Saber Boats
 

Don't know much about them, even though they are made close by..... I see a couple owners on the site....

Do they have web site? What models do they make, I see the 28 and 41, but any others?

How many do they make each year? Just curious, don't hear much about them. Where are they based exactly?

Really don't know anything about them and trying to get more edumacated on them.

Mark

32Fever, I'm with you. I looked for a website and more information on them a while back and couldn't find ****. They sound pretty well respected on here.

SABER MARINE
 

Hey guys,
No website for Saber yet.... don't know that their interested in that currently ( too busy building boats)... They are a small shop and build a true CUSTOM boat..... just look at mine and "flt decks" they came thru the shop one right after another and TOTALLY reflect the customers preference. They will do whatever you want and are priced reasonably as well.

There has been alot of spirited talk on here resently about various builders and the ones in question make nice boats for sure. I have owned 3 Sabers so far and would compare them to any vee bottom out there....they build a boat that will run thru the rough stuff with or better then all their competition.... There are probably quite a few of you out there that got "Buzzed-Bye" by that little yellow 28 at various pker runs over the last several years ......

Anyways .... Saber's # 616-837-6442
or feel free to call me anytime with any questions you may have.
#440-257-6042 Jerry McConnell

I have a 1994 28' Saber. Saber Marine consists of 2 brothers, Jim and Doug Geelhoed. They have been building boats since the late 80's and produce a very small number of boats per year. They do not have a website, all advertising is word of mouth. They used to advertise in Powerboat Mag, thay also had a couple boats tested. The 1994 28' that I own won the 1994 Offshore Performance award for that year (the first boat to do so under 30 feet). They do own the 41 Apache mold and have produced 3 of these boats under the Saber name, all three of which are incredible boats. Two of the 41 owners are on this site, and two 28' owners. We all boat on southern lake erie between monroe MI and Cleveland, Ohio.
Saber builds very solid and well constructed boats and has very good factory support. If fact I bought my 28 used from leopajm and receive the same kind of servicee that any of the new owners get. You cannot beat that. There boats are produced just outside of Grand Rapids MI.

Do you guys have any pics of your boats? I would love to see more of these boats. Thanks. James

Here's some pics. also have some in the classified ads

more

Coopersville, MI, You would pass it on your way to Grand Haven just off the Highway on the South side. I saw a yellow 28 with twins for sale this week in someones front yard here in Grand Rapids, MI. If anyone is interested I could get the number from the sign. Oh, and I know that they did introduce a 34, I think it was last year. Midnight

Thanks Midnight I could not remember the town name, They used to be in Comstock ParK. Yes they did introduce a 34 and It was very cool looking. They just haven't had anymore orders for them yet.

Dan

another picture

So, what drew you guys to buy Sabers? I think I've seen that Leo was looking to change boats, but not sure, what would you get after this? I don't want this to sound bad, but what about the Saber would you want to change in the next boat?

I guess I'm kinda trying to ask things like what they compare closest to, are the cabins luxurious or more ultilitarian? I read they ride well in the rough, but are the hulls less efficient than others? Or heavy boats? Just trying to figure out the niche Saber caters to.

So they just make the 28 and 41? I have seen Buzzin Bye and that is one sweet boat. Saw it parked behind Pier 33 in St Joe about 5 years ago for a Poker Run. What kind of speeds to you get with that?

Thanks for the info.

Mark

They do also biuld a 34 and a 24. Saber can mbiuld you anything you want. Most that you will see are more utilitarian. My cabin is two 6' lounges and a 7' v berth and storage under the cushions with a spot for a pota-potti. But it does have enough headroom for a 6' 2" guy to sit up straight in on the benches. (not bad for a flat deck 28' boat) Saber's are straight V hulls and are a little bit on the heavier side(28 with twin 500 hp's is 6200#), but it rides fantastic and runs a true mid eighties. In a nutshell a good, very strong, straight forward boat that you'll never break!


