New Cobalt R7 Quality Issues

[Xambo2008]

Hello All

I am new to this site and boating in general. I bought my first boat last year. A shiny new loaded R7. Beautiful boat, but had problems right out of the gate. I am just wondering if I have a lemon or if this is to be expected from a new boat.


-Boat was dropped off by dealer and only in the water 15 minutes before the engine light came on. Found oil spraying all over the engine compartment. Some fitting was not installed correctly.

-The underwater lights were not working. Turns out a screw was ran through a wiring harness

-The stereo has a whining noise when the engine is running. Amp replaced, speakers still make a whining noise. In the repair shop now being looked at

-Tear in one of the seats. Seat was replaced

-Running boat this year after coming back from last years warranty items and the check engine light starts going off again. It is a bad oxygen sensor, so its now back in the repair shop. The boat now has 40hrs on it

-I have the small sink option in the back seating area. I pushed the sink plug into the drain and the entire sink fell into the hull. The sink is glued under the counter with a bead of clear silicone. It's in the repair shop now being fixed

-One of the snaps that holds down the carpet is rusted. I thought this would be stainless steel. he boat has had very little water in it. Its stored under a cover on a boat lift.

I am not trying to just complain. I really want to love this boat, but my frustration is building. I paid $170K for a boat that is supposed to be well built. Am I just being too picky, I mean is this to be expected with a new boat or do I have a lemon on my hands? Has anyone else had problems like this with a new boat purchase?

Thanks

[Big Block Power]

Wow to me it sounds like your dealer did a poor job prepping the boat. Something's do come up. Yours sounds excessive to me. I would be crazy if my sink fell into the hull. Poor workmanship there along with the screw going through the wire for the speaker. It can Happen but it shouldn't. The whine in the radio sounds like a bad ground our how the tab power to it is not isolated. The snaps I'm not sure if they are stainless. Stainless does come in different qualities though. Mine are not rusted after 13 years though. Not sure how the seat fit a hole in it. Just replacing two of mine from the prev. Owner. I feel for you but I hope it ends and you can enjoy your boat.We love ours.

[jhnmdahl]

That's crazy to have that many problems with a single Cobalt, and I'd certainly let them know (and have a chance to fix it). Most of us have exactly zero problems with our boats when new. I don't claim to have any special "in" with anybody at Cobalt, but I might give this person a call - the corporate office is usually quite responsive:

Johna Piatt
Customer Service
Cobalt and Marker One Boats
1715 N. 8th St.
Neodesha, KS 66757
620-325-2653 Ext. 322
johnapi at cobaltboats.com

[nobaddays]

I also had several issues with my new R5 1)thru hull(corsa) would not open-repaired by dealer
2)bimini bolts fell out while under way-they forgot locktight
3)power alarm on GPS when stereo is turned up--still not repaired
this is my 3rd cobalt, and although the issues are inconvenient, the dealer has always gone out of their way to resolve. But I agree, I think Cobalt is slipping with their post inspection prior to delivery

[liquid]

Honestly, I would lose my mind.

You paid for top tier quality, you should receive it. Completely unacceptable.

I've also never heard anything like that from a Cobalt owner - obviously every boat has small issues/quirks but my boat is 14 years old and is built like a tank.

Guarantee Cobalt would want to hear your story.

[Big Block Power]

Please keep us up to date what you do and what Cobalt or your dealer does for you.
Thanks

[mattzkatz]

HOLY SHITE!!! I would be coming unglued personally! Call me unreasonable, but if I paid $170k for a brand new boat, quality control issues like these shouldn't be happening. Honestly I wouldn't expect this on a new "any brand boat" much less one that prides itself in its name, quality, & craftsmanship the way Cobalt seems to. Heck, I'm disappointed in my 16yr old boat b/c of all the stress cracks in the hull, but that's just me and I'm picky.

[liquid]

Xambo - any update on this? did you speak directly with Cobalt? Dealer resolve all issues? Have you called Pack St. Clair at home during dinner?

[jhnmdahl]

Quality control can be a weird thing. If I bought a Toyota for $25k, I would expect no paint flaws, no wiring problems, etc., because it's a mass-produced product that should have very tight quality controls. If I spent 20x that on a house, I would not be surprised by a punch sheet of fixes a page long or longer, because it's a craft item that has more opportunity for minor imperfections and problems along the way. Cobalt should probably fall closer to the Toyota than the house, but I think it's fair to say there's a lot more craftsmanship and less automation in the Cobalt than in a Corolla.