From the classifieds: 2006 Cabo 40 Express

The iconic US brand, once owned by Mercury Marine before it was sold off to an investment group, was renowned for building big, sassy, Carolina flare-bowed saltwater specialists, and had really hit its straps as a desirable brand before financial troubles forced a merger with sister brand Hatteras.

Cabo Yachts had long been a force in flybridge and express-style game-fishing boats and had made inroads into Australia. The brand kicked off sales here with a 32 Express and ranged up to a 52 Flybridge.

One of the most svelte and desirable express sports fishers in the Cabo range was the Cabo 40 Express. It blended everything the offshore fisher wanted, from the ability to carry big game-fishing gear such as towers and outriggers, but with downstairs comforts that made every trip wide seem special.

At 12.2 metres long and with a 4.8-metre beam carried forward, it was a big-volume boat with a deep vee up front falling back to a 16.5-degree vee deadrise aft.

It was also powerful, capable of around 36 knots of running speed if the default twin 715hp Caterpillar C12 ACERT high-performance engineers were driving the screws.

Onboard at deck level, everything was geared towards fishing with abundant tackle boxes throughout the cockpit, two huge fish boxes and a lit-up transom live bait tank.

Even today, these boats still turn heads on the water.

It’s rare that a Cabo 40 Express comes up for sale, so it’s something of a surprise to see one offered on boatsales.com.au.

This 2006 Cabo 40 Express is an Australian-delivered boat featuring those high-powered Cat diesels with 1300 hours of runtime on them, and full Furuno electronics. 

The ad describes the boat as in excellent overall condition, with a full two-pack paint finish.

The boat comes with the standard five-person accommodations that include the aft seating dinette that converts into a double and single berth, and the bow master suite. A common head includes a separate shower.

The $775,000 its owners are asking is cheap when you realise this is a complete package, including a tower, that you can just jump aboard and run.