40 Cabo Express (43ft.)

Source: Power & Motoryacht Magazine

The Cabo 40 Express is the newest offering from Cabo Yachts. This yacht is a full-on fishing machine, with over 100 square feet of cockpit and more standard features than on many other brands. Handcrafted woodwork throughout the boat is another feature that sets this boat above other express fishboats. If you want a 10-second snapshot of the quality that goes into this yacht, just press a button in the cockpit, open the bridgedeck, and look directly forward at the main circuit breaker wiring. It is surgically perfect and everything is labeled. Watch the video and read “Detailed Info” for details. Special thanks to Scott Shane at Star Island Yacht Club, Montauk, NY, for arranging this test.

It took us nearly 9 months to catch up to a Cabo 40 Express we could test. Why? By the time we made arrangements with a dealer, the boat was already sold and gone fishin’. This happened more than once. Finally, Scott Shane at Star Island Yacht Club found a willing owner and we tested his 40 Express off Montauk, NY.

When I asked the owner why he bought an express fishboat he had a great answer. “I like to fish the [Hudson] canyons,” he said,”and often it’s just myself and my captain. Therefore, a flybridge boat wouldn’t work since we both have to get to the cockpit fast when there’s a fish on. I also like the fact there’s less weight aloft, and the less maintenence we have to do topside, the better.”

We tested the 40 in 2-3 footers off Montauk and the boat rode through them like a hot knife through butter. Her 26,000 pounds took care of that, and the exaggerated flare of the bow kept the windshield dry at all angles to the wind and seas. Not that it would matter, since the entire area is enclosed with isenglass and covered in a rugged fiberglass hardtop with two Bowmar hatches for natural ventilation. Forward, an electrically actuated window pane opens forward to let in even more fresh air. But then again, you can always leave everything closed and rely on the bridgedeck air-conditioning unit. Either way, you stay cool underway.

The cockpit is big and uncluttered, with the usual twin insole fishboxes. What was unusual was the aft lazzarette hatch that gets you direct access to the fuel tank hookups and rudder posts. Everything is gelcoated below decks. Just above the hatch is a livewell built into the transom(with light) that actually circulates water thru a series of small jets. Nice to know your $70 a dozen goggle-eyes will be at home there.

I also noticed that while the 40 has its exhaust running straight aft at the transom (which creates a wet dock in the slip) underway there was no hint of “station-wagon effect” fumes, nor was there any soot on the transom from the 700-hp MAN diesels. Don’t know how Cabo pulled that one off, but they did.

Moving forward our boat had a bait freezer locker next to the bait prep station with freshwater sink, and I especially appreciated all the lockable rod stowage here. You can stow 6 rods in two inwale lockable cabinets, plus 6 more in a locker that runs forward beneath the bridgedeck benchseat to port. The cockpit is also reinforced right from the factory for a fighting chair, but our guys were the stand-up kind so the chair was not needed.

It’s three steps up to the bridgedeck and the entire massive piece of fiberglass raises at the push of a button (assuming you position the helm chair correctly so it doesn’t hit the wheel). The only downside here is the unfortunate location of the switches, which are awkwardly placed under the starboard gunwhale. Other than that, two BIG hydraulic rams lift the beast to provide great access to the powerplants below. We had the twin 700-hp MANs, but the boat is now being offered with 730 MANs in addition to the standard 700-hp Cats. Either way, you’ll be amazed when you look in the engine room. Everything is neatly tie-wrapped and even labeled in engraved little plaques. This is one reason you can see why it’s so hard to come by a Cabo 40 Express. They are sought after by discriminating offshore fishermen who want top quality. You can also access the engine room thru a hatch in the bridedeck sole for routine fluid checks.

Once the hatch is down, your guests will enjoy a big L-shaped lounge to port, while the navigator gets an optional Stidd companion chair to starboard which sits at the forward end of the tackle-stowage locker with 5 slide-out boxes. The captain sits in a centerline Stidd helmchair and there’s probably enough dash space to mount electronics that rival a small Naval vessel.

Moving down below, the optional teak-and-holly sole lends an even greater touch of class to this express fisherman, which can sleep 4-5 guests: two in the forward centerline owners stateroom (with its own flat-screen TV) and two more in the main saloon that has a single bed that pulls out from within the sofa. Our owner’s young son says he loves the pilot berth, which raises quickly and secured with two rugged straps.

The galley, of course, is fully equipped with all the conveniences, and the head has its own separate shower stall. This makes the 40 perfect for her owner who does not need to sleep a lot of people aboard.

On the performance side, while it does take a while for the MAN’s to spool up, I’ve rarely had to ask a captain to slow down for the helicopter video shoot, but that’s what happened this time. This boat hits a top speed of nearly 40 mph fully loaded, and exceeds even the test data Caboyachts.com has on its own site.

With a base price of $641,000 and a fully rigged out price (with tower and electronics) of roughly $100,000 more, we’re talking about a fishing machine that goes only to those who’ve made it in life and know what they want. So now you know why it took us so long to catch up to one.–Capt. Chris Kelly.

Boat Specifications: 40 Cabo Express (43ft.)

Length Overall            42’10”

Dry Weight                28,000 lbs.

Beam                          15′ 9”

Fuel Cap                      600 gal.

Draft                           3′ 5”

Water Cap                   75 gal.

Deadrise/Transom       16.5 degrees

Bridge Clearance        N/A

Max Headroom           6′ 3”