- The goal: little effort and a lot of comfort for sailing couples
- The Saare 38.2 emphasises ease of use
- Spotlights ensure peace and quiet on the Saare 38.2
- Purposeful design of the sail layout
- Comfort meets quality
- The Saare shipyard
- The measured values for testing the Saare 38.2
- The Saare 38.2 in detail
- Price and shipyard
- YACHT rating of the Saare 38.2
No compromises. Why bother with dedicated guest cabins that are rarely or never occupied and then only serve as poorly usable storage space anyway? Why bother with fenders, life rafts and bicycles on deck when they could also be stored in lockers? Why crank, climb and fight on deck when assistance systems can do the job and a clever deck layout improves the movement sequences on board? And finally: why tense up before mooring and casting off when two spotlights can spare your nerves and your marital peace of mind?
The goal: little effort and a lot of comfort for sailing couples
Thomas Nielsen, former companion, long-time importer and current owner of the small Saare shipyard on the boatbuilding island of Saaremaa in Estonia, thought the same thing. The all too logical consideration: The typical crew on owner-operated cruising yachts, almost regardless of size, consists of a man and a woman - and small-handed is like single-handed. Ergo: The boat should be able to be operated by one person in any situation with as little effort as possible. And: the interior can be designed for two people instead of catering for the needs of the charter market with lots of berths and little storage space.
The platform for the project was already available in the form of the Saare 38. The rock-solid design by Finn Karl-Johan Stråhlmann has been built by Saare since 2011, which is by no means a disadvantage: the appearance is timeless, the sailing characteristics excellent, the style below deck traditional without being stuffy. All in the spirit of Scandinavian boatbuilding values with laminated mahogany mouldings and beautiful woodwork. This was the basis for the consistent boat for a small crew, which also fulfils the wishes of an older clientele.
The Saare 38.2 emphasises ease of use
Ease of use starts with boarding the boat - a process that is often mitigated in Mediterranean climes by the stern at the pier and pasarella, but can become a balancing act in northern European waters with the bow facing the shallow jetty. On the Saare 38.2, a robust bow platform that encloses the anchor ensures easy access. A permanently attached folding ladder compensates for any striking differences in height, a highly welcome, almost mandatory comfort feature in the archipelago.
On board, the crew does not run against the shrouds, they are on the inside. This is actually the solution to enable overlapping headsails with reasonable sheeting angles. The situation is different on the Saare: in order to shorten sheeting distances, a small genoa is provided with tracks on the cabin roof that lead the sheets directly to the sheet winches on deck or on the coaming without deflectors. There is more: a self-tacking jib is fitted on the Saare 38.2, which has been quite common since the existence of Hanseyachts and the adaptations by shipyards such as Jeanneau and even the Lagoon cat yard, but is essential for the purpose of this boat.
Handles on the coachroof that extend far forwards ensure that you can go forwards and backwards. The cockpit is protected by a fixed windscreen, which is adjoined by a sprayhood. Desirable handles are mounted on the side of the fixed windscreen. The cockpit is framed by a high coaming, which is easy to climb over as it is narrow.
Spotlights ensure peace and quiet on the Saare 38.2
Let's go, engine on. The throttle lever is located at the top of the steering column, which is convenient. There are two joysticks on the pedestal, which carries the sailing instruments and GPS plotter so that they are easy to read and operate; the boat is equipped with proportionally controlled bow and stern thrusters from Sidepower (extra charge), which can be extended, of course, to minimise water resistance when sailing. Despite crosswinds, the boat can be easily pulled out of the box and turned in a very tight circle without any further measures or contact downwind; the system makes every harbour manoeuvre great fun. The thrusters could also be operated remotely, in which case they could even be controlled from the jetty, for example while lines are being released or tied.
The Volvo Penta, which is already quite powerful at 40 hp, also contributes to great agility. A 50 hp unit is also possible. Regardless of the model: thrust and smooth running are always a gain in comfort.
The ease of operation continues. With the tried-and-tested Seldén furling mast (extra), which could be electrified, the cloth is unfurled from aft. The optional Epex membrane sails from Elvstrøm are clean and, as can be seen in the gusty wind, have a good profile, which also increases comfort: reefing later and less trimming work not only help the sailing performance, but also make life easier underway; just as the standard Dyneema halyards, which hardly stretch, do not have to be re-rigged again and again. All winches can be operated electrically using buttons located near the drums or on the wheel. If you even opt for Revo winches that also turn in reverse, you can furl the sails from the wheel and tighten them again, so nobody has to leave their seat.
Purposeful design of the sail layout
The Saare 38.2 sails fast, high and stiff. The boat is a real joy on the wheel: it is easy to guide to the wind edge, has a low but helpful rudder pressure and requires little arm movement for steering correction; the excellent Jefa gimbal system has been appropriately configured with one and three-quarter turns from stop to stop. The single wheel measures 120 centimetres in length and, in combination with the sloping dikes, allows easy passage.
