Is Cobalt mostly a lake boat?

[ForeverCobalt]

Thank you Dudley! Good to hear from people who have ran similar boats in the actual waters. We are excited to take it up and down the coast and the Bimini trip is definitely on the list but first shake out the boat and get familiar with it for quite sometime!

[Carilope]

I have been reading here through a lot of posts and learning a lot (thank you!) In doing so I am getting impression that a large majority of Cobalt boats are on lakes and not in the more open waters of oceans/gulfs. Am I getting the wrong impression and if not should I rethink out R6OB choice. We will be in SW and planning on day trips all up and down the coast and probably trailer across to do ICW and keys. Of course I am a huge fan of Cobalt quality etc but dont want to buy a boat ill suited. Case in point I went to Dana Point harbor this weekend in California here and I dont think I saw a single Cobalt in a slip.

Recommend you this youtube link…. florida to bahamas

https://youtu.be/0bDuoU_xcXE

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[ForeverCobalt]

I saw that one! That looks so much fun! Very similar boat to mine i feel.

[dustinm]

I guess no one ever told them?

[DeadOn04]

Have enjoyed our Cobalt which is a similar size to yours here in the FL panhandle. We have gone out in several rough and windy days with great success, just work the trim and manage your speed. I have boated before in SWF out around sanibel, captiva, pine island and out to the near shore gulf. You should have no issue enjoying the boat in that area as long as you check the conditions. Wind and interval are just as important as height. To be sure it’s not an off shore boat for 6 foot rollers, but you’ll have plenty of fun down there.

Not a lot of Cobalts up here either, but once you are out there a lot you’ll see others. No matter where you are people know and love a Cobalt!

[stifflkd]

I have owned 2 Cobalts over the last 20 years running in the ICW and offshore. No problems. Deep Vee, lots of stainless and solid construction fits the bill nicely for the area. It is more of a corporate marketing decision to focus on lake boating. Their mistake. I am about an hour away from the closest dealer which is insane since other mfg's have probably three dealerships in that span. Their loss as they would make a killing if there was a dealer in my area. I might be a little concern with the new R's however as they incorporate a Malibu influence and have flattened the hull. P.S. the idea that a OB is better suited for SW is silly. Until there is a close looped cooled OB I see no compelling reason to switch from an I/O.

[cmattj]

the idea that a OB is better suited for SW is silly. Until there is a close looped cooled OB I see no compelling reason to switch from an I/O.

Hey Stiff, How are you rinsing your out drive after use? This may help other members.

[stifflkd]

the idea that a OB is better suited for SW is silly. Until there is a close looped cooled OB I see no compelling reason to switch from an I/O.

Hey Stiff, How are you rinsing your out drive after use? This may help other members.

With a water hose, how else? For those that are submerged thru out the season, antifouling paint and anodes in the spring.

[Big Block Power]

the idea that a OB is better suited for SW is silly. Until there is a close looped cooled OB I see no compelling reason to switch from an I/O.

Hey Stiff, How are you rinsing your out drive after use? This may help other members.

With a water hose, how else? For those that are submerged thru out the season, antifouling paint and anodes in the spring.

Yes Matt! Wray else would you use
No salt away needed.

[cmattj]

Ahhh yes a Hose. Should have know this…My vision of a squirt bottle seems silly.

[Tuscany]

Ahhh yes a Hose. Should have know this…My vision of a squirt bottle seems silly.

LOLOL..

[MnLakeBum]

I have owned 2 Cobalts over the last 20 years running in the ICW and offshore. No problems. Deep Vee, lots of stainless and solid construction fits the bill nicely for the area. It is more of a corporate marketing decision to focus on lake boating. Their mistake. I am about an hour away from the closest dealer which is insane since other mfg's have probably three dealerships in that span. Their loss as they would make a killing if there was a dealer in my area. I might be a little concern with the new R's however as they incorporate a Malibu influence and have flattened the hull. P.S. the idea that a OB is better suited for SW is silly. Until there is a close looped cooled OB I see no compelling reason to switch from an I/O.

Agree that they are making a mistake to not locate more dealers on coastal areas. I am seeing way more Cobalts in the Naples FL area where they do have a dealer, I'd guess triple the number that I saw 5 years ago.

[Sea Bass Man]

I have a Cobalt R6 OB in SW, FL and love it. I wanted a center console and had one picked out, then decided to take my wife to the boat show. We left with a Cobalt and it was the right choice for what we use it for. We can do almost everything a CC does but can seat a lot more people, comfortably.

My opinion is that the R6 was Cobalt's first real entrance into the OB/Ocean market. The SC was an inboard boat that they slapped an outboard on. The walk through middle allows more people to sit in the corner and helps when out in the gulf. The 25 foot hull does real well with 3 foot rollers in the gulf and tends to cut them rather then slap them. I feel that the R6 rides about the same as a similarly sized CC like the Sea Hunt Ultra but much better than my Buddy's bay boat when the waves pick up.

I am happy with the 300hp Yamaha. You always want more power but this is usually enough for the boat.

Some times you do notice that it is a "lake boat" company learning the ocean market. One thing that drove me nuts was the depth finder. Cobalt will deliver with Garmin 8610 displays and an Inteliducer NMEA 2000 for depth readings. For $200 more they could install one display with as an 8610xsv and a B60 Transducer for another additional $100. This would give you the ability to paint the bottom as opposed to pinging the bottom. It helps out tremendously with tides and shifting bottoms and is the basic standard for most salt water boats this size around here, not so much on a lake. It will cost you at least $1,000 in parts alone to upgrade this. It is one of those things that is better done right the first time.

Also replace all the screws that attach the Bimini to the tower, they are not stainless.

Don't rethink your decision. The R6 is a great boat for SW Florida.

[AsLan7]

I have a Cobalt R6 OB in SW, FL and love it. I wanted a center console and had one picked out, then decided to take my wife to the boat show. We left with a Cobalt and it was the right choice for what we use it for. We can do almost everything a CC does but can seat a lot more people, comfortably.

My opinion is that the R6 was Cobalt's first real entrance into the OB/Ocean market. The SC was an inboard boat that they slapped an outboard on. The walk through middle allows more people to sit in the corner and helps when out in the gulf. The 25 foot hull does real well with 3 foot rollers in the gulf and tends to cut them rather then slap them. I feel that the R6 rides about the same as a similarly sized CC like the Sea Hunt Ultra but much better than my Buddy's bay boat when the waves pick up.

I am happy with the 300hp Yamaha. You always want more power but this is usually enough for the boat.

Some times you do notice that it is a "lake boat" company learning the ocean market. One thing that drove me nuts was the depth finder. Cobalt will deliver with Garmin 8610 displays and an Inteliducer NMEA 2000 for depth readings. For $200 more they could install one display with as an 8610xsv and a B60 Transducer for another additional $100. This would give you the ability to paint the bottom as opposed to pinging the bottom. It helps out tremendously with tides and shifting bottoms and is the basic standard for most salt water boats this size around here, not so much on a lake. It will cost you at least $1,000 in parts alone to upgrade this. It is one of those things that is better done right the first time.

Also replace all the screws that attach the Bimini to the tower, they are not stainless.

Don't rethink your decision. The R6 is a great boat for SW Florida.

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Thanks for the input SBM. Great comment about a lake boat company learning the ocean market. They've come a long way and will hopefully fix these issues going forward. Stainless everything is a no-brainer. Then there are different qualities of stainless.

Any pics of your Cobalt?

So glad you found us!....And welcome aboard mate!
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