This Dog Don't Hunt-Sabreline 36 Aft Cabin

I am the proud owner of a 1990 Sabreline Aft Cabin 36' Downeast model fast trawler.
I bought it with the expressed intention of doing some extended cruising to include the Great Loop. From the get go I had two reservations about the model and my plans. The primary concern was the stated draft of 4'3". I can live with 4'3". Deeper maybe than I like but OK...

I have spent hours researching and learning all I can about my boat and the model. Low and behold, there is a discrepancy. It seems that sometimes the same model boats are listed with a stated draft of of my expected 4'3", but other times they are listed with a draft of 3'4". One broker lists one way, and another lists it the other...some brokers who have listed multiple boats of the same model have used both drafts at different times.

I would like to put this conundrum to bed once and for all and offer one possible answer for the discrepancy.

In 2005 there was an article in Soundings Sabreline 36 that appears to have transposed the draft and since that time there have been alternating references.

In 2008 Motor Boat and Yachting did a review with the correctly stated draft. MBY

For proof, since the boat is in the water and I can't hold up a tape measure for all to see, I offer up an image from the original owners manual that shows a waterline draft to the bottom of the keel of 23.5". Add to that the 23" prop and I feel strongly that we can settle the matter at a very reasonable 3'4" and a little added reassurance for my travels.

I would believe the Saber manual at a little over 3 feet. The keel is shorter than my monk and it draws 4’0”.

What did your survey say? I haven't had a ton of surveys done, but they always measure from a waterline mark to make a decent approx of the draft.

Not sure I understand your post. Are you concerned?

Peter

The three and a half feet sounds good. My boat draws four and a half and is 44 feet length and weighs 41,000 pounds.

Yeah, 4'3" is probably an error. 3'4" sounds closer to what I'd expect. Of course you'll never know for sure until you measure it. Make a note of where the actual waterline sits before you haul it out. Measure from that, on both sides, when it's out of the water. Average the two values if they don't match because the ground is uneven or the boat not level. Then subtract the distance from the ground to the lowest point of the keel.

mvweebles said:

What did your survey say? I haven't had a ton of surveys done, but they always measure from a waterline mark to make a decent approx of the draft.

Not sure I understand your post. Are you concerned?

Peter

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No measurement at the survey. I guess he went with the listed draft. I didn't express a concern, so not an issue.
Also not concerned even if the depth was the full 4'3". Just relieved to have a bit of extra margin.

3-ish feet sounds about right. Hard to imagine 4+ feet on a boat like this without a bunch of ballast and load. My Willard 36 displacement hull fully loaded with cruise gear comes in at well over 30k lbs and 4'6". That said, my prop is very protected and I'd have no qualms about feeling my way into 5--feet of water. I'd be more concerned in 5-ft water with 3'6" draft /exposed property, even semi-protected such as yours (and many other singles/semi displacement).

Looks like a nice boat. Enjoy and try not to overthink things.

Peter

Our last boat was listed as 2’8” or close to that, I don’t remember exactly. When I actually measured it I found it was 3’8”.

I guess I'm not alone here. I'm just glad the error in listing has gone my way. A foot in the other direction would make skinny water a lot more difficult.

Get 2 2X4s and nail them together at a right angle. Lean over the side of the boat, use a level to keep one vertical and sweep the protruding one until it just clears whatever is lowest. Note how long the wet part of the vertical is and you'll have your answer.

My boat also squats down almost 1 ft when I put it in gear.

TBill36 said:

Get 2 2X4s and nail them together at a right angle. Lean over the side of the boat, use a level to keep one vertical and sweep the protruding one until it just clears whatever is lowest. Note how long the wet part of the vertical is and you'll have your answer.

My boat also squats down almost 1 ft when I put it in gear.

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That is an interesting point. I always assumed draft to be based on a measurement at rest, but certainly it really is a dynamic number.

jtdums said:

The primary concern was the stated draft of 4'3". I can live with 4'3". Deeper maybe than I like but OK...

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The 2020 Powerboat Guide says 4'3" for the 36, 3'3" for the 34.

Our previous 42 draft was nominally 3'7" and it was likely a lighter boat than the Sabreline.

FWIW, I wouldn't actually consider 4'3" at all problematic. Our current draft is nominally 4'7" and we've not found that difficult to manage along the AICWW.

-Chris

I've seen a Sabreline 36 on the hard, 3'4" is probably close. The draft visually appears close to my boat that I consider to have a worst case loaded draft in fresh water of 3'6".

Don't get fixated on draft. If your boats draft is 4' 3", you will probably be able to go anywhere you want. I've been through the Great Lakes, the Loop, Rideau, Trent Severn and many other areas with a 4' 6" draft.

There will be some places you have to wait on the tide and some trips that a drought will make you wait till next year, but cruising isn't going to be perfect.

Ted

O C Diver said:

Don't get fixated on draft. If your boats draft is 4' 3", you will probably be able to go anywhere you want. I've been through the Great Lakes, the Loop, Rideau, Trent Severn and many other areas with a 4' 6" draft.

There will be some places you have to wait on the tide and some trips that a drought will make you wait till next year, but cruising isn't going to be perfect.

Ted

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I think there was a little misunderstanding in that I'm not actually worried about the draft so much as thought it interesting about the inconsistency of the information published and promoted. I genuinely believe the 3'4" number is correct, and I'll be back to the boat in a week with something to measure for posterity sake.

That being said, given our cruising destinations, the shallower draft is likely to be my friend.

...now unprotected props, that might be more of an issue. Time will tell.

I’m gonna put this one to bed…I took T-Bills suggestion and measured using a giant “L” constructed out of a level and square so I could be as accurate as possible.

In the water it cleared the low point (prop) at darn close to my 3’4” line.

The black line is just visible below the surface.

So I’m not saying all Saberline Aft Cabin Fast trawlers draft to 3’4”, but this one certainly does!