With the optional 130 mm wheel, you may be able to sit a little further out, but the passage to the aft is reduced. There is plenty of storage space of various sizes there and in the lockers under the dents. The stern thwarts leave a narrow passageway, which is closed with a helmsman's seat. There is no modern stern platform, but the transom is slightly retracted. A deep swim ladder is permanently mounted at the side within easy reach.
There is additional storage space at the front between the bow cabin and anchor locker. There is space for a code zero or a flat furling gennaker, both sails that complement the wardrobe of main and self-tacking jib for a small crew on deeper courses.
Comfort meets quality
In short: the boat not only sails excellently, it is also extremely easy to operate; more technical support for a small crew is hardly possible. A good autopilot is also essential, which can of course be found on the extra list; it is a Raymarine Evolution with linear drive and additional wireless remote control.
The concept of comfort continues below deck. Instead of a cabin, there is a huge storage and technical room to starboard in the stern, which can be accessed from above and from the front through the bathroom. The spacious wet room adjoining the companionway has a separate shower area. Freed from the toilet room, the storage space and berth dimensions in the foredeck have grown. The berth is a full 1.90 metres wide and, on request, can also be fitted with a demonstrably excellent mattress from Flexima, made even more comfortable by a topper. Despite the intended crew size of just two people, there is a smaller aft cabin on the port side in case guests do come along. Otherwise there is additional stowage space. The saloon berths are also easy to use.
The design of the interior is familiar, not ordinary. The woodwork is consistently pleasing. Classic mahogany or trendy light-coloured oak is used. There are various things that can no longer be taken for granted: good permanent ventilation, robust handrails on the saloon ceiling, opening superstructure windows, seawater pump. Central washbasins allow drainage at every heel and division of labour in the galley. The tanks are centrally located, large (water 240 litres, diesel 200 litres) and can be extended in capacity (100 litres each). The bilge has a well. A lead keel is attached to the moulding. The rust-proof, shock-absorbing and narrower-profile fin is hardly ever fitted by a production boatyard today.
The extremely extensive basic equipment is also worth mentioning. The base price is 468,945 euros without sails. But in addition to the aforementioned and other quality features, from the diesel heater to the sprayhood, from the plumb bob and log to the underwater paint, from the synthetic rod deck to the moulded rubbing strake, a large part of what is wanted and important is included. Added to this are the high level of customisability, timeless lines and the feeling of sailing something special.
The Saare shipyard
The Saare Yachts shipyard, which is around 25 years old, built yachts for Finngulf until 2007 and then developed its own line of fast, high-quality cruising yachts with designer Karl-Johan Stråhlmann. In addition to the Saare 38, the Estonians produce a 41 with aft or centre cockpit and the semi-one-off Saare 46. The shipyard produces on Saaremaa, the country's largest island, which has a long history and a high density of nautical trades. Thomas Nielsen, the German importer of the brand with his company Yachtsport Eckernförde, has also owned it since 2016.
The measured values for testing the Saare 38.2
The Saare 38.2 in detail
Technical data of the Saare 38.2
- Design engineer:K-J. Stråhlmann
- CE design category:A
- Torso length:11,40 m
- Width:3,70 m
- Depth:1,95 m
- Weight:7,9 t
- Ballast/proportion:2,9 t/37 %
- Mainsail:40,9 m²
- Furling genoa (105 %):33,2 m²
- machine (Volvo Penta):36 kW/50 hp
Hull and deck construction
Sandwich laminate with foam core, manufactured using the vacuum injection process. Deck-hull connection laminated
Price and shipyard
- Base price ex shipyard: 468,945 € gross incl. 19 % VAT, without sails
- Guarantee/against osmosis: 2/2 years
As of 11/2023, how the prices shown are defined can be found here !
Shipyard
Saare Yachts, Estonia
Distribution
Yachtsport Eckernförde, yse.de/saare-yachts
YACHT rating of the Saare 38.2
Consistently designed for two people, well organised and equipped, plenty of storage space, stiff and fast: the Saare 38.2 is an ideal boat for couples who like to travel a lot
Design and concept
- + Proven design
- + Very high degree of customisation
- + Elaborate and solidly built
Sailing performance and trim
- + Easily accessible high potential
- + Excellent control
Living and finishing quality
- + Good owner's cabin, plenty of storage space
- + Large wet room, separate shower
- - Ceiling panelling partly unclean
Equipment and technology
- + Technical room, space for units
- + Clean installations
- + Upscale basic equipment
This article first appeared in YACHT 2/2019 and has been updated for this online version.
