberglass parts. in 2002, north end composites began building the back cove yachts range of small to medium sized, single diesel engine motor yachts. today, more than 200 associates build the back cove range, which spans 34 to 41 feet in length., today sabre produces powerboat models from 38 to 58 feet in length with salon express and fly bridge variations. all current sabre models are constructed using our state-of-the-art, vip resin infusion technology. sabre’s boat building yards are located in both raymond, and rockland, maine.  in the raymond facility, 150 associates build motor yacht models from 38 to 48 feet in length. the sabre 58 is crafted out of sabre’s rockland location due to spatial requirements and its proximity to launch facilities. , through the years sabre has listened carefully to its owners and dealerships and has continuously refined each product with a model year improvement program. sabre motor yachts are sold worldwide, through a network of professional dealerships chosen for their reputation, location, and the quality of their sales and after sales service..

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Crafted in the Maine Tradition

Sabre yachts is renowned for our classic designs, industry-leading quality, and nautically sensible style. that reputation begins with our craftspeople and associates. their unceasing demonstration of artistry, dedication, and craftsmanship make sabre a criterion of the global boating industry and honors the centuries-old boatbuilding tradition of the state of maine – hence the company motto, “crafted in the maine tradition.”, sabre yachts, in conjunction with sister company back cove yachts, employs more than 350 maine craftspeople. our associates continuously demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of their role and its influence on the final product, and nearly a third of the sabre production team has been with the company for over a decade. low employment turnover, an emphasis on safe procedures and cross training, and a thorough awareness of each model’s competitive position in the marketplace have enabled sabre to exceed today’s high standards of excellence in manufacturing and design., through a series of quarterly meetings and regular team luncheons, associates are updated on changing business conditions, the company’s position in the marketplace,  and sales data & goals. they also receive information regarding best-practice changes, new safety regulations, and discuss quality and warranty claims. additionally, these meetings are used to acknowledge exemplary associates and celebrate notable tenure anniversaries., the production of every sabre yacht is monitored by an extensive quality assurance program. each yacht is assigned a “boat parent” who follows the boat through the manufacturing process, acting as the “eyes” of the consumer. all purchased parts and sub-assemblies are checked as they enter production, and each boat is given a 600-point inspection over six separate stages of the building process. all of our suppliers are chosen for their superior reputations and product excellence. as the yacht nears completion, a 12-page report is prepared by sabre’s lead inspector, along with a full technical inspection of all mechanical and electrical systems. finally, a gold inspection is performed by the boat parent, meant to judge the overall quality, feel, and appearance of the boat., when the yacht arrives at her dealership, a detailed commissioning checklist is completed, and a detailed report is sent back to sabre yachts. this process ensures that all systems are functioning to sabre’s satisfaction when the yacht is delivered into service. should clients or dealers report a problem, no matter how large or small, sabre’s after sales representatives work with the servicing yard to address them immediately. our after sales team also generates a customer quality report (cqr) which is circulated to all appropriate members of the management, engineering, and production teams., for more information about our company or our yachts, please feel welcome to contact us . , design philosophy, sabre’s design philosophy.

“The architectural concept of ‘informed simplicity’ is something that I carry around with me. It’s both a goal and an approach to design. At Sabre, each design must be a boat first, and that mandate informs the lines, shapes and spaces that eventually grow into a new model. I think that Sabre has challenged people’s notion of what ‘Downeast’ can be.  Not to say the designs don’t carry the timeless Downeast appeal – they do – but there’s almost a flirtation with irreverence that speaks to the fact that we’re not afraid to push boundaries if it results in a better boat.” – Kevin Burns, VP of Product Development and Design

The Sabre range is a development of the comfort and tradition of the Downeast style, blended with the performance of a contemporary motoryacht. The Sabre range today consists of two boat styles. The classically styled Fly Bridge with upper and lower helm stations, and Salon Express models with enclosed helm decks and spacious cockpits. This diversity of product styles makes the Sabre range one of the most flexible and versatile ranges in the boating industry today.