Dan

Thanks for the compliment, at that time it was LEOPAJM's boat

So, how many 34's did they make? Anybody know? Have any idea how many boat per year they make? I may have to call them and check out the factory if they do that sort of thing. That would provide a huge wealth of kowledge, and they're close by.

Just interested in learning more about them (and other boats as well.)

3 - 41's
1 - 34'
and I think 28 - 28's


they may biuld 5 boats one year and no boats the next. They do a lot of rigging work and all other types of work on any brand of boat.

Dan

They are very receptive if you would like to call them

LEOPAJM has the number on his post

Buzzin- I saw your twin boat this week. It was just sitting in someone's front lawn with a 4-sale sign. I think the owner is friends with my buddy Apache Kid. I believe they won the third prize at Smoke on the Water last year, unless that was your yellow saber. Apache Kid used to own the old Great Lakes Caster 28 saber race boat. It was white with red trim, the # 28 on the each side, I think a 90'. It was fast, had built small blocks, I think they were 455hp a piece.

There is another boat similiar to mine but with 7.4 liter motors and it has a white deck and hull bottom as opposed to mine which is ALL yellow. That was LEOPAJM first Saber that is for sale by you. It is a nice boat. I wasn't at smoke on the water last year. My wife and I will be this year except we are riding along in Flat Decks 41 Saber

Dan

More SABER Stuff
 

32 fever.....
To answer your ????? as far as me wanting to change my boat, or what would I change on my current boat.....The biggest driver for this would have to fall back on me and my choice when building my boat....at the time I had the yellow 28 (Buzzin Bye) and really liked the 500hp.....great reliability, low maintenance...anybody that knows me knows I'm good at two things on a boat ... running 'em and trying to break 'em ...NOT fixing them, so we decided to go with a triple 500/bravo pkg. and to make a long story bareable, learned a little lesson about conservative and big offshore boat not belonging in the same sentence. (This was also B4 XR, XZ, B-max ect.....)
So that winter we swapped the 500/bravo's out for 3 merc 800sc/#5 and have had really good "luck" so far (3 seasons). Now to get back to what I would change.... To be honest I would go with a twin staggered #6 set-up like J.D. (flat deck) and I would probably pass on the A/C and full cabin that we have only used a handfull of times in 4 years.

The Saber is a great performing offshore boat..... needs a little chop to get it scootin right .... the 41 is lighter than the Apache it came from and just as strong if not stronger....same with the 28... definately comes to life with some air under her and from my experience ..... ( i know this phrase gets thrown around alot but...)behaves like a much larger boat..... Either that or Dan B. and I are just that much better @ runnin it than the other guys:rolleyes:

I dont know much about the 34 but I'm sure the guys @ Saber can answer all your ? on that ....

I would love to take you for a ride ... you will be pleasantly surprised ... and their shop is right in your back yard.

BTW... there are pics of my boat and Flat decks in the Gallery and Dan's are seen above..... And the other yellow 28 in GH was my first one and I heard the guy is real meticulous.

Dan , get to work !!!!
 

Are you following me to Appleby's or what ???

More on 28 SABER'S
 

Saber,s are all truly custom boats, I had the brothers build my 28
with a pair of 605CI motors, Hubers & #5 Speedmasters, there isn't another 28 on the market that could handle that much hardware and stay together. The impacts on a 28 at 95mph vs.
80mph are exponential. When I had them build my 41' the entire
driveline was removed from the 28 and sold separately. The fact
that I survived that beast is a testament to the strength and
stability of that hull. NO ONE SHOULD HAVE A 28 FOOT OFFSHORE
V BOTTOM CAPABLE OF 100+mph IN REAL OFFSHORE CONDITIONS, THE TEMPTATIONS ARE JUST TOO GREAT!!!

Great construction, classic lines, speed you can use & no
typical gold chain boatbuilder " slime factor " , thats Saber.

