44' Cabo Triple Threat

yacht's optional dark blue hull is paint not gelcoat; standard colors are gelcoated.

EXCLUSIVE: CABO 44 HARDTOP EXPRESS

T" hree out of four live ballyhoo-

rigged circle hooks went downas three sailfish took to danc-ing across the waters just off-shore of Key Largo, Florida's

Ocean Reef Club. Shortly after the hookup, Ideveloped a strong appreciation for the agili-ty of Cabo's prototype 44 Hardtop Express.

Don Smith, Cabo's vice president of sales,was battling a Bimini-bound, tailwalkingspindlebeak off the starboard comer while Iwalked my torpedo-fast fish up the 11-inch-wide nonskid-equipped side decks. Capt. JoeConnell concentrated on getting the 44 set tobeat down Smith's fish while I maintainedsteady pressure on mine with some help fromthe optional waist-high East Coast-stylebowrail. (There's a taller, longer version calleda West Coast rail for hard-core, live-bait, fore-deck-fishing anglers.)

While I watched the line on my Perm reelempty out as if it were in freespool, Connellengaged the optional and torquey 1,015-hpCaterpillar CIS diesels and engaged the ZFtranny with 1.774:1 gear reduction. The five-blade nibral wheels spun instantly, driving the44's transom into the three-foot chop createdby the day's 20-knot-plus winds. Water shotup at us as Smith and our guide for the day,Capt. Dana Jenkins of Ocean Reefs WarbirdSportfishing, enjoyed a saltwater washdown.I gazed back through the raked superstruc-ture-spanning windows of the hardtop andcould see they were making up ground in ahurry. A quick release, and it was my turn.

I pointed my arm toward 11 o'clock, andConnell quickly engaged the Cats to push the44 at my fish. In short order, I gained line asmy test boat's fine entry cut the chop, and wewere soon two for three on our triple-headerhookup. Our third fish broke off after becom-ing tailwrapped in the main line.

In addition to her ability to run downpelagics, the 44's cockpit is well rigged for thistype of angling. It features an in-transomlivewell, but dead-bait and lure-fishing afi-cionados who want a little more floor spacecan order the boat without it. Under the stan-dard mezzanine seating is a bait freezer aswell as a couple of insulated boxes. Two big-eye-capable in-deck fishboxes round out theamenities here, and though I'm more of an icemaker fan, my test boat's starboard-side box

March 2011 I PMYMAG.COM 55

Cabo's 44 Hardtop Express can speed across the water at 43.9 mph when equipped with optional twin 1,015-mhp Cat diesels. The

54 PMYMAG.COM I March 2011

Top: One fridge and freezer drawer is standard, and the microwave will soon be moved up. Above: The forepeak's step-up queen berth.



was equipped with refrigeration plates for keeping the catch of the dayfresh. This 44 was sans fighting chair; however the cockpit can accom-modate one in the 130-pound class for an owner who likes to chasegrander blue marlin or giant tuna (or who just wants to catch some rayswhile trolling).

With the wind blowing hard and steady from the north, it was a coolDecember day by Florida Keys' standards (40°F in the morning), whichoffered a real-world chance to understand the benefits of a full hardtopexpress. Until this vessel, Cabo built more traditional open-type boatswith a hardtop, some glass, and an isinglass-style enclosure around thetop of the hardtop. This new and leak-free, all-composite structure

The Basics

Standard equipment:hydraulic power-assiststeering; Cat electroniccontrols; recessed trimtabs; aluminum bowrail;bait-and-tackle center;56-gal. in-transomlivewell; Stidd helm andcompanion seats; hard-top w/ three-side enclo-sure; tri-color LED light-ing in hardtop; electricteaser reel mounts;Palm Beach-helm pod;11-gal. water heater; 11.5-kWgenset; GlendinningCablemaster; flat-panel

TV in saloon; satin-finishteak interior; two-burnerelectric cooktop; solid-surface galley counter-tops

Optional power:2/1,015-mhp or 2/1,150-mhp Caterpillar CISdiesel inboards

Optional equipment ontest boat: 2/1,015-mhpCaterpillar CIS dieselinboards; second under-counter U-Line refrigera-tor and freezer; helm-

Above: That second stateroom can be converted into a large tackle stowage space.

ensures that wind, spray, and rain stay outside of the bridge deck at alltimes. It also provides a great retreat from a blazing sun. For those hotdays, my 44 featured 16,000-Btus of optional bridge-deck air condition-ing. I think the comfort equation could be taken a step further by addinga few vents to blow down onto the mezzanine seating. Smith told methat Cabo will be cutting back the hardtop's rod stowage on centerlineabove the seating aft of the helm to make room for an enclosure to com-pletely protect the bridge deck from wind and water. If the builder doesthis, there could be room to add cutouts in the top.

