Sabre's new 456 model is another Sabre design from Jim Taylor. It's a well-proportioned, conventional looking boat that should make a fine, fast cruising boat or a comfortable family club racer.

I have a set of hull lines that show a boat with moderate freeboard, a D/L of 215 and an L/B of 3.23, so I would consider it beamy with what today is "moderate" displacement. The sections show no deadrise, a wide BWL, no hollows in the entry and a half angle of entry of 19 degrees. Amidships there is almost a subtle knuckle at the BWL but this fairs out toward the stern. The shoal keel draws 5 feet, 6 inches and comes with a more shoal rudder. The deep draft keel draws 7 feet, 6 inches. It's a sweet looking hull shape. The upper transom corners are rounded off, Frers style. The sheer spring is pretty flat but it suits the overall look.

The layout is designed for two couples with double berths in the V-berth area and the quarterberth area. There are two heads and the forward head has a shower stall. I like this big galley. The photos I have show a beautifully finished interior with lots of nicely detailed woodwork in American Cherry. If I had to nitpick I'd say the chart table looks small, but who unfolds a chart today? The U-shaped dinette is big and squared off. Curves can be sexy but I think orthogonal shapes work better for dinettes. My theory is the human body naturally seeks corners. The door to the forward stateroom is a very attractive looking paneled slider that tucks in behind the forward leg of the dinette. It's a very elegant looking interior. Headroom is 6 feet, 6 inches.

The sailplan shows a rig with triple spreaders swept 15 degrees. The headstay almost goes to the masthead. The backstay is split to allow clear access to the swim step. The SA/D is 18.33. The mainsheet is on a traveler forward of the companionway hatch so you can clutter up your cockpit without the mainsheet interfering. The mainsail roach overlaps the backstay by about 10 inches.

The deck plan shows a big cockpit with the seats cut away to make room for a large-diameter wheel driving Edson steering gear. I think the swim step is a bit shallow in fore and at depth but it will work. Big hatches give good access to the lazarette. There is a foredeck well for ground tackle.

The engine is a 75-horsepower Yanmar 4JH-TCE with a saildrive. There is tankage for 100 gallons of fuel, 200 gallons of water and 45 gallons of holding. The hull is Airex cored and resin infused. The rudderstock is carbon fiber bonded to molded GRP skins.

LOA 45'6"; LWL 38'4"; Beam 14'1"; Draft 5'6" (shoal) 7'6" (deep); Displacement 27,150 lbs.; Ballast 10,850 lbs.; Sail area 1,025 sq. ft.; SA/D 18.33; D/L 215; L/B 3.23; Auxiliary Yanmar 75-hp; Fuel 100 gals.; Water 200 gals.

Sabre Yachts
P.O. Box 134, South Casco, ME 04077
(207) 655-3831
www.sabreyachts.com

Our Best Estimate of the sail-away price
o.b.e. 575,000