New 2019 R3 Owner

[NautiGirl]

'MERICA!!
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There is nothing more MERICA than a 870 that was purchased at the walmart up the street.

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[Ytmsn]

Nice!
I'm sorry, Bob, did you say something? What were we talking about?

[NautiGirl]

Yes sorry Bob my bad, got in a little contest there, which YT will win so I don't know why I started it.

Buy the tower.

[BobRae99]

I got a "spray date" for my boat yesterday. Cobalt confirms that I will have delivery June 20th. If everything goes to plan, I'll have the boat in the water exactly when I wanted it.

I have about 2 weeks to firm up the option list. So far, the only change is to add Makassar trim. I'm still noodling about the tower. I plan on sitting on a boat with and without, at the start of the week.

If I decide to switch back to the Premium Bimini, I may add the VP380, but I'll want to see the torque/HP chart as well as the fuel consumption for the 380 and 350. By the prop chart the 380 is 1 mph faster with a .1 second slower time to plane. BB points out that this is for an empty boat and a fully loaded boat would give the big block an advantage getting on plane. I'd just like t see what Cobalt says.

Finally, I think I'd like to visit the factory. As part of the Cobalt program, once the factory confirms your build date they send you a thank you video fro the floor of the factory. Its a nice touch. I'd like to find out when my hull will start the assembly process and time a list for that week.

[Big Block Power]

Wear signs cooler 350 5.3 or 380 6.2
I hated being the little guy my whole life. Move up Bob. You won't regret it. I'm sure it will be a great boat for me next year. I see a R5 Surf next year for you.

[BobRae99]

Wear signs cooler 350 5.3 or 380 6.2
I hated being the little guy my whole life. Move up Bob. You won't regret it. I'm sure it will be a great boat for me next year. I see a R5 Surf next year for you.

I reached out to the Cobalt factory to get the power and torque curves for the 380 as well as the fuel consumption for both engines in the R3. If I keep the tower, it will be a 350. If I decide to order the premium bimini, I'd consider upgrading to the 380. There must be more to this than the prop chart though, because, on paper, there is little performance difference. As you have written the low end torque of the 380 might be all the difference when 8 adults are on board and I'm pulling up a heavy skier. I'll wait to see what Cobalt says.

[Big Block Power]

Sorry that should have said what sounds cooler.
I would not give up the tower for the 380. Keep the tower get the 350. Or bite the bullet and do tower and 380. Dreamsicle please too.

[NautiGirl]

You are going to want the resale value the tower adds when you decide that you want to upgrade to an R5 in a year or two.

[BobRae99]

Sorry that should have said what sounds cooler.
I would not give up the tower for the 380. Keep the tower get the 350. Or bite the bullet and do tower and 380. Dreamsicle please too.

I told my wife that I was trading our current boat on one that was 2-1/2 feet longer and she didn’t mind. I didn’t mention the cost though. If I tell her I want an R5 in two years, she will lose her mind. It’s odd, in western Canada, every stern drive R3 in dealer stock has a folding tower. In eastern Canada (Ontario) almost every boat has a premium Bimini. BB would want to live in western Canada (if, for some reason he had to move here): they like trucks with big motors, boats with big motors and towers.

At this point, it has nothing to do with money, rather which I prefer. I’ll sort that out at the dealer on Monday.

[BobRae99]

Sorry that should have said what sounds cooler.
I would not give up the tower for the 380. Keep the tower get the 350. Or bite the bullet and do tower and 380. Dreamsicle please too.

I’m shocked you just wrote this. I’d have thought you would opt for the bigger motor before the tower. What gives?

[Big Block Power]

Sorry that should have said what sounds cooler.
I would not give up the tower for the 380. Keep the tower get the 350. Or bite the bullet and do tower and 380. Dreamsicle please too.

I’m shocked you just wrote this. I’d have thought you would opt for the bigger motor before the tower. What gives?

I know you wont get the 380 so at least get the tower. That's why. Lol

[Big Block Power]

Sorry that should have said what sounds cooler.
I would not give up the tower for the 380. Keep the tower get the 350. Or bite the bullet and do tower and 380. Dreamsicle please too.

I told my wife that I was trading our current boat on one that was 2-1/2 feet longer and she didn’t mind. I didn’t mention the cost though. If I tell her I want an R5 in two years, she will lose her mind. It’s odd, in western Canada, every stern drive R3 in dealer stock has a folding tower. In eastern Canada (Ontario) almost every boat has a premium Bimini. BB would want to live in western Canada (if, for some reason he had to move here): they like trucks with big motors, boats with big motors and towers.

At this point, it has nothing to do with money, rather which I prefer. I’ll sort that out at the dealer on Monday.

2 years. No way next year. Lol remember Dreamsicle.
Don't look at the price or you will want to move here. Lol

[BobRae99]

Sorry that should have said what sounds cooler.
I would not give up the tower for the 380. Keep the tower get the 350. Or bite the bullet and do tower and 380. Dreamsicle please too.

I told my wife that I was trading our current boat on one that was 2-1/2 feet longer and she didn’t mind. I didn’t mention the cost though. If I tell her I want an R5 in two years, she will lose her mind. It’s odd, in western Canada, every stern drive R3 in dealer stock has a folding tower. In eastern Canada (Ontario) almost every boat has a premium Bimini. BB would want to live in western Canada (if, for some reason he had to move here): they like trucks with big motors, boats with big motors and towers.

At this point, it has nothing to do with money, rather which I prefer. I’ll sort that out at the dealer on Monday.

2 years. No way next year. Lol remember Dreamsicle.
Don't look at the price or you will want to move here. Lol

I actually think that arch looks the best on the R3, but it is another $4,000 and there is no way to lower it so it limits its appeal to people who Garage their boats or have low headroom getting into a boathouse.

I also like the colour, but I wonder if one would get tired of it. On the other hand, my Navy/Sandstone looks a bit like a business suit. I guess I’m trying to stay middle of the road. My build is a little over $118,000USD, which makes it about $162,000CAD before 13% in taxes, so I think I’m at the limit of what I want to spend on a 12 weekend a summer toy. So it will be a tower or (maybe) a bigger engine, but not both.

[tgrace98]

I told my wife that I was trading our current boat on one that was 2-1/2 feet longer and she didn’t mind. I didn’t mention the cost though. If I tell her I want an R5 in two years, she will lose her mind. It’s odd, in western Canada, every stern drive R3 in dealer stock has a folding tower. In eastern Canada (Ontario) almost every boat has a premium Bimini. BB would want to live in western Canada (if, for some reason he had to move here): they like trucks with big motors, boats with big motors and towers.

At this point, it has nothing to do with money, rather which I prefer. I’ll sort that out at the dealer on Monday.

2 years. No way next year. Lol remember Dreamsicle.
Don't look at the price or you will want to move here. Lol

I actually think that arch looks the best on the R3, but it is another $4,000 and there is no way to lower it so it limits its appeal to people who Garage their boats or have low headroom getting into a boathouse.

I also like the colour, but I wonder if one would get tired of it. On the other hand, my Navy/Sandstone looks a bit like a business suit. I guess I’m trying to stay middle of the road. My build is a little over $118,000USD, which makes it about $162,000CAD before 13% in taxes, so I think I’m at the limit of what I want to spend on a 12 weekend a summer toy. So it will be a tower or (maybe) a bigger engine, but not both.

Get the tower then. You can just fold out the canvas and leave it out. And it gives you another tow point for a wakeboarder or water skier. Just no tubers

[akorcovelos]

It's a lot easier and cheaper to add a tower than it is a bigger engine, just my .02