Cabo Rico 34 Information, Review, Specs

History and Design

The Cabo Rico 34 began its production run in 1988, continuing a legacy of robust sailboat construction from Cabo Rico Yachts. The company, founded in 1965 in Costa Rica, established a reputation for crafting semi-custom cruising sailboats, transitioning from powerboats to focus on seaworthy sailing vessels by 1967. The design of the Cabo Rico 34 is attributed to the esteemed naval architect W.I.B. Crealock, a designer whose work is synonymous with sturdy cruising yachts. Crealock's intention for the 34 was to create a "strongly built, well-behaved cruiser which will put fun into your passages and comfort in your anchorages," emphasizing both comfortable volume and seakindly performance.

Cabo Rico's manufacturing ethos, evident during the production of the 34, prioritized heavy displacement, solid construction, and a cutter rig design, all geared towards reliable offshore performance. The company's vessels are characterized by deeper drafts and wide beams, contributing to their notable stability and interior volume. The Cabo Rico 34, like many of its siblings, features a solid fiberglass hull and deck, ensuring durability and structural integrity for challenging voyages. The interior joinery is often described as beautiful, crafted from solid Costa Rican teak, reflecting the high standard of build quality. While specific variations like "MkI" or "MkII" are not widely noted for the 34, the consistent application of Cabo Rico's robust building practices ensures a coherent design throughout its production.

Sailing Performance and Handling

The Cabo Rico 34's design ratios provide insight into its character as a heavy-displacement cruiser. With a reported sail area to displacement ratio (SA/D) of approximately 14.23, the vessel is not designed as a light-air racer. This lower ratio suggests that the Cabo Rico 34 will excel in stronger breezes, maintaining good control and stability, rather than being particularly spirited in very light winds.

The ballast to displacement ratio (Bal/Disp) of around 0.34 indicates a moderate level of stiffness, allowing the boat to stand up to a decent amount of wind without excessive heeling, contributing to a comfortable motion offshore. However, it's not an exceptionally stiff boat, prioritizing comfort over ultimate resistance to heel.

Perhaps the most defining characteristic is its high displacement to length ratio (Disp/LWL) of approximately 399.8. This firmly places the Cabo Rico 34 in the category of heavy, traditional cruisers, a hallmark of the Cabo Rico brand. This substantial displacement contributes significantly to its renowned seakindliness, providing a solid and steady ride even in challenging sea states.

Equipped with a long keel, the Cabo Rico 34 offers excellent directional stability, a crucial advantage for offshore passages where maintaining a course with minimal effort is desirable. While a long keel might make tacking slightly less agile than a fin keel, it enhances the boat's ability to track straight and provides a secure platform in rough conditions. Owners often praise its robust and predictable handling, noting its ability to handle well under power due to the cut-away full keel. It is widely regarded as a boat that inspires confidence, capable of sailing the Great Lakes and oceans of the world in a "splendid, seakindly" manner.

Accommodations and Layout

While specific headroom figures are not always readily available, the Cabo Rico 34 is surprisingly spacious inside, a benefit of its wide beam and deep hull form. The interior is consistently praised for its high-quality finish, featuring extensive use of beautiful solid Costa Rican teak joinery, which lends a warm and traditional yacht aesthetic.

The typical interior arrangement is designed for comfortable cruising. It generally includes a V-berth forward, providing a private cabin. A well-appointed head with a shower is usually located adjacent to the V-berth. The main salon is typically midships, offering a comfortable seating area, often with settees that can convert into berths, and a robust centerline table. The galley is functional and well-equipped for offshore cooking, usually situated to one side of the companionway, providing secure bracing points. Storage is ample throughout the boat, with numerous lockers, shelves, and drawers to accommodate provisions and personal gear for extended voyages. Many models feature a quarter berth or a navigation station aft. Ventilation is typically achieved through opening ports and hatches, contributing to a comfortable living environment at anchor. The uncluttered deck layout and spacious cockpit further enhance the living experience, providing good exterior space for both sailing and relaxing.

Owner's Perspectives

Owners of the Cabo Rico 34 consistently praise its exceptional build quality and the solid, reassuring feel it imparts, both above and below deck. The boat is frequently lauded for its robust construction, making it a trusted vessel for those undertaking serious blue-water cruising. Many owners highlight its comfortable motion in a seaway and its impressive directional stability, especially when facing challenging conditions. The quality of the interior teak joinery is also a frequently mentioned strong point, contributing to a classic and inviting atmosphere.

In terms of weaknesses or common maintenance issues, there is limited widespread information readily available from owner forums or reviews detailing systemic problems unique to the Cabo Rico 34 beyond general age-related maintenance common to any boat of its era. The strong construction and careful craftsmanship generally lead to a durable vessel. However, as with any sailboat of its vintage, potential buyers should inspect for routine wear and tear on rigging, engine, and systems, and ensure proper maintenance has been performed over the years. The dedicated community of Cabo Rico owners often emphasizes the boat's inherent strength and its capacity for comfortable passage-making, making it a popular choice for experienced cruisers and adventurers.