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Riviera, Cabo Other Used Convertibles?

Discussion in 'General Sportfish Discussion' started by Alex4uf, Jul 4, 2019.

  1. Alex4uf, Jul 4, 2019
    #1
    Alex4uf

    Alex4uf New Member

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    I am a first time boat buyer and am in the market for a used convertible. The family wants more of a cruising boat, but I would like the opportunity to do some semi-serious fishing as well. We have been looking at 42 and 47 Rivieras and Cabo. I would appreciate any feedback on these boats as well as any other suggesstions.
  2. Capt J, Jul 4, 2019
    #2
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Cabo is the pinnacle of quality in that size. That is what I would shoot for. The 48' Cabo FB was a very good boat and hull design. The 43' and 47' was one of their early hull designs and would favor the 48' FB or 40' FB over both as they ride better. In the Expresses the later 45's were great 2001 or newer, as well as all years of the 40' and 44' and 52's. Post 50' is a great riding FB and should be considered and they are a step below Cabo in quality, but still very good. Riviera is definitely a big step below both of these brands......but still ok.
  3. Capt Ralph, Jul 4, 2019
    #3
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    YEP.
  4. PacBlue, Jul 4, 2019
    #4
    PacBlue

    PacBlue Senior Member

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    The Cabo 47 and 48 FB are the same hull based on the Lou Codega designed Cabo 45 Express. The 48 just has a bigger salon, they took the space out of the massive cockpit on the 47 and had to re-badge it.

    Lou did the custom Hines-Farley SF’s hulls that are some of the best ever custom SF built as well as Regulator CC’s and the Carolina Classic production boats.
  5. Capt J, Jul 4, 2019
    #5
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    No, they are not the same boat. The 47' was a touch bow heavy and had a tendancy to pound a little and was wet. Cabo changed the fuel tank configuration making the aft fuel tank larger and the bow tank smaller than on the 47' in order to shift weight aft as well as pushing the house further back to make for a larger salon. Both items made a huge difference in the ride of the 47'/48' by shifting weight aft. The COG being too far forward on the 47' is why they made the changes in the first place. Much like they did changes to the 45' hull in 2001 as well. I have run somewhere in the neighborhood of 250 different Cabo's and have been a preferred Captain for Cabo for well over a decade and have run almost every single size, engine configuration, and boat configuration that they have ever built, and have worked for Cabo as a Captain from the initial owners, through Brunswick and currently.
  6. PacBlue, Jul 5, 2019
    #6
    PacBlue

    PacBlue Senior Member

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    I said the hulls are the same, not they are the “same boat”. The 47 had a two stateroom layout, the move of the salon bulkhead gave the 48 a third stateroom.

    The owners of the 47 out west love the large cockpit layout and usually have large cockpit bait tanks where you east coast guys would put a fighting chair. If you have too much weight forward than keep the fwd fuel tank light.