Boat show season

[jhnmdahl]

The Minneapolis boat show opened last night, and my family took their usual break from the January cold to check out the new boats. Lots of boats from brands like Regal, Chaparral, Monterey, Formula, and other brands that are squarely in the same line as Cobalt. There's definitely a trend toward "fancying up" bowriders and cabin cruisers to look more like wakeboard and ski boats of the 2010s, and fit and finish seem to be pretty uniform.

A handful of midwest dealers are now carrying brands like Scout, Pursuit, Tiara, and the like that aren't as dressed up, but feel like the Cobalt of old.

As for Cobalt, here are a couple photos of the R35 they had for display. I didn't talk with anyone, but overheard a couple other groups commenting on the fit and finish. You can draw your own conclusions regarding materials, whether the ladies are still nit-picking every boat that comes off the line, etc...

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[Table Rockin]

I do love a good boat show. I'm in the STL area and our show disappeared during covid and I fear won't be coming back. Disappointing to see some of those pics. Especially on their flagship model.

I'm hoping to travel down to our lake house in Branson next weekend to attend the Springfield boat show. It's much smaller than the big shows but it's all I have, and it will be good to talk to vendors on my actual home lake.

They are a good way to get something of a boating fix during these cold winter months.

[CobaltDeadHead]

Yikes between seeing that poor craftsmanship (as a boat show model no less) and a picture of the new fugly R35 Coupe today, it's a sad state of affairs for the brand. Amazing what people are willing to spend on new Cobalts today with what they've become

[CobaltDeadHead]

Here's a picture for those who haven't seen the new R35 Coupe. Perhaps fugly is too harsh of a term. It just doesn't look like a Cobalt to me at all. Very boxy, almost like a Boston Whaler Pilot House. Compare it to say an A36. I'm not the biggest fan of the newer A Series models, but that's more stylistic preference. You can still tell by looking at them that they have Cobalt DNA.

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Thankfully I'm not a multi millionaire having to make the difficult choice not to spend near 7 figures on a boat from the brand I once admired most. Haha

[stifflkd]

The results of being acquired by a public company. It's all about the dollars.

[jwill323]

I do love a good boat show. I'm in the STL area and our show disappeared during covid and I fear won't be coming back. Disappointing to see some of those pics. Especially on their flagship model.

I'm hoping to travel down to our lake house in Branson next weekend to attend the Springfield boat show. It's much smaller than the big shows but it's all I have, and it will be good to talk to vendors on my actual home lake.

They are a good way to get something of a boating fix during these cold winter months.

They do have the St. Charles Boat show in the STL area. It's actually a really nice show, nothing like the old boat and sports show they used to have downtown but still a nice way to spend a day.

https://stcharlesboatshow.weebly.com

[Table Rockin]

I do love a good boat show. I'm in the STL area and our show disappeared during covid and I fear won't be coming back. Disappointing to see some of those pics. Especially on their flagship model.

I'm hoping to travel down to our lake house in Branson next weekend to attend the Springfield boat show. It's much smaller than the big shows but it's all I have, and it will be good to talk to vendors on my actual home lake.

They are a good way to get something of a boating fix during these cold winter months.

They do have the St. Charles Boat show in the STL area. It's actually a really nice show, nothing like the old boat and sports show they used to have downtown but still a nice way to spend a day.

https://stcharlesboatshow.weebly.com

Yeah I clearly misspoke there, I've been to that show and its not bad at all. They will also have larger models than what is going to be in Springfield. I might have to check out both shows this year

[Jimmy Buoy]

Hopefully they get it together before the Cobalt name is irreparable. It can't be that difficult for Malibu's management to do some searching on Cobalt's past and see why they attained the status that was enjoyed for many years.

[CobaltDeadHead]

There's always a chance. Chriscraft circled the bowl for a long time, but seem to be making pretty good stuff again under Winnebago.

[jhnmdahl]

There's always a chance. Chriscraft circled the bowl for a long time, but seem to be making pretty good stuff again under Winnebago.

I saw a Launch 25 GT, and it's a pretty classy boat. Not cheap for a 25' boat, but I suspect they may take some sales that might have gone to the nicer A series boats a decade or two ago. https://www.chriscraft.com/models/launc ... unch-25-gt

[CobaltDeadHead]

There's always a chance. Chriscraft circled the bowl for a long time, but seem to be making pretty good stuff again under Winnebago.

I saw a Launch 25 GT, and it's a pretty classy boat. Not cheap for a 25' boat, but I suspect they may take some sales that might have gone to the nicer A series boats a decade or two ago. https://www.chriscraft.com/models/launc ... unch-25-gt

My only complaint when looking at CC is it seems they limit power choices a bit. As an example, you can't get that 25-GT with a 430. Many might be satisfied or even prefer the 380, but why not over the HO for those who may want it?

[jwill323]

There's always a chance. Chriscraft circled the bowl for a long time, but seem to be making pretty good stuff again under Winnebago.

I saw a Launch 25 GT, and it's a pretty classy boat. Not cheap for a 25' boat, but I suspect they may take some sales that might have gone to the nicer A series boats a decade or two ago. https://www.chriscraft.com/models/launc ... unch-25-gt

My only complaint when looking at CC is it seems they limit power choices a bit. As an example, you can't get that 25-GT with a 430. Many might be satisfied or even prefer the 380, but why not over the HO for those who may want it?

I guess it makes production easier with just 1 or 2 engine choices but i miss some of the sleeper boats. The normal family runabout or cruiser that somehow had a big power option tucked inside. I had been drooling over this Searay 350 SLX-R but i see online that the R package is not available any more. Although i think they were charging $150K for the engines and some LED lights and the black paint on the hardtop.

There was red stitching too! The 150K was an adder over the base engines!

https://www.powerandmotoryacht.com/boat ... n-r-series

[CobaltDeadHead]

I like Formula's Flex program for this reason. If you want it and are willing to pay for it, they'll do it.

Saw a Formula 270BR for sale on Facebook recently with a Merc 520. So basically, their equivalent of a R7/8. I checked their website and only saw the option to go 430. So, I messaged the guy and asked if he repowered it after market. He said nope. Special ordered from the factory.

That right there is the benefit of a family owned company. They're often willing to do more to attract and please their customers.

[AsLan7]

I like Formula's Flex program for this reason. If you want it and are willing to pay for it, they'll do it.

Saw a Formula 270BR for sale on Facebook recently with a Merc 520. So basically, their equivalent of a R7/8. I checked their website and only saw the option to go 430. So, I messaged the guy and asked if he repowered it after market. He said nope. Special ordered from the factory.

That right there is the benefit of a family owned company. They're often willing to do more to attract and please their customers.

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Amen brother.

[stifflkd]

I would have loved to take a serious look at Formula when I was in the market in 2021. But from what I saw they had basically put the 240 and 270 off to the side, making basically no changes since they were first introduced. Their focus appears to be on bigger BR's and getting into the larger CC trend.