Sabre 34
Built 1976–? by Sabre Yachts
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About the Sabre 34
Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.
- Built
- 1976–?
- Builder
- Sabre Yachts
- Designer
- Roger Hewson
- Length
- 34.18 ft
- Waterline
- 26.25 ft
- Beam
- 10.5 ft
- Draft
- 5.5 ft
- Displacement
- 11,400 lb
- Ballast
- 4,600 lb
- Hull / keel
- fin keel
- Rig
- sloop
- Propulsion
- inboard
- Fuel
- 20 gal
- Water
- 44 gal
- Holding
- 24 gal
- Water heater
- factory option
- Number built
- 255
- Stern thruster
- not fitted
- Steering
- pedestal cable
Tank capacities — where the figures come from
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Fuel 20 gal
“The heavy duty aluminum fuel tank has a capacity of 20 gallons.” — brochure (Mk I (23 hp Volvo MD11C, LOA 33'8")), sabreyachts.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com · “Her heavy duty aluminum fuel tank has a 30 gallon fuel capacity.” — brochure (Mk II (Westerbeke 27, LOA 34'2", from 19), sabreyachts.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.comThe original Sabre 34 (Mk I) brochure gives 20 gal, matching our earlier figure. The later Mk II brochure (1986 Boat of the Year) gives 30 gal.
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Water 44 gal
“Two 22 gallon water tanks are located under the main cabin berths.” — brochure (Mk I), sabreyachts.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com · “The Sabre 34 has a water capacity of 76 gallons with a 30 gallon holding tank.” — brochure (Mk II), sabreyachts.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.comThe builder's Mk I brochure lists two 22 gal tanks, 44 gal in total, so neither the 38 gal in a spec database nor the 40 in Sailing Magazine is right. The Mk II has 76 gal.
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Holding 24 gal
“A 24 gallon holding tank is standard.” — brochure (Mk I), sabreyachts.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com · “with a 30 gallon holding tank” — brochure (Mk II), sabreyachts.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.comMk I 24 gal; Mk II 30 gal (builder brochures).
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Water heater factory option
“A shower with pressurized hot and cold water is offered as an option” — brochure (Mk I), sabreyachts.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com · “Hot and cold pressurized water is offered as an option” — brochure (Mk II (c. 1986-)), sabreyachts.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.comBoth the Mk I and Mk II Sabre 34 brochures list hot and cold pressure water as an option (standard galley and vanity sinks have foot pumps on the Mk I). No heater size or heating method given.
Tanks are often replaced or added on older boats — check the tank labels or a survey for yours.
Thrusters and steering — where this comes from
-
Bow thruster unknown
The Mk I brochure and the 1991 Sabre 34 Aft-Cabin equipment list (standard items with a few options noted) list no thruster; no full option list was found.
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Stern thruster not fitted
Our earlier figure of none had no source. The builder's standard-equipment lists show no thruster, but no complete option list was found.
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Steering pedestal cable
“The standard 28" wheel steerer is equipped with wheel guard, wheel brake, and pedestal mounted engine controls.” — brochure (Mk I), sabreyachts.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com · “Edson wheel steering with 36" Destroyer wheel, wheel guard and brake. ... Emergency tiller stored in cockpit locker.” — builder (1991), sabreyachts.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com · “White quadrant cover to enhance lazarette appearance” — builder (1991), sabreyachts.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.comPedestal wheel steering was standard from the Mk I (28 in. wheel, later 36 in.). Sabre's 1991 Aft-Cabin equipment list names Edson steering and a rudder quadrant in the lazarette, meaning a pedestal with cable to a quadrant, and an emergency tiller was supplied.
Thrusters and steering are often replaced — check the units on your boat before ordering parts.
Sources disagree on last year — left blank rather than guessed.
Original (Mk I) Sabre 34, hulls 1-255. Sailboatdata gives 1976-1985; SpinSheet says introduced 1977 and built until 1984, with the redesigned Mk II from 1985 (sailboatdata says 1986). Keel/centerboard version draws 3 ft 11 in board up. Early boats had the Atomic 4 gas engine; after the first year Volvo or Westerbeke diesels were standard (hp not given). Single-spreader masthead rig. Deck and cabin balsa-cored; hull hand-laid glass with encapsulated stringers and frames. The Mk II (1985 on) is a different boat: 11,500 lb, keel-stepped double-spreader rig, 27 hp Westerbeke, fin/centerboard/wing keel options. Hull material left null: sources describe a hand-laid hull but do not state solid vs cored.
Engines fitted
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Atomic 4 (Universal) gas — gas, single
standard
sailboatdata lists the Universal Atomic 4 gas engine as original equipment for the Sabre 34 (Mk I, 1976-85, hulls 1-255; the 34-2 followed in 1986).Sources: sailboatdata.com
- Atomic 4 (Universal) — gas standard
- Volvo Penta — 23 hp, diesel standard
- Westerbeke — 27 hp, diesel standard
Boats of the same model can differ — check which engines yours actually has before ordering parts.
Generator
No generator in either brochure.
Manuals and brochures online
- Brochure Sabre 34 (Mk I) brochure with specifications and tankage — sabreyachts.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com
- Brochure Sabre 34 Mk II brochure 'Graceful Power' with specification table (1986) — sabreyachts.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com
- Spec sheet Sabre 34 Aft-Cabin specifications summary, equipment list and 1990-91 model improvements (Sabre Yachts, 1991) (1991) — sabreyachts.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com
Hosted by the builder or an owners' association; they own the copyright.
