Cobalt Wakesurf Boats

[Ytmsn]

Noooo ethanol in my boat. That stuff is horrible

[Soonerfan]

That sure looks nice Tusc., can't wait to have mine. I wasn't planning on going on plain jane with my trailer as I don't plan on using it often but yours looks really sharp! Really like that bow ladder!

Agreed on the no ethanol! My marina only sells no ethanol stuff!

[liquid]

Marina gas only on mine. 3.50ish a gallon last I remember

[Skiingstrongman]

Tuscany I never realized the storage they took out from your boat but it makes sense now. You have no storage on the port side due to the head and you lose the bench storage on the starboard bow side and storage under the bench in the engine compartment. As far as I know all the boats have ski lockers I haven't seen one without it yet.

For us the lake is small, there's actually a 26 foot size limit so only grandfathered boats are allowed beyond that meaning nothing new over 26 feet. The main issue I have with the wakeboard boats is the ride they are not smooth, they don't plane and handling around the docks is a nightmare. My marina is TIGHT. It took me almost a year of practice to dock without just going bow in and walking the boat into the slip. The bay gets busy so on the weekends the wakes have the docks moving pretty good and any wind changes the game. So being able to maneuver around the docks is huge. The inboard boats have no control in reverse. We are rarely out on the lake for more than 4 hours so I really just need to be able store jackets, lines, anchor, fendors, towel bags and toys. All of which fit easily on my 230. I can also fit all of my cleaning supplies that stay on board as well as my grill and all of my cushions, although this year I've left the aft walk through cushion home because I never use it.

As far as specialty to me we are recreational skiiers so I don't care about wake size much, and beyond that there's not really anything else I would want from the boat. The surf series has a serious wake though don't be misled. The guys that coach for the club are sponsored wakeboarders and one is a sponsored wakesurfer and they choose to take the R5 out. They actually forego the G23 by choice, they have one at their disposal. The pull of the wake is better than the G. That means you have more freedom to surf on the wave without being right on top of the boat. One of the other things that is good about the Cobalts is they can plane with full ballast. A hassle of the wakeboard boats is having to stop to fill and dump the ballast.

Big Block, something to consider is the FFD is NOT new. It's recycled haha it's all volvo marketing. Pretty genius at that I must admit. It's been in existence for a while. It's the same concept as the volvo pod drives. There's a little retooling for the gas powered engine but the concept is the same.
http://www.boattest.com/engine-review/V ... 0-(435-hp)

[Tuscany]

Tuscany I never realized the storage they took out from your boat but it makes sense now. You have no storage on the port side due to the head and you lose the bench storage on the starboard bow side and storage under the bench in the engine compartment. As far as I know all the boats have ski lockers I haven't seen one without it yet.

For us the lake is small, there's actually a 26 foot size limit so only grandfathered boats are allowed beyond that meaning nothing new over 26 feet. The main issue I have with the wakeboard boats is the ride they are not smooth, they don't plane and handling around the docks is a nightmare. My marina is TIGHT. It took me almost a year of practice to dock without just going bow in and walking the boat into the slip. The bay gets busy so on the weekends the wakes have the docks moving pretty good and any wind changes the game. So being able to maneuver around the docks is huge. The inboard boats have no control in reverse. We are rarely out on the lake for more than 4 hours so I really just need to be able store jackets, lines, anchor, fendors, towel bags and toys. All of which fit easily on my 230. I can also fit all of my cleaning supplies that stay on board as well as my grill and all of my cushions, although this year I've left the aft walk through cushion home because I never use it.

As far as specialty to me we are recreational skiiers so I don't care about wake size much, and beyond that there's not really anything else I would want from the boat. The surf series has a serious wake though don't be misled. The guys that coach for the club are sponsored wakeboarders and one is a sponsored wakesurfer and they choose to take the R5 out. They actually forego the G23 by choice, they have one at their disposal. The pull of the wake is better than the G. That means you have more freedom to surf on the wave without being right on top of the boat. One of the other things that is good about the Cobalts is they can plane with full ballast. A hassle of the wakeboard boats is having to stop to fill and dump the ballast.

Big Block, something to consider is the FFD is NOT new. It's recycled haha it's all volvo marketing. Pretty genius at that I must admit. It's been in existence for a while. It's the same concept as the volvo pod drives. There's a little retooling for the gas powered engine but the concept is the same.
http://www.boattest.com/engine-review/V ... 0-(435-hp)

I don't have the WSS package on my boat.
Me? Wake surf?
Until my kids get busy and start adding to our family,..well, there isn't even a tow rope on our boat.

For us, it's about the ride. We like to travel on the water. Most of our time on the water is moving and taking in the scenery. We also like to bring friends, set the table up and have some appetizers before going out to dinner. We rarely go in the water anymore. After swimming among the Algae in Lake Chautauqua for years, well. We've a pool for that. WTF, I must be getting old.
So yeah, I forgot to consider that others have different ways to play..

