Before the founding of Sabre Yachts in 1970, Roger Hewson was working for his family’s construction company and designing boats on his own on the side. A couple of years before the founding of Sabre, Hewson built his first vessel, a 26-foot sailing scow.
The desire to continue building and designing led Hewson to sell the construction company and to invest in what he loved. Owning a boatbuilding company would not be easy work, and he became interested in high-quality fiberglass sailboats. After much research, the acclaimed Sabre 28 was created.
Sabre Yachts built their 4,000-square foot facility in Raymond, Maine, where his wife, Charlie, owned land. He unveiled hull #1 of the Sabre 28 at the 1971 Newport Boat Show, and the rest was history. Over the next 15 years Sabre built and sold 588 28s. In 2003, the model was inducted into the American Sailboat Hall of Fame.
As customer demand transitioned from sail to power, Sabre followed suit. One of the brand’s most notable motor yachts was the Sabre 36 “Fast Trawler.” With the spaciousness and amenities of a trawler but much better performance than a trawler hull, the 36 became a popular build. Ever since, Sabre Yachts has been producing motor yachts “Crafted in the Maine Tradition.”
Hewson instilled a hard work ethic and ensured that his designs carried the classic Downeast look of Maine boats. Over his lengthy career, he designed and built thousands of boats, many of which are still highly sought-after and praised. His innovation was integral in ensuring that Sabre Yachts remained at the forefront of boatbuilding and design.
His legacy carries on, as Sabre continues to produce classic, seaworthy vessels.