I have only seen one and it was for sale in Grand Haven, MI a couple summers ago. It was a yellow 1994 28' with twin 454's and 396hrs on it. I can't believe I actually keep notes on boats I see:rolleyes: Anyway, It was a very nice boat.

Does anyone know the address of Saber?

Saber Marine, 7205 W. Arthur Street , Coopersville Michigan
just off I96 half way between Grand Rapids & Grand Haven
616 837 6442, take your boots, I was there last week, the
"Michigan in spring mud" was a little nasty getting in the
building.
JD

Playn... that 94 from GH appeared in a Hot Boat Mag. perf test back in early 95 I believe (march,april?) and is currently for sale I believe in the OSO classifieds.....


Whats up JD ????
....whatever became of that 28 after that ???

LEOPAJJM, I saw the pics of the boat in Yachtworld also, but had thought the boat in Grand Haven was all yellow not the yellow/white combination but actually don't recall. In any case it's a very nice boat:D

Playn... yeah, the all yellow one has 500hps and is in the OSO classifieds as well... boats in Toledo.

BGIII, Are you still going to try and make that replacement windshield?

Re: More on 28 SABER'S
 

Hey, easy on the Fountain comments, a Fountain owner (ME) started the thread. If anyone that builds (or sells) a boat bashes my ****, they'll never sell me anything. Not even a Coke.

32fever...I dont think flat deck was nesessarily refering to Reggie with that "gold chain" comment , I think he was referring to the fact that the guys up at Saber are a bit more conservative and down to earth then most folks in the boat building bus. tend to come off...

... kinda funny that you made that assumption right away though:D

J.M.

Yo, pimp daddy, back the F up!!
 

Marky Mark....a.k.a. 32 Fever. I will bash your boat anytime I want to pal. Take it or else!! LOL!!!!

Besides, you LOVE to bash me about my choice of water craft. If memory serves me that is. :p

Been a while Mark. Going to Wolfs open house next weekend????? Got the flyer in the mail yesterday.

The guy who ownes the shop where I pulled my motor (Riverview products in Rockford, MI) ownes one of 2 or 3 24 Sabers ever built. It is pristine. Has a 365 in it and runs upper 60's all day long. It's a small 24 though. Sitting next to my Baja anyway. 7'6" wide and it's a sit down boat (no bolsters). But it is sharp. I believe they will still build you one if you want them too.

I rode on Apache Kids 28 several years ago. Grand Haven to Muskegon in 4-6 footers. Awsome ride. The 32 Baja that ran with us didn't seem to fair as well. Says a lot about the Saber product line if you ask me.

When did they move from the place on Alpine? Last time I went to GH, I noticed a couple Sabers sitting in front of the building on 96 and figured that must be their new location. Looks like they have a bit more room for expansion when they start building more 41's! I gotta say thet 41 looks cool.

I think they moved about 2 seasons ago.... definately more room ... lets get some more boats built ....get those checkbooks out guys !!!!:D

I want to see one of their 34s with big staggered power and ssm 5 or 6 drives !!!!!!

32 Fever, Settle Down !
 

First and foremost I wasn't referring to Mr. Fountain who I
personally owe a debt of gratitude for everything he did for
me and my race team in 1999 when DRAMAMINE sank in
Baltimore after colliding with PIER 57, but thats another story.
I,m talking about the people I have dealt with over the last
25 years of buying or having ordered 15 different boats
from sport boats to large sportfishers. I can tell you that if
I had paid more attention to "profiling" I would have saved
alot of money and frustation ! There was always a direct
correlation between the pounds of gold and the pounds of
bull ****.

Mr. Fountain and his " distinctive " look is all part of being
Reggie, that mold has already been broken. I learned a lot
from him, when he gets out of your boat and tells you to
make a change, man it almost always worked, he's better
than most people will ever know.

I'm just telling ya that the brothers at Saber are a breath
of fresh air. Sorry you took offense. Jim D 614 231 9909

" The New Gold Standard"
 

Pounds of gold = pounds of bull**** !!!

CLASSIC !!!!:cool: