1996 1996 Cabo Rico 38

Below the waterline, this 38 shows off the kind of sea manners you really appreciate on day three of a passage: an easy, predictable motion and no drama when the breeze pipes up. On deck, the cockpit is deep and secure without feeling cramped, so you can brace in a seaway and still have room to work sheets and traveler. The wide side decks and solid handholds make going forward at night feel sane, not heroic. Down below, the U-shaped galley tucks the cook in safely on either tack, and there’s enough storage in lockers and bins to actually provision for a season, not just a weekend.

For these waters, the Cabo Rico 38 strikes a sweet balance between comfort at anchor and confidence offshore. The full keel and protected rudder shrug off floating debris and the occasional uncharted bump, while tracking straight in confused chop and strong tidal currents. In squally weather, the moderate sail plan and secure cockpit let you shorten down and keep moving without beating up the crew. When the breeze eases and the heat builds, the generous tankage, generator, and air conditioning turn extended stays on the hook into genuine living aboard, not just camping on a sailboat.