Thinking about a 2020 R7

[Big Block Power]

They dredge the opening once a year, but that’s not really the problem....it’s the bay depth for about the first 100 yards....it says the draft is 21 inches on the R7, any idea on the I/0 depth trimmed up?

That is trimmed up and 37 down. I guess you can just jump out and push it till it gets deeper. Get a good running start coast into it shut her down jump out push then go. Man your close.

[sailor55330]

It is 21 up. I boat in some skinny water—channels that are 2.5-4 ft but only for short periods. If you only have skip over a bar you might be ok. I get a little momentum and then nuetral and trim up and glide over the skinny spots. The boats are pretty heavy so you can cover a boat length or two doing this. If you are covering 100 yards, that’s a different story. At 2.5 ft, you could probably idle through. Anything skinnier and I don’t think I would want to try it. Not with the price of new props. Good idea to let the dealer be the guinea pig. Let us know

BBP—that sounds frightening

[Lockey14s]

They dredge the opening once a year, but that’s not really the problem....it’s the bay depth for about the first 100 yards....it says the draft is 21 inches on the R7, any idea on the I/0 depth trimmed up?

A tidal river I boat in can get as low as a foot in some areas, but its all sand and mud. So if we are coming back and its low tide we take it slow in those areas and trim up. yes, sometimes we hit bottom, theres no escape. But it doesnt do any damage. some paint will start to wear off the outdrive if there is sand there and a lot of people say "oh you clean your props going through there" haha.

I would try as mush as possible to pass through the low spots away from low tide. but if its just sand and mud, no rocks, then I would go for it. You will most likely have to replace the impeller more often, and maybe even the housing. if enough sand does accumulate in the block it will cause the engine temp to go up. if that happens we will pull the block plugs while underway and flushes most of it out.

[tgrace98]

Just a thought and this is killing me to type this. Any thought on waiting? Cobalt is about to refresh the R series boats and rumors have it that there will be an I/O offering and an outboard offering of it. Boat builders are starting to figure out how to give you a swim platform with an egg beater or 2 back there. They should start showing up sometime later this year. Or have you looked at the 25SC?

[Lockey14s]

Myself I boat in 3feet am the time and no Major issues yet. But hearing your prop hit rocks is no fun. You would have to stay on plane to even think of making it through with crossed fingers and holding your breath. 2 feet of water and going 25 mph yecks. Not sure I would even gamble that one. We have a member that likes to beach his boat down there and take pictures of it sitting on its side. I wouldn't want to be that guy.

It gives you a good chance to scrub the scum line

IMG_0161.JPG

this guy could use some shallow water prop cleaning

IMG_0684.PNG

[Travis bohemia]

I just ordered a 2020 r7 . I have a 2017 ar 240 and loved it but the r7 wit a little more weight for smooth ride is what we are looking for. I am at the Chesapeake bay in Chesapeake city near the c&d canal and we have some serious tide changes. Something we learned to deal with and the r 7 is just awesome we should get our boat in about 2 weeks and we can’t wait. The 27 ft Yamaha is a nice boat and was a contender we really just wanted to get away from the annoying wining .goodluck to you and enjoy

[Big Block Power]

Myself I boat in 3feet am the time and no Major issues yet. But hearing your prop hit rocks is no fun. You would have to stay on plane to even think of making it through with crossed fingers and holding your breath. 2 feet of water and going 25 mph yecks. Not sure I would even gamble that one. We have a member that likes to beach his boat down there and take pictures of it sitting on its side. I wouldn't want to be that guy.

It gives you a good chance to scrub the scum line
IMG_0161.JPG

this guy could use some shallow water prop cleaning
IMG_0684.PNG

Ok you salties are just nuts

Ok you will have a closed cooling system. So the sand is not going to plug the block. The heat exchanger will get plugged and maybe easier to flush out?
I still say just yell hit it and throw a rooster

[Jblocker]

Did you test drive the R7? And any concerns about the shallow water? I guess we got used to driving the Yamaha whenever we wanted and liked not having to watch the tides.....but like you, the cobalt has our attention.

[Travis bohemia]

Took a r7 out for sea trial and we were sold the boat is solid as a tank and takes chop great nigh and day from the Yamaha. We still did not sell our Yamaha and really enjoyed the Yamaha experience but the cobalt is a beast .low tide at our dock might be challenging but other than that we should be fine. The cobalt all around fit and finish and performance with the vp 380 is top notch, we are very excited and looking forward to the boating season.

[Lockey14s]

Myself I boat in 3feet am the time and no Major issues yet. But hearing your prop hit rocks is no fun. You would have to stay on plane to even think of making it through with crossed fingers and holding your breath. 2 feet of water and going 25 mph yecks. Not sure I would even gamble that one. We have a member that likes to beach his boat down there and take pictures of it sitting on its side. I wouldn't want to be that guy.

It gives you a good chance to scrub the scum line
IMG_0161.JPG

this guy could use some shallow water prop cleaning
IMG_0684.PNG

Ok you salties are just nuts

Ok you will have a closed cooling system. So the sand is not going to plug the block. The heat exchanger will get plugged and maybe easier to flush out?
I still say just yell hit it and throw a rooster

ah true, i forgot these fancy new ones are closed cooling.

And ya there are plenty of people that just throw the hammer down and throw a brown rooster haha. we call it roto-tilling

[BobRae99]

Took a r7 out for sea trial and we were sold the boat is solid as a tank and takes chop great nigh and day from the Yamaha. We still did not sell our Yamaha and really enjoyed the Yamaha experience but the cobalt is a beast .low tide at our dock might be challenging but other than that we should be fine. The cobalt all around fit and finish and performance with the vp 380 is top notch, we are very excited and looking forward to the boating season.

