Reviews
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Boat Review Cabo 35 Express
Sport Fishing
By Dean Travis Clarke
 There are plenty of great boats to like out
there. But when you start talking love, over the period of a lifetime
there are very few. The new Cabo 35 Express captured my heart without
even breaking a sweat.
Performance
In close quarters, the boat stays where you put it, turns when you tell
it, and incremental adjustments measured by the inch.
The twin 3208TA Caterpillar diesels churning out 35 horse-power each
gets the 35 going quickly.
The effect is much like watching the star ship enterprise engage warp
drives. Put the throttles to the wall from a stop and the Cabo moves
forward mildly while you listen to the diesels " wind up." No
sooner do the turbos kick in than the Cabo is on plane. You almost expect
a flash of light.
Turns are executed as tightly as you like: just keep turning the wheel
harder, and boat turns tighter and tighter. A hard-over turn at wide-open
throttles carved a three-boat length circle. At the same time, the Cabo
slides through the water with very little resistance, taking all of seven
boat lengths to settle to a stop from cruising speed. You'll appreciate
this seemingly inconsequential characteristic when you pull up to a fuel
pump.
We drifted the Cabo for almost an hour in seas of almost 3 to 4 feet.
The boat sets right angles to the ways, slow, rolling motion. The wide,
refers double shine meets the role, checks it and stabilize is the fall.
Hooked up, the Cabo backs down slow but in total control. But when the
fish heads to the corner, the 35 pivots like the phonograph turntable
at 78 rpm.
Those who live-bait for such an active species as sailfish or kingfish
probably want to opt for trolling valves on your Cats. Getting the Cabo
35 to go slow is like asking your two-year-old to sit still.
Cockpit
You'll find everything aboard the Cabo that you'd ever expect to find
in the cockpit of a top-flight 50-foot sportfishing convertible: bait
prep station, bait freezer, live well, tackle storage center and rod
storage for 19 rods are all standard fare.
The two in-deck fish boxes in the cockpit are big enough for bluefin.
Our test boat had refrigerated the port-side fish box, though were it
left to my choice, sacrificing a third of box width to a cold plate isn't
worth it. I'd opt for an Eskimo 600 icemaker. Both insulated fish boxes
are fitted with 1.25-inch drains and macerators the keep those juices
flowing freely. Here's an experiment I suggest you try when you go aboard
a Cabo 35. Lift one of the big lids to a fish box in the cockpit, then
do something you know you shouldn't -- let it fall shut. The hatches
fit into their gasketed and drained lips so well that rather than slamming
shut, the lid goes "boompf."
Layout
Touch a button at the threshold to the helmdeck and the entire deck rises
on electrically activated hydraulic arms, revealing the impressive power
center -- impressive mainly for its organization. Every single hose,
wire, pipe and fitting in the engine room is run and labeled individually.
All functions are segregated with the plumbing on one side, everything
electrical on the other side, and all fuel lines, filters (with pressure
gauges so you can tell if they need changing), ect., on center line.
The 7.6 kW generator is neatly tucked under the aft lip.
Close the engine access and move to the helm, and you'll notice perfect
visibility in every direction. And although the environment can get warm
with the curtains snapped on, a centerline vent in the windscreen provides
ventilation way out of proportion to its size -- it's quite an air scoop
under way.
Designers have created an atmosphere of warmth below through light teak
woodwork and rich fabrics. The head with stand-up shower is immediately
port at the foot of the stairs; dripping, salty anglers won't track water
throughout the cabin. An adjacent galley features a stainless-steel sink,
single countertop electric burner, convection oven and Corian countertop.
The queen-berth state room is forward-most. The starboard side is taken
up with a convertible dinette.
Construction
No boat, no matter how beautiful, is worth the effort if it isn't durable.
Only the finest ingredients go into a Cabo: vinylester resin for greater
osmotic blistering protection, biaxial non-woven fiberglass roving and
balsa core from chine up offer strength with light weight in the hull,
while the bottom is solid glass. The helm deck is Airex foam-core for
additional strength and excellent sound-proofing quality. All hidden
areas, like bilges and inside cabinets, are ground down and then gelcoated
for a smooth, flawless finish. Put your face right against the hull of
a Cabo: look for indentations, bumps and finish flaws. You won't find
any. Cabo's molds are exceptional.
Few first-timers will appreciate the Cabo 35 express for what it is.
But those who've spent their lives on boats will fall for this boat just
a sure as ebb follows flood.
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