Cabo Rico 38 solo?

[Musicaltrees]

I'm selling my Pearson this week and now looking at a Cabo 38. Can anyone weigh in on single handling a Cabo RICO 38? I'm not too worried about open water sailing but more concerned about getting in and out tight spots like marinas, anchorages etc. due to her full keel. Turning ability solo. thanks!

[TJ D]

I owned a Tiburon 36 for 7 or 8 years, same hull as the CR38. I found the boat to be totally mannerly around a dock, no problems at all with maneuvering solo. I did plenty of it by myself.

Turning radius is actually very small with backing and filling.

If you're a competent boat driver, this one will cause you no difficulties at all.

Regards, TJ

[zboss]

It should't cause too many problems around docks and as previously stated back and fill is very important.

The biggest thing for me is the bowsprit. Even though we are a "38" by the time you add the sprit and the dinghy on the davits to the equation, we are closer to a 45. However, that would be true with any boat that has a sprit and davits.

[puffcard]

I saw two Cabo Rico 38s being single handed this past winter. They were doing fine. They're great boats with lots of handholds to get around, one of the boats the owner had a prosthetic leg. One of the tricks is to have the boat set up for single-handed sailing. Plan ahead, have everything ready before things starts happening. As stated above they are a very big 38ft'er. While only "1ft" bigger than my boat. They'er much heavier, and longer with bowsprits and davits.