Cabo Yachts built its reputation on offshore sportfishing boats designed around speed, cockpit efficiency, fishability, and confident handling in open-water conditions. Founded in California in 1991, the brand became especially well known for Express and Flybridge models that combined tournament-level fishing features with refined accommodations.
For buyers comparing sport fishing yachts for sale, Cabo remains a strong used-market option. The boats are typically diesel-powered, heavily focused on fishing function, and available in sizes that work for both owner-operators and buyers moving into larger offshore yachts.
Cabo is now primarily a pre-owned brand, which makes model condition, machinery history, refit quality, and equipment updates especially important when comparing individual boats.
A used Cabo can appeal to buyers who want a serious fishing platform without stepping immediately into a larger custom sportfisherman. The current brokerage market is strongest around the 35 Express, 40 Express, 45 Express, 35 Flybridge, and 31 Express, with additional inventory in the 36, 38, 40 Flybridge, 43, 44, 47, and 52-foot ranges.
Many Cabo models combine deep-V or modified-V fiberglass hulls, diesel inboard propulsion, large cockpits, integrated fish boxes, livewells, tackle storage, bait-prep stations, towers, generators, air conditioning, and comfortable overnight accommodations.
For buyers reviewing used yachts for sale, older Cabo boats should be evaluated individually. Repowers, electronics upgrades, tower work, paint, interior refits, fuel-system service, and deferred maintenance can create major differences between two boats of the same model year.
The smaller Cabo Express models remain among the most recognizable boats in the used market. Current listings include the 31 Express, 32 Express, 35 Express, 36 Express, and 38 Express.
The Cabo 35 Express is currently the most heavily represented Cabo model on YachtWorld. Its popularity reflects the model’s balance of a large fishing cockpit, diesel inboard power, manageable size, and overnight accommodations.
The 31 and 32 Express offer a more compact entry into Cabo ownership, while the 36 and 38 provide additional beam, cockpit space, machinery room, and cabin comfort for longer offshore trips.
Buyers comparing express yachts for sale may find these smaller Cabo models especially relevant when fishing function is the main priority.
The Cabo 40 Express is one of the strongest models in the current brokerage market. Listings include both standard Express and Hardtop Express versions, with model years extending into the final years of regular Cabo production.
The 40 Express became known for its combination of speed, cockpit utility, tackle storage, fish boxes, livewell capacity, and comfortable cabin arrangement. Published historical performance information for CAT-powered examples places cruise speeds around the low-30-knot range depending on engine package and load.
The Hardtop Express provides additional weather protection and can be attractive to owners who fish or cruise in a wider range of conditions while retaining the open-helm feel of an express sportfisherman.
The 43, 44 HTX, and 45 Express move Cabo into a larger offshore category with more cockpit space, greater interior volume, and heavier diesel power.
The 45 Express is currently one of the most frequently listed Cabo models and has long been associated with a substantial fishing cockpit, bait-prep areas, large fish boxes, tackle storage, and a comfortable helm deck.
The 44 HTX represents one of the later Cabo hardtop express designs and is less common in the used market, which can make well-maintained examples particularly notable when they become available.
These mid-40-foot models can appeal to buyers who want serious fishing capability without the additional complexity and upper-helm separation of a full flybridge convertible.
Cabo’s flybridge and convertible models give buyers a different offshore layout with elevated visibility, more separation between the helm and cockpit, and greater interior volume below.
Current used inventory includes the 35 Flybridge, 40 Flybridge, 43 Flybridge and Convertible, 47 Flybridge, and 48 Flybridge. The 35 Flybridge is currently the most common of these models in brokerage listings.
The 47 Flybridge became known for its large cockpit, twin-diesel power, comfortable cruise speed, and two-stateroom interior. The 48 Flybridge provides even more interior and machinery space for multi-day offshore trips and cruising.
For buyers who want a traditional sportfishing layout, these models provide the visibility and cockpit supervision advantages associated with a raised helm.
The Cabo 52 Express sits at the upper end of the established Cabo range and combines a large fishing cockpit with substantial accommodations for longer offshore trips.
Historical descriptions of the 52 highlight a transom livewell, large fish boxes, bait-prep areas, fighting-chair reinforcement, a large helm-deck lounge, and a more substantial cabin arrangement than smaller Cabo Express models.
For buyers considering 50 ft yachts for sale, the 52 Express can be especially relevant when the ownership plan centers on offshore fishing rather than conventional motor-yacht entertaining.
Cabo was founded in Adelanto, California, in 1991 by Henry Mohrschladt and Mike Howarth. Brunswick acquired the company in 2006, and production was later consolidated with Hatteras in New Bern, North Carolina.
Regular Cabo production paused in the early 2010s, with the brand later returning briefly with the 41 Express concept. Today, the brokerage market is overwhelmingly pre-owned, and Boat Trader’s active Cabo inventory currently spans model years from the late 1970s through 2013.
That means buyers should approach Cabo primarily as a used sportfishing brand. The strongest examples are often boats that have received documented mechanical, electronics, cosmetic, and fishing-equipment upgrades.
When buying a used Cabo, buyers should focus on engine history, transmissions, shafts, propellers, fuel tanks, cooling systems, exhaust systems, generators, steering, electrical equipment, and navigation electronics.
Fishing equipment should be tested carefully, including livewells, bait pumps, fish boxes, macerators, cockpit freezers, outriggers, tower controls, fighting-chair mounts, and tackle-center equipment.
Buyers should also inspect hull condition, decks, hardtops, tower structures, windows, hatches, exterior sealants, air conditioning, plumbing, bilges, batteries, and any signs of moisture intrusion or previous structural repair.
On repowered boats, installation quality, engine mounts, exhaust sizing, cooling capacity, shafting, propellers, controls, and supporting documentation should receive additional scrutiny.
A professional marine survey, detailed mechanical inspection, and sea trial are essential before completing a purchase.