At low engine speeds, the sabre range is very fuel efficient and at speeds of 8-10 knots, where trawler yachts operate, low-speed gunkholing is a pleasure. but it is when conditions or time allow for higher speed that the performance of the sabre’s deep-vee hulls truly comes into its own.typical cruising speeds, with average weight and conditions, are in the 20-knot range and top speeds, with average load and conditions, are around 30 knots. higher speeds are available on some specific models. in rough sea conditions, the spray rails and chines of the sabre hull keep the deck and windshield dry.   , sabre’s management team, daniel zilkha – chairman, ed miller – vice-chairman, aaron crawford – president & chief executive officer (ceo), nancy basselet – chief financial officer (cfo), kevin burns – vice president of design & product development, lynn beaudoin – national sales manager, glenn campbell – engineering manager, daniel zilkha – co-chairman, daniel zilkha was founding partner in soditic s.a., a geneva-based investment bank. he moved to new york in 1973 and was the founder and publisher of art & auction magazine. daniel came to portland, maine, from new york in 1983 and has been involved with several maine companies. he is currently a partner in ram euro centers as well as being fully involved in the day-to-day operations of sabre yachts, back cove yachts, and north end composites. daniel holds a bachelor of science in engineering degree from princeton university and an mba from the harvard graduate school of business administration., ed miller was a vice president at rothschild inc. in new york, from 1972 to 1980. then founded island couriers and in less than eight years developed this express delivery service in 22 countries throughout latin america and the caribbean. he sold the company to federal express in 1987 and went on to serve as president of the newly created federal express (caribbean and south america) ltd. he is currently the chairman of westwind management. ed holds a bachelor of engineering degree from texas a&m university and an mba from the harvard graduate school of business administration., aaron crawford – president & chief executive officer (coo), aaron crawford is responsible for manufacturing operations as well as supervising engineering, customer service, and warranty. aaron is a 20 year veteran of the marine industry, holding positions with sparkman & stephens yacht design, carroll marine ltd., and outerlimits offshore powerboats before joining sabre yachts. aaron attended drake university in des moines, iowa and is a graduate of the landing school of yacht design based in kennebunkport, maine. in addition to his extensive industry experience, crawford has logged several thousand miles of offshore sailing, racing and motor yacht experience., nancy basselet has been with sabre yachts since 1977, making her the company’s longest tenured officer. nancy initially joined the sabre purchasing team and continued on to develop experience and expertise in all of the departments she now oversees. as sabre’s chief financial officer, nancy supervises the company’s financial, purchasing, and personnel operations. nancy holds a bachelor’s degree in education from the university of maine. , kevin burns – vice president design and product development, kevin burns is a former us merchant marine officer and was born and raised in ohio where he was educated at miami university before moving east to begin his career in yacht design. kevin studied engineering while serving in the united states coast guard, and went on to graduate from the design program at the landing school of yacht design. he served as a naval architect with setzer design group in north carolina before joining  sabre yachts & back cove yachts in 2006. , lynn beaudoin – national sales manager, lynn beaudoin is responsible for coordinating sabre’s dealership network throughout the united states, representing the company at shows and events around the country, and managing owner relations. lynn also organizes sabre’s production calendar, build specifications, and facilitates communications between the engineering and production teams. lynn has expertise in all levels of sabre production and sales, including seven years of experience on the after sales team. , glenn campbell – engineering manager, glenn has been an integral member of our engineering team since 1997 and has contributed to more than sixteen new models in that time. glenn received a bs in industrial technology from the university of southern maine and initially joined the sabre engineering team as an intern while he was completing his degree., design team, sabre’s design team, the sabre & back cove yachts design team translates the companies’ vision into reality., comprised of management, design, and engineering staff, the sabre yachts design team is responsible for the conceptual level of the design process. the department of design & product development then translates those parameters into functional designs, and the companies’ respective departments of engineering then facilitate the production process. sabre’s design team meets regularly to discuss present models and to propose, discuss, and plan future designs. the design team includes:.

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Sabre Yachts Debuts Sabre 66 Dirigo

The worldwide debut of Sabre Yachts newest model, the Sabre 66 Dirigo, took place at the 2016 Yachts Miami Beach show. The Sabre 66 Dirigo is the first and only Downeast style motoryacht of her size built in the United States. The Dirigo model features an innovative Kevin Burns hull design, and iconic Sabre Yachts woodworking in her interior. In terms of the Sabre’s philosophy of Nautical Sensibility, she has been called its “highest expression” to date.

She had an impressive sea trail amidst bitterly cold conditions. Thanks to a cutting-edge hull design and dual Volvo Penta IPS 1200s, the Sabre 66 Dirigo was able to achieve 30 knots in a remarkable 29 seconds, with time-to-plane coming in at an equally impressive 11.5 seconds. To finalize this modern triumph of Maine boatbuilding, this model boasts a cruising speed of 27.5 knots at only 67 gallons/hour fuel consumption, and a top-end speed of 32.5 kts. Beyond her dominate performance underway, the Sabre 66 Dirigo is infused with the same woodworking that has become synonymous with the Sabre Yachts name. The company considers this new flagship the direct result of their more than 45 years in the industry and the dedication of Maine crafts-people with decades of boatbuilding experience.

Despite frigid temperatures and uncertain weather conditions, the Sabre 66 Dirigo left Rockland Harbor on her maiden voyage early Monday morning, a journey that will conclude in Miami Beach, Florida where she debuted worldwide at the 2016 Yachts Miami Beach boat show. Market predictions expect the line to meet with huge success, and the company anticipates an increase in production-level openings as a result. To date, the Dirigo project has generated 20 new positions at Sabre’s production facility in Rockland, and hiring at that location continues.

The Sabre 66 Dirigo is respectfully available by broker-accompanied reservation only. Given the yacht’s exclusive three-per-year production schedule, interested persons are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity. Prospective buyers should contact their local Sabre Yachts Dealer, information about which can be found at the Sabre Yachts website , and media personnel are encouraged to contact the company’s main office in Raymond, Maine, to set up a viewing.

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