[Soonerfan]

Lots of good information and food for thought about the way we all use our boats differently. I have friends that have 42ft cruisers and some that have bu's and other wakeboard boats and it all seems to be about what fit's for each at a particular time in life. The only thing this boat can't seem to do is fish well. So I am in the market for a small used bass boat for my boys to fish off of and everyone will be happy.

[liquid]

Lots of good information and food for thought about the way we all use our boats differently. I have friends that have 42ft cruisers and some that have bu's and other wakeboard boats and it all seems to be about what fit's for each at a particular time in life. The only thing this boat can't seem to do is fish well. So I am in the market for a small used bass boat for my boys to fish off of and everyone will be happy.

I hear you. How do i teach the kids to fish... this is a tease. I'm about to post my solution.

[AsLan7]

An older boston whaler, liquid!

[Skiingstrongman]

Just a follow up here. We took out the G21 today and the wave is definitely more forgiving on the R5 WSS Surf. The sweet spot on the G21 was much smaller comparatively. Also the G21 is a wet boat in any kind of wind. Sitting in the bow I was getting sprayed all morning. And the one short period of time we got caught in traffic the ride was rough compared to the Cobalt. The G21 had way more storage and the seating was definitely better for towing. I can say the cobalt fits my needs better. I can definitely see if you live on the lake and can get out first thing in the morning when it's calm that the issues would mostly be mitigated and the air nautique would serve you well.

[AsLan7]

Just a follow up here. We took out the G21 today and the wave is definitely more forgiving on the R5 WSS Surf. The sweet spot on the G21 was much smaller comparatively. Also the G21 is a wet boat in any kind of wind. Sitting in the bow I was getting sprayed all morning. And the one short period of time we got caught in traffic the ride was rough compared to the Cobalt. The G21 had way more storage and the seating was definitely better for towing. I can say the cobalt fits my needs better. I can definitely see if you live on the lake and can get out first thing in the morning when it's calm that the issues would mostly be mitigated and the air nautique would serve you well.

Thanks for your update skiingstrongman.

IMHO, if in the market for a boat with a budget that supports it, then

#1 question any person should ask--"where am I using this boat". (Freshwater, saltwater, rough water, choppy, rollers, tides, calm, current, etc)
Then
#2 how are we going to use this boat.

It's not really fair to compare them both as they are two totally different boats because they're for two totally different water types. Other than the fact that you can wake surf off of them, R5 WSS SURF is for smooth to rough--small to bigger bodies of water. Nautique G21 hull is for smooth to slightly choppy smaller bodies of water.

R5 WSS Surf is a 26' footer forward facing I/O. The Nautique g21 is a 21' inboard with a rudder.
R5 hull has a 21 degree dead rise to handle bigger water. G21 basically has no deadrise (almost flat) for a nicer skiing wake.
R5 has much greater freeboard because it's a runabout; not a Nautique low to the water ski boat.

...and you hit the nail on the head, skiingstrongman. If you never see rough water, ski boats are fantastic if not downright preferable with a lake that does not have shallow hazards underwater.
If you do boat in any type of rough water, look out and--Buyer beware! You're gonna get wet and get Punished. I see it all the time in Presque Isle bay. Those folks don't last long there. And don't even try the lake!

[liquid]

An older boston whaler, liquid!

Ding Ding Ding!

[JBB1306]

Hey guys... new to the forum.

I currently have a 2000 Cobalt 190... love it, but it's a rough ride on our lake. Looking to upgrade to a CS3 Surf. Anyone have any opinions on that boat? Looks like the 2018 model got rid of the double walk thru which I'm happy about. The duel walk thru made no sense.

Thanks!

[liquid]

Hey guys... new to the forum.

I currently have a 2000 Cobalt 190... love it, but it's a rough ride on our lake. Looking to upgrade to a CS3 Surf. Anyone have any opinions on that boat? Looks like the 2018 model got rid of the double walk thru which I'm happy about. The duel walk thru made no sense.

Thanks!

I like them. I'm partial to the 190 of course but if I'm choosing my next boat now it'd be the R3 WSS. Is the CS price point ideal for you?

[JBB1306]

Yea, the CS surf ends up being about 25k less than the R3 surf after negotiations... Not sure if the R3 is worth 25k more than the CS?

[AsLan7]

.Hey JBB1306, welcome to the CobaltChat forum. So glad you found us!

Have you driven Cobalt's new wake surf series with the forward facing drive ? I'm curious of your impressions. How shallow and or rocky is your lake?

We would love to see pictures of your 190. Such great boats. Feel free to introduce your self with a new thread and pictures of your boat. We salivate over things like that!

Again,welcome aboard my friend.