Pro's vs Con's CABO 35 Flybridge

[Cowboy]

Been told by the financial advisor and wife to find a flybridge that will fit in our current slip Answer Yes Maam
So "I am in the market shall we say" I really like the looks and reviews on the 35 Cabo Flybridge, the one in particular I am looking at is a fully loaded 2004 with 3126 Cats 450 HP, Genset and full electronics NO Tower.
How will the difference feel moving up from my 320 Albemarle Express and what are the pluses and minuses of the Cabo vs other 35 foot flybridge's? One thing in particular is how is the ride and drift comparable to the two?
Thanks in advance.
Private responses welcome if you don't want to bash on the board MaverickCharters@epix.net

[knot for shore]

Cowboy, I got my real taste of fishing on Dick Baker's "Knot for Shore II" out of Indian River 10 years ago. It was the only red hull, 35' Cabo Flybridge around. It's also the first offshore boat I did many good days of fishing off of. It ran great, not too big, not too small. Very comfortable, strong, relatively fast boat. I don't know who has it today or even if it's still down there.

I'd put my money in one...

[perfectscore]

I fished on Dick's Knot for shore many times in a lot of snott. NOt only out of OI but in the wmo. I remember one year in the 2000 tourney it blew a gale all day sunday and into monday. Out of 400 boats only 15 fished on Monday and we were one of them. Though the boat pounded alot, it was a 95 model, there aren't many boats as stable as that boat. In a beam sea or trolling beam to in 8 to 12 foot seas was no problem for the 35 cabo. Very comfortable for a big crew and small enough to fish for a pair. Dick and Karen often fished it by themselves. Great boat, but again, will pound the shit out of u, to the point that u feel like u are gonna lose your mind. good luck.

ps, we caught alot of whites on that boat too.

[knot for shore]

Yeah, i was sorry to see it go, but the viking he bought to replace it was nice too.

I enjoyed fishing with him and still would be if he was still in Delaware.

[reel fool]

1st--don't trust any of the fishing rags' reviews of any boat. They review boats of the companys which advertise in the rag.

2nd--ride on SEVERAL cabos. not just the 35. Each model, like any other builder, will have good, bad & ugly choices.

I have fished the 35 & 45 express. None of the Cabo flybridges. Be glad that there is no tower. A tower adds more roll to the boat in ALL conditions. especially when drifting/anchored. The fit/finish on a Cabo is excellent. The details (like the hardware they use--screws, hinges, handles, lighting fixtures, etc...) are good to excellent. They don't use the cheap stuff. They typically install the one that you would have chosen as the more durable choice, etc...
A Cabo is a wet ride. Will take plenty of water over the bow, & wet in the cockpit too. The expresses I was on tended to ride bow-up, even when trying to trim down. But she will not bang on you with that glass-shattering sound of a Luhrs, Ocean Yacht, Albemarle, etc....Trolls nicely, but is average, mediocre live baiting, drifting, on anchor. But does not roll nearly as bad as a Hatteras.
They have alot of nice options, like you would expect to find in a custom rig. Macerators in the kill boxes. Live well in the transom kill box. Freezer, ice maker, eskimos, tackle lockers, etc....and they commonly come with Stidd chairs-very nice. IF you get the flybride model (of any boat) and you often fish with a crew of 2-3, then consider cockpit controls a valuable option.
Remember, they are wet boats--check out the condition of the eisenglass & know that you are going to need it.

Never had to pay for one, but they are well above average in price.

BTW--the 35 express has a nice "little" cabin space forward. The express style lends itself more to short-handed fishing (2 or 3 total crew) than the flybridge.

[knot for shore]

Jeff,
nice reply. what boat would you personally pick in the 35' to 48' range and why? You write like you have much experience on such boats.

Thanks

[Bay Fishin]

I Have heard the Cabos are wet as well. Also I believe there fuel economy sucks. The 35 has a 300 mile range Look to fill up after every charter.

I would go custom or Buy and older midsize flybridge from Hatteras, Topaz, or Viking.Do a rewpower, paint, tower/hartop add a killbox and your set. If you can afford the Cabo I would also look at a Henriques.

[TOO EZ]

I Have heard the Cabos are wet as well. Also I believe there fuel economy sucks. The 35 has a 300 mile range Look to fill up after every charter.

I would go custom or Buy and older midsize flybridge from Hatteras, Topaz, or Viking.Do a rewpower, paint, tower/hartop add a killbox and your set. If you can afford the Cabo I would also look at a Henriques.

DITTO - DITTO - DITTO


I can only say what I have heard about the Cabo's and that it is a Wet Ride.

I do speak from Experience on the Hatteras. My father owned from the 32 up to the 50' and every model Always handled the Seas very nice.

Cowboy - if you are looking for something that will work on the drift then maybe you should look into the Henriques.

[Vixen]

Cowboy I second 2EZ on the heriques fished a friend of mines 35 rock solid hull and decent on the drift.

[BluePrints]

No more Albe. It won't be the same fishing on anything else.

I have a friend way up north (mass) that has a mid 30's cabo. I will try & get ahold of him & give him your number cowboy. He may be in the middle of the atlantic at the moment though.

You knew tooez would recomend a henriques. He just wants you to buy one so he can play w/ it.