New Member from Nebraska

[kjthelen]

Hi from Nebraska...

I've owned this 2000 Cobalt 232 since it was new and have always taken great care to see that every component works before each seasons launch.

Yeah it's a 2000 Cobalt Bow Rider 232 that's equiped quite well - with a very nasty and agressive big block 7.4 L GI V8, it alos has the sought aftere Dual Prop Volvo Penta lower unit setup and can accomidate 11 passengers and still plane out at 50 plus MPH's.

Well being an avid boater all my life, I knew that it would finaly happen to me...

And it did...

On july 4th woth my wife only in the boat, I hit a submerged object in our lake under low RPM's and and the item wrecked havoc on the boats lower unit, props, speedo, compass, depth sounder, compass, trim units and keel. The crappy thing wioth all this is that the Insurance Company didn't total it, so now I am at a loss...

Do I keep it or sell it for something else?

BTW- it's a the dealership in Milford Iowa now getting almost everthing that was taken out repaired; but unfortunetly there are two items that are considered NLA (no longer avaialble) and the Incuranse Company I have said that due to the age of this boat they will not be able to replace them on my insurance claim. Crap!

I would be responsible to find other equivilent units, if I wish to retrofit these two components into my rebuilt Cobalt...

So now heres my dilema as I am looking to find an original OEM Electronic Compass and OEM Hummingbird - in dash depth sounder, so to keep the boat all stock, but as you boaters know I am having trouble finding these items any where???

If anyone on this forum knows where I can start and attempt to pick up both of these components new or used for my 2000 232 Cobalt...

Please let me know.

Thanks,

KJ

2000 232 BR.jpg

2000 Cobalt (2).jpg

[kjthelen]

Heres another photo of our Cobalt to share...

Note: if you look in the rear view mirror you will see an image of me taking this picture on our lake!

Me in boat.jpg

[cmattj]

Hi from Nebraska...



Yeah it's a 2000 Cobalt Bow Rider 232 that's equiped quite well - with a very nasty and agressive big block 7.4 L GI V8, it alos has the sought aftere Dual Prop



Do I keep it or sell it for something else?

Welcome and tough call to make. Like a lot of us once our cars..trucks and toys get damaged we quietly wonder if it will ever be the same.

We see it a lot at the Automotive Dealer level as people are quick to sell or trade once thier baby been violated.
My thoughts are this. I would fix her, and make new technology improvements along the way. New depth finder.. gps speedo through faria beede ( gauge mfg )so it looks OEM.
Since there is no dealer network to go part hunting you may be able to at least get O. E part numbers and search then.
Others will chime in but good luck and have fun improving her. It will make a great thread!


Plus she has a Nasty Big block? Pics?
.

[Big Block Power]

Nice looking boat. Sorry for the loss. It will be good once they fix it. Maybe you can find a depth guage when one of us Coverts over to chart plotters. I might we will see. You just never know you just have to keep looking

[Ytmsn]

Tell us more about your keel. Is it just scraped or is it cracked? That would be a huge factor for me. Everything else can be fixed. I guess the keel could be too but it would never be as strong.

[tgrace98]

yeah if the structure of the boat is still solid. I would keep it. Especially since you have had it since it was new and know the service records, and all the little quirks the boat may have. A solid used boat can be hard to find. Unless you buy it directly from the first owner. But even then they are just trying to make a sale.

[kjthelen]

Gentelmen,

Thanks for the encouragement...

I will likely keep her, as ther are to many fabulous memories of boating with my wife of 35 years and teaching my 3 sons to ski & drive her!

As for the Keel Damage it was a minor surface scare mostly to the layers of gelcoat, thankfully there was no hull penetration.

And for those interested in photo's I've attached one of the nasty little scare.

For cmattj...

I also slipped in an in line photo of my Volvo Penta 7.4 L Gi PWTR Big Block!

KJ

Keel Damage Cobalt 232 (2).jpg

Volvo Pentata Big Block Gi PWTR (2).jpg

[tgrace98]

Yeah I would fix and keep, it just needs a little Gelcoat.

How many hours do you have on her? I plan on keeping my R7 for a long long time and am always interested to see how many hours people put on them once they get to about 20hrs old. We are avid boats ourselves and I am staring at about the 1000-1200hr mark when mine gets about that old.

[NautiGirl]

Yeah I would fix and keep, it just needs a little Gelcoat.

How many hours do you have on her? I plan on keeping my R7 for a long long time and am always interested to see how many hours people put on them once they get to about 20hrs old. We are avid boats ourselves and I am staring at about the 1000-1200hr mark when mine gets about that old.

We sold our 190 with almost 1k hours on it...new owners, which would be owner #4, is still running up the hour meter...the 190 is now 22 years old...take care of Smooth and she will take care of you!

[AsLan7]

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

Great to hear you are keeping her. You may be able to find that hummingbird depth gauge on ebay as they were fairly common. The Ritchie compass may be a little more difficult. I like Matt's idea of a retrofit with newer technology if you can. Other than that, a parts boat may be your best bet. Every so often they surface.

Thanks for the pics....and again, welcome aboard mate!

.