Sabre 48 question

Ordered a new Prestige 590 with Cummins Zeus QSC 8.3 - 600 hp. Could have got v-drives as a lower cost option. I’ve had shaft boats previously. Expect to be happy with the net of pros and cons between shafts and pods that I am sure you have researched.
Good luck finding your boat.
Saber definitely a good looking boat.

Check with Sabre on availability of Zeus Pods. The performance numbers on those are dated 2011.

My two cents....I think Sabre is one of the better boats out there, US built in Maine. Have looked at a number, but have no experience first hand other than internet research, searching forums like this one, speaking with brokers, and the company. The Pods, from what I can gather are great if you follow maintenance to the T, but can also cause problems from something as small as wrapping a line, I think I even read some heavy fishing line caused one to leak but could have misread. Also have heard that Zeus and Cummins have parted ways and some people seem to question future service etc? So that seems to be the negative talk, the high cost of maintaining the PODs and if you have to replace them. American made, faster, better in my opinion. Also, go to the owners forum to find out more. And, they are pleasing to look at in my opinion, just would want one with a flybridge. Speaking of internet research, that's about all we can do until we have personal experience, take into account what others have said their experience is. I did read that it is better to buy the Volvo pod combo, but then I read that it is more costly and difficult to get Volvo parts.

An acquaintance purchased a new Sabre 42 five years ago and sold it 2 years later. Constant issues with the pods and could never get them right. I believe he had IPS...not Zeuss. I do not know how much of the issues were his fault, since he was a novice...I am guessing some.

With regard to Volvo parts, my first hand experience with them is that the parts are widely available, easy to get and NOT expensive (contrary to all the comments in this forum) . This may have had more to do with the model engine I had (D12-800), as they are widely used in long haul trucks.

I would say that Sabre's are very high quality boats. I have a friend with 2004 36' flybridge and I've spent a fair bit of time crawling around in it. It is very well put together and has held up well for it's age. I would also say that Sabre owners as a general rule, tend to be pretty good with maintenance and upkeep compared to some other demographics. I have been on a couple of 48's at boat shows and think it's a wonderful boat with a great layout. It is also very attractive and nails the downeast cruiser look in my mind.

But with all of that said, I have relegated it to the list of boats I would love to own... IF they didn't have pods. The added hassles of pods, in terms of maintenance and reliability just don't seem worth the benefits of interior space, maneuverability, and economy. I agree there seem to be a lot of them out there for sale. I don't know the reason for that. It has been a very popular boat for Sabre so I'm guessing they made a lot of them. But I also wonder if owners are getting out of 10 year old boats to avoid costly problems with the pods.

Pods, joysticks...are for video games, i.e., Pac-Man etc.
From all of the posts above, sound like junk.
Why do people try to reinvent the wheel? IDK.

I totally agree, it is a very well made , sharp looking vessel.

Nothing beats good old shaft, strut, prop set up along with Morse/Teleflex cable controls-problem solved. All of my equipment is 40 years old, no issues thus far other than replacing a stiff cable and replacing C-clips on a rare occasion , which you can get from the local hardware store. My running gear is also holding up well after all this time.

What about Eastbay? That's another sharp looking Downeast boat. Or are they Pods too?

I love Downeast boats. They look like a boat , walk like a boat , and talk like a boat !
I'm not a fan of the space ship looking , ultra modern , windows galore boats .
I'm a bit of a purist. Hence my displeasure of Pods and giant jet ski ( Hinckley) boats.

Perhaps you check out other builders such as Duffy, Lyman-Morse, Wilbur, Jarvis-Newman, Ellis , Mast and Mallet, Bruno-Stillman and others . There are many Downeast boats out there . Many with out Pods.
Some of these I suggested may be a bit to rustic on the interiors. But you just have to weed through them on the Internet to see. All of them are good sea boats , well built.