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Intermatica - SatSleeve

Nautica - Barche di una volta


NAUTICA MAGAZINE
NAVIGATION TEST

Article selected from thousand boat trials performed by Nautica in nearly 50 years

Navigation trials

Please remember that the boat model described in this article could be no more available and its price, if indicated, could be outdated as it refers to the Nautica Magazine paper issue

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Text and photographs by Antonio Bignami

SABRELINE 36 EXPRESS CRUISER

Stating that weather conditions during sea trials in Andora (Italy) were excellent for testing the boat is a euphemism: rough sea and increasingly strong easterly wind lead us to think that trials would not be possible. Nevertheless, thanks to the availability of the Four Wheeler employees and to the seakeeping abilities of the boat, everything occurred in the best way possible. The Sabreline 36 Express Cruiser is not only a nice looking boat with a traditional line and with a hull especially designed to satisfy expert and less expert fishermen but she is also very stable and well-balanced.

During the storm, we always had a good control of the boat, which showed excellent performance capabilities. Later, inside the harbor, we appreciated the extremely comfortable inside and outside arrangement with innovative and functional solutions. Wood paneling and workmanlike finishing is traditional and of very good quality. The boat is very well built and offers reliability and safety as well as comfort on deck and belowdecks.

TECHNICAL DATA

Designer: Sabre Yard
Builder: Sabre Yard; Maine (USA)
L.O.A.: 40'8"
Beam: 12'8"
Depth: 8'9"
Draft from lower tip of propellers: 3'4"
Light displacement: 7.48 t
Full boat displacement: 9.44 t
Maximum passengers capacity: 12
Total number of berths: 4 in 2 cabins
Power: two 300hp Caterpillar 3116 engines
Total installed power: 600 hp
Type of transmission: in-line shaft
Total engine and reduction gear weight: 1.309 tons
Empty boat displacement/installed power ratio: 12.66
Maximum declared speed: 31 knots
Cruising speed: 22-25 knots
Fuel consumption at cruising speed: approx. 23.8 gallons/hr
Range at cruising speed: approx. 277/315 miles
Fuel capacity: 300 gallons
Freshwater capacity: 151 gallons
Price with standard fittings and test power: Lit. 520.000.000 ex VAT
Note: when two 350hp Caterpillar engines are installed, maximum speed is 36 knots and cruising speed is 30 knots.

CONSTRUCTION CHARACTERISTICS

Hull: Deep V hull with 20° deadrise
Hull construction material: GRP with ISO NPG system and isoftalic gelcoat, one-direction and bi-axial fiberglass lamination with balsa reinforcing core
Deck materials and characteristics: as above
Bow area: pulpit, bow extension, mooring bitts and fairleads, cleats amidships, anchor windlass with 2-remote controls, 2 forward lockers, 2 deck grabrails, 3 hatches
Cockpit arrangement and fittings: mooring bitts and fairleads, two sidedeck ladders with anti-slipping teak, floor lockers, hydraulic lifting of floorboard for engine room access, aft door, shower with hot/cold water, pilot's seat, helm station, U-shaped settee with teak table, settee with back
Characteristics of aft swimming platform: (optional, Lit. 5,500,000) stainless steel and GRP with swimming ladder
Superstructures and windows material: stainless steel and tempered glass.

INTERIORS

Layout and characteristics: forward double bed cabin, lockers and hanging locker, dinette with U-shaped settee (two versions), lockers, bottle rack and table, bathroom with shower, varnished cherry wood paneling, clover-type teak floor. Main helm station: hydraulic wheel steering, engine and reversing gear throttles, instruments, engine indicators and alarms, hour-counter, mile-counter, rpm-counter, log, KVC compass, echo-sounder, GPS with C-MAP charts
Chart table: near the helm station with map storing area and worktop
Galley: worktop, double sink with hot/cold water mixer, cutting board, 3-burner range, oven, refrigerator and freezer, water heater and heat exchanger.

ACCESSORIES

Standard fittings: 220V dockside electric cable, 60A battery charger and battery cutoff, 2 remote control 1000W-anchor windlass, arrangement for generator installation, stereo Hi-fi with CD player
Optional fittings: aft swimming platform (Lit. 5,500,000); hard bimini-top for cockpit (Lit. 42,000,000); 5 kW diesel generator (Lit. 25,000,000); air conditioning plant (Lit. 12,000,000); hydro-electric aft gangway with remote control (Lit. 15,000,000)

IMPRESSIONS

SEA AND WEATHER CONDITIONS DURING BOAT TESTING
Sea: rough
Wind: northeasterly; 25 knots and increasing

PERFORMANCE
Time needed to reach planing speed: 7 seconds
Planing speed: 15.2 knots at 1,600 rpm's
Maximum speed: 30.8 knots, with 600hp at 3,100 rpm's. The 33 Express Courier Sabreline showed excellent seakeeping abilities and maneuverability even in the rough sea conditions present at the time of sea trials. The boat's rudder response is very precise and efficient
Visibility: excellent both at sea as well as during docking
Docking maneuverability: safe and quick

EVALUATION OF COMFORT AND FUNCTIONALITY

Deck: easy access and good walking space
Interiors: simple, comfortable and well arranged
Passengers' comfort: very good
Helm station: very comfortable and very well positioned
Chart table: well equipped and well positioned
Galley: well equipped and well positioned
Bathrooms: easy access
Engine room: very good access and with enough working space
Electrical panel and plants: fair.