Other than this suggestion, this spacious area's three Stidd helm seatsand L-shape seating is the hot setup for a crew hanging out together on

a long run or enjoying an adult beverage atthe end of a hot day. (I did test out the latter,and it is absolutely the place for sharingcocktails and lies after a day on the hunt.)And a couple of billfish releases like we hadalways make those beverages taste just a lit-tle better—that and the fact that our drinkswere super cold thanks to the galley's stan-dard under-counter U-line refrigerator.

That below-decks combination galley-saloon space—which also features aTappan microwave (soon to be moved frombelow the countertop to above it for easieraccess on future boats), a two-burnerKenyon cooktop, and a teak-and-hollysole—feels spacious, too. This is due, in part,to the average 6'5" headroom but alsothanks to the brightness offered by threeoverhead mini skylights that sit just forwardof the helm's dash. Overhead LED lightinghelps, too.

My test boat's standard two-stateroom,single-head layout, with a forepeak masterand a two-bunk guest space aft and to star-board is fairly traditional in this style andsize vessel. One option allows the gueststateroom to be turned into a rod room,complete with a countertop working area.When this is done, the guest stateroom'sfore-to-aft running bulkhead is removed,opening the area further. For the dayboater,this may be a nice layout.

The 44 has a wide 16'6" beam, whichcombined with her modified deep-V hullform (16 degrees transom deadrise), givesher a stable ride whether she's cruising at 38mph like she did on our test day or speedingacross the sea at 43.9 mph at WOT. But forall her girth and volume, I found the enginespace to be a work in progress.

At 57", I fit most anywhere on any boatwithout issue, but while crabbing my way

deck fridge, A/C; thirdport-side companionStidd helm seat; teakhelm; Kenyon electriccockpit grill; bait freezerin mezzanine; livewellwindow; refrigerationplates for starboard-side in-deckfishbox;upgrade to 17-kW Onangenset; blue hull color;Pipewelders tower;2/Sea Vision underwa-ter lights; Furuno RD30;IcomVHF

Base price: $949,000


around the outside of the 44's port-side Cat I noted that the oversizeairboxes and Glendinning Cablemaster bin prevented clean access totwo through-hull valves aft of them. Cabo is aware of those issues, andConnell was quick to note that the builder has reduced the size of theairboxes by almost half on future 44s, which will provide less-restrict-ed access to these vital valves. In addition, one air conditioning com-pressor will likely be moved forward for easier servicing. If it's possibleto switch the shore power to the starboard side, I think the starboard

engine outboard space may be better suited to host the Cablemaster.The Cat C18s offer the same footprint as the optional 1,150-mhp

ones and are otherwise easily serviceable on the inboard sides andtops of the motors. My 44's optional 17-kW Onan genset, which sat aftof the powerplants, was also easy to access. With safety always at theforefront of this builder's mind, engine-driven crash pumps are found

at the foot of the steps leading into the engine room.Cabo has always been synonymous with hardcore sportfishing

boats, and this 44 Hardtop Express offers all the builder's skill in deliv-ering a vessel in that genre. However, this boat is also a solid fit for thegentleman angler or even the cruise-only boater searching for some-thing sporty in appearance but that also offers great performance andaccommodations for the family. Whether you plan to back down onbillfish all day long or just into a slip after a cruise, the Cabo 44 canwear either hat. Make that hardtop. PMY

• CABO YACHTS(252) 637-CABO.

WWW.PMYMAG.COM/CABO-YACHTS.

Top: Note the molded-in teaser-reel mounts above the helm. Above: Cat displays provide vital engine data at the Palm Beach helm.



PMY's Numbers Cabo 44 Hardtop Express

mph I knots I gph mpg I nmpg I range I nm : db I angleI range I

10.5

12.6

20.4

28.3

33.0

37.7

38.1

23.0

37.2

50.0

63.4

78.0

100.0

107.4

0.52

0.39

0.47

0.51

0.49

0.43

0.41

0.46

0.34

0.41

0.45

0.42

0.38

0.36

376

281

338

369

351

312

294

329

244

294

321

305

271

256

84

86

87

88

92

94

94

3.5

6.5

6.0

5.0

4.5

4.0

4.0

vitalsPropulsion:2/1,015-mhpCaterpillar CISdiesels; 30x43five-blade nibralprops; ZF gearsw/ 1.774:1 ratioLOA x Beam:47'7"xl6'6"Weight (light ,load): 43,200 Ibs.

Fuel: 800 gal.Water: 100 gal.Draft: 37Std. power:2/715-hpCummins QSM 11dieselsCabins: master, 1guestPrice as tested:Upon request

Conditions:temp: 70° F;humidity: 60%;wind: 20-25 mph;seas: 0'-3'; load:650 gal. fuel,50 gal. water,4 persons, 100Ibs. of gear.Speeds are two-way averages

measured w/Stalker radar gun.GPH taken fromMAN displaysRange 90% ofadvertised fuelcapacity. Decibelsmeasured on Ascale. 65 dB-A isthe level of normalconversation.

Above: Those optional Cat diesels eat up engine room real estate, but getting outboard is doable.


44' Cabo Triple Threat

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