2002 293

[NorthForkers]

Hello,

We are new to this group and thank you all in advance for your input and expertise. We are relatively new to boating. We are looking to buy a used Cobalt and are considering a 2002 293 that looks in great condition. We are having an inspector take a look at it next week. It has twin Volvo Pentas and has about 500 hours on them. It has been used exclusively in freshwater in upstate NY. We live on Long Island and the boat would be in saltwater. Is this a difficult conversion? Will the inboard engines prove to be more difficult to maintain here? We’d welcome your advice - it’s a beautiful boat and we are smitten with her but we’d like to be as well informed as possible before we proceed.

[AsLan7]

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Hey Northforkers…so glad you found us.

The 293 is a beautiful boat made during the golden, high quality era of runabouts by a family owned company. 500 hours is well below the average at a standard of 50 hours per year normally. Sounds like a gem. How is the vinyl? That can be difficult to repair or replace depending on the location.

Saltwater and salt air is brutal on boats….especially if moored at a marina. You’ll have to bottom paint this beauty if it will be stored in either fresh or saltwater. Cobalts are really made for freshwater. Newer models are trying to enter the saltwater arena but still lag behind manufacturers like Formula.

There is no engine conversion necessary. Water is picked up by the outdrive (either fresh or saltwater), circulated around the engine to cool it, and dumped back out the exhaust risers through the prop (or thru hull exhaust if equipped). Saltwater can corrode those internals as well as other hardware and electrical connections on the boat. Flushing and cleaning with fresh water can help minimize damage but it is inevitable. That being said, there are a few members here who use their Cobalts in brackish or saltwater so it is doable. They’ll chime in shortly.

Be sure to post pics.

And welcome aboard mate!

[iceclimber]

If you do not have closed cooling (you would see heat exchangers in the front of the motors) then salt water will of course be harder on the entire cooling system. You didn't mention if you plan in leaving it in the water. If no, many people do a fresh water flush after using the boat in salt. If yes, your bottom paint, outdrives, steering, (bellows too) and cooling system will wear. Anything exposed to salt water. Plan on new risers + everything that touches the cooling path every 5 years or so (whole kit is like $1000 in parts minimum plus labor). As mentioned nothing to convert except dollars leaving your wallet more often for maintenance. If the boat was fresh water its whole life that is great news, everything should be like new compared to salt. I don't think it's like rare to run raw cooled boats in salt is it ...?

[Cctvdc]

We boat on Long Island and we have a marina that provides high and dry storage, they have an app you tell them when you want to go out and the boat is put in the water and waiting at the dock, when you return it’s taken out washed down covered and put back in the rack. We don’t even have bottom paint on it. The marina also has a service rack that they put it on if I want to give it a good wash wax. That’s an option you may have.

[NorthForkers]

Thank you everyone for your feedback. We haven’t secured a marina yet or seen the boat in person yet. Given we are located, it is likely that it will stay in the water for the summer season although the style of marina that Cctvdc mentioned is very interesting and worth investigating.

We hope to have more details once the inspector shares their report. In the meantime, I am attaching what photos of the vinyl, body, and engine we have. We appreciate your impressions and any questions you suggest posing to the inspector and/or seller.

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[iceclimber]

You don't have closed cooling. That is not a problem, some folks prefer raw cooling for salt water. The dry storage marina is a very popular choice out this way for salt water, but obviously cost is a consideration. I think you found a very clean and well cared for fresh water boat with a good engine choice.