But you aren't in 2' of water. I think the OP should stick with a jet boat or change mooring location.

[NautiGirl]

They dredge the opening once a year, but that’s not really the problem....it’s the bay depth for about the first 100 yards....it says the draft is 21 inches on the R7, any idea on the I/0 depth trimmed up?

That is trimmed up and 37 down. I guess you can just jump out and push it till it gets deeper. Get a good running start coast into it shut her down jump out push then go. Man your close.

He is in 2ft of water BBP, are you tall enough to jump out and push a boat in that much water without having to hold your breath?

But you aren't in 2' of water. I think the OP should stick with a jet boat or change mooring location.

Totally agree, and trust me I am aware how crazy it is that you and I agree on something. Perhaps 2020 is the year we put our differences aside and drink a Molson ice and eat some Poutine together.

Our boat is listed at 26.75 drive up 36.5 drive down. I have the alarm set at 5ft and I get pretty nervous when it goes off. I can't imagine the stress of putting a $130k+ boat with $2k worth of props hanging below it into 2ft of water.

Then again the test tank at Cobalt couldnt have been more than 2 or 3ft deep. Rick, or "Kate", or anyone at Cobalt - if you are following along situations like this are exactly why you should have let us put a boat in and run it up at WOT. It was for science, and if we had done it we could have confidently told this prospective buyer that he could in fact put an R7 in 2ft of water. Sale lost Rick, to Yamaha of all people. How are you feeling now buddy?

[Big Block Power]

They dredge the opening once a year, but that’s not really the problem....it’s the bay depth for about the first 100 yards....it says the draft is 21 inches on the R7, any idea on the I/0 depth trimmed up?

That is trimmed up and 37 down. I guess you can just jump out and push it till it gets deeper. Get a good running start coast into it shut her down jump out push then go. Man your close.

He is in 2ft of water BBP, are you tall enough to jump out and push a boat in that much water without having to hold your breath?

But you aren't in 2' of water. I think the OP should stick with a jet boat or change mooring location.

Totally agree, and trust me I am aware how crazy it is that you and I agree on something. Perhaps 2020 is the year we put our differences aside and drink a Molson ice and eat some Poutine together.

Our boat is listed at 26.75 drive up 36.5 drive down. I have the alarm set at 5ft and I get pretty nervous when it goes off. I can't imagine the stress of putting a $130k+ boat with $2k worth of props hanging below it into 2ft of water.

Then again the test tank at Cobalt couldnt have been more than 2 or 3ft deep. Rick, or "Kate", or anyone at Cobalt - if you are following along situations like this are exactly why you should have let us put a boat in and run it up at WOT. It was for science, and if we had done it we could have confidently told this prospective buyer that he could in fact put an R7 in 2ft of water. Sale lost Rick, to Yamaha of all people. How are you feeling now buddy?

No I just put on my goggles and snorkel and jump in.
Really Jeff 1 time a year you use a depth finder

[tgrace98]

That is trimmed up and 37 down. I guess you can just jump out and push it till it gets deeper. Get a good running start coast into it shut her down jump out push then go. Man your close.

He is in 2ft of water BBP, are you tall enough to jump out and push a boat in that much water without having to hold your breath?

But you aren't in 2' of water. I think the OP should stick with a jet boat or change mooring location.

Totally agree, and trust me I am aware how crazy it is that you and I agree on something. Perhaps 2020 is the year we put our differences aside and drink a Molson ice and eat some Poutine together.

Our boat is listed at 26.75 drive up 36.5 drive down. I have the alarm set at 5ft and I get pretty nervous when it goes off. I can't imagine the stress of putting a $130k+ boat with $2k worth of props hanging below it into 2ft of water.

Then again the test tank at Cobalt couldnt have been more than 2 or 3ft deep. Rick, or "Kate", or anyone at Cobalt - if you are following along situations like this are exactly why you should have let us put a boat in and run it up at WOT. It was for science, and if we had done it we could have confidently told this prospective buyer that he could in fact put an R7 in 2ft of water. Sale lost Rick, to Yamaha of all people. How are you feeling now buddy?

No I just put on my goggles and snorkel and jump in.
Really Jeff 1 time a year you use a depth finder

only time I use my depth finder is to make sure I am in less than 50ft of water so my anchor will grab

[NautiGirl]

He is in 2ft of water BBP, are you tall enough to jump out and push a boat in that much water without having to hold your breath?



Totally agree, and trust me I am aware how crazy it is that you and I agree on something. Perhaps 2020 is the year we put our differences aside and drink a Molson ice and eat some Poutine together.

Our boat is listed at 26.75 drive up 36.5 drive down. I have the alarm set at 5ft and I get pretty nervous when it goes off. I can't imagine the stress of putting a $130k+ boat with $2k worth of props hanging below it into 2ft of water.

Then again the test tank at Cobalt couldnt have been more than 2 or 3ft deep. Rick, or "Kate", or anyone at Cobalt - if you are following along situations like this are exactly why you should have let us put a boat in and run it up at WOT. It was for science, and if we had done it we could have confidently told this prospective buyer that he could in fact put an R7 in 2ft of water. Sale lost Rick, to Yamaha of all people. How are you feeling now buddy?

No I just put on my goggles and snorkel and jump in.
Really Jeff 1 time a year you use a depth finder

only time I use my depth finder is to make sure I am in less than 50ft of water so my anchor will grab

I was just typing up the same response. I use ours all the time, but its to find a cove shallow enough to anchor up in. Ours, like yours, spends a lot of time close to triple digits. We only have 75ft of anchor line and I usually skip arm day in the Gym so I dont like pulling up more than 40ft or so.