Cabo Rico 45 Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

Cabo Rico marketed the 45 as semi-custom, and sister ships carried non-identical interiors. A recently inspected aft-cockpit example entered on centerline with the galley to port and the navigation station and quarter berth to starboard, a midship saloon around a folding table, an island berth forward, and two heads. The midship engine below the saloon floor freed space for a larger quarter berth and aft locker while keeping weight low and centered. Above-average headroom and adequate ambient light keep the wooded interior from feeling enclosed, and the striking woodwork on a twenty-year-old boat was still in remarkable condition.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Most used Cabo Rico 45s carry a deep equipment list. Commonly fitted power and energy gear includes a generator (which sits directly ahead of the engine), solar, an inverter, and a watermaker-ready hull with space for secondary refrigeration and added battery capacity. Canvas and sail-handling upgrades often show a furling main, electric winches, and a spinnaker; navigation and comfort clusters bring autopilot, radar, AIS, chartplotter, air conditioning, and diesel heating. A bow thruster is strongly endorsed for a vessel of this heft and design as almost a necessity, and a Schaefer in-boom furling system, where fitted, makes an electric cabintop winch nearly required. Core electrical and mechanical gear aside from the Yanmar is mainstream North American and European equipment, and factory systems were installed to U.S. Coast Guard and ABYC standards, though much auxiliary gear was likely added after production.

What to Inspect

The midship engine produces a long shaft run aft to the shaft exit, requiring a jackshaft and thrust bearing that can become a source of noise, vibration, and maintenance issues anchor. Check the shaft alignment, thrust bearing, and jackshaft couplings closely. Decks are cored; only when a teak overlay has been added does broad core rot tend to appear, so inspect any teak-decked boat for softness. Spare parts and service are limited outside Costa Rica due to low production and the builder’s bankruptcy, so confirm Yanmar and auxiliary-component supply before committing.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

These boats appear in the United States market. For a buyer, the short checklist is: verify the jackshaft and thrust bearing condition; avoid cored decks with teak overlay unless surveyed clean; confirm generator placement ahead of the engine and bow-thruster fitment; and budget for limited parts support. The Cabo Rico 45 rewards the patient shopper with a rare, heavily built Crealock cruiser of real character.