NW Missouri 87 Condesa

[greg r]

I am new to Cobalt but not to boating. When I lived in Las Vegas I used to go boating at lease three to four times a week at Lake Mead. I also did volunteer boat patrol for a couple of years before moving to Missouri. Fast forward to now and my wife and I had been looking for a boat off and on for years now, but never really bought anything. Until June 11th I found a 1987 Cobalt Condesa to steal with just over 700 hours on the motor. It was over on the Kansas side for $2100, with a bad cable bellow. This was on a Friday and Saturday we drove a little over an hour to look at the boat. The sales place was closed on a Saturday. The trailer had four rotted tiers that wouldn't make it out of town. A long story short we drove it home the following Friday we got the boat down to $1800, then $600 in new bearings and tires for the tandem trailer. We've cleaned the whole boat and the wood it looks great. It handles very well. I am getting 31mph at 4500rpms, I thought I would get a little more than that for speed with the 454 motor in it. I guess not. It has been a long wait for this boat but very well worth the wait.

My question at this time is. Who deals with older Cobalt aftermarket parts?
I'll post some pictures when I take some. I am not big on taking pictures.

Thanks,
Greg

[AsLan7]

.
Hey Greg. Welcome to the Cobaltchat forum. So glad you found us!

Your closest Cobalt dealer can have certain parts drop shipped to you if