Known problems for this model
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Deck core rot at unsealed fastener holes deck
Handrails and other fittings were through-bolted into the balsa-cored deck and cabin top without sealing the core; a surveyor reports serious delamination on several boats, costing several thousand dollars to repair.spinsheet.com
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Moderate osmotic blistering hull
The hand-laid hull rarely has structural problems, but moderate blistering below the waterline is fairly common.spinsheet.com
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Two-cylinder Volvo is rough engine
All engines fitted are adequate when maintained, but the two-cylinder Volvos are louder and vibrate more than the Universal and Westerbeke options.spinsheet.com
Engines & parts
Universal Atomic 4 parts: good
Factory standard engine — you entered “Atomic 4 (Universal) gas”
Tens of thousands were built (sources say from 40,000 to 50,000). Despite being out of production for decades, the engine is well supported: Moyer Marine sells parts, rebuilt engines, fuel pump rebuilds and exhaust parts, and hosts an owners' forum; Old Lyme Marina and others also supply parts, and electronic ignition upgrades are available.
Parts sources: Moyer Marine
Common problems (3)
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Raw-water cooling scale and corrosion cooling
Most Atomic 4s are raw-water cooled, so the block scales up and corrodes, especially in salt water; cranking without starting can also flood the engine with seawater through the exhaust.goodoldboat.com · moyermarineforum.com · keelindex.com
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Gasoline vapor fire/explosion risk fuel
Gasoline vapor is heavier than air and settles in the bilge, so ventilation, blower use and shutting the fuel valve (a stuck carburetor float can overflow) matter.goodoldboat.com
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Ignition and fuel system faults electrical
Points, condenser, cap and wires, plus gummed carburetors and contaminated fuel, are the most common reasons an Atomic 4 won't run well.keelindex.com · goodoldboat.com
Maker’s service schedule (9)
| Engine oil & filter change | 50 hrs | “3. FIFTY HOUR CHECK a. Using sump pump, remove all oil from crankcase. Refill with a good grade oil as specified in Tabl” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Fuel filters & water separator | 50 hrs | “e. Clean fuel pump strainer.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Heat exchanger & oil cooler cleaning | 50 hrs | “b. Inspect oil cooler and remove any accumulation of grit or dirt.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Clean flame arrestor | 100 hrs | “b. Inspect flame arrestor to be sure air passages are clean and free from oil. If dirty remove and wash with kerosene.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Check clutch (reverse gear) adjustment | 100 hrs | “4. ONE HUNDRED HOUR CHECK ... c. Check adjustment of clutch.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Valve clearance check / adjust | 150 hrs or 1 yr | “5. ONE HUNDRED FIFTY HOUR CHECK a. Check valve tappet adjustment.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Spark plugs inspect / replace | 150 hrs | “b. Remove, clean, and reset spark plugs.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Transmission fluid change Universal V-drive unit (V-drive installations only; the standard reverse gear shares engine oil) | 500 hrs | “(2) After the first 50 hours of operation, drain unit and refill ... (3) Change lubricant every 500 hours of operation.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Complete overhaul | 3,000 hrs | “At the end of three thousand hours of operation the engine should be completely overhauled.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
Service part numbers (8)
| Oil filter optional add-on oil filter (not standard equipment) |
Universal 276236 | “2 Element or Cartridge 1 276236 (Oil Group, Oil Filter, Not Standard Equipment)” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Raw-water impeller Oberdorfer N202M-03 / N202M-07 replacement raw-water pump (Universal pump 295625) |
Oberdorfer 6593 | “5 Impeller 6593 6593 6593 6593 6593 1 (N202M, N202M-03, N202M-07 parts list)” — manufacturer, pumpsandpartsonline.com · “Impeller : Catalog # 6593, Impeller” — dealer, pumpagents.com |
| Raw-water pump kit Oberdorfer N202M-03 / N202M-07 raw-water pump |
Oberdorfer 10725 | “REPAIR KIT N202M N202M-03 N202M-07 10725” — manufacturer, pumpsandpartsonline.com · “Catalog # 10725, Repair Kit, includes O-Ring, Snap Ring, Impeller, 2 x Lip Seal” — dealer, pumpagents.com |
| Drive belt alternator belt (Prestolite and Motorola alternators) |
Universal 239387 | “19 Belt 1 239387 (12 Volt - Motorola 51 Amp Alternator)” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Spark plug | Universal 273276 × 4 | “8 Spark plugs, champion 4 273276” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Thermostat late style, from 1967 / serial #79476 (Holley 145 F, on cylinder head) |
Universal 200206 | “12 Thermostat Kit 1 200206 consists of 262278 and 261601” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Thermostat Dole type, before serial #79476 (on manifold) |
Universal 200207 | “13 Kit, Thermostat (consists of 275965 & 261144) 1 200207” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Zinc / anode fresh-water-cooled engines only (Universal heat-exchanger kit) |
Universal 299760 | “23 zinc pencil 1 299760 (Cooling, Fresh Water System, after serial #79476)” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
From the engine maker’s parts lists, or two independent parts dealers. Numbers change with serial number and get superseded — check yours before ordering.
Sources disagree on first year, last year, number built — left blank rather than guessed.
Other Sabre models
- Sabre 28 1971–1986
- Sabre 30 1979–1993
- Sabre 36 1985–1990
- Sabre 38 Mk I 1981–1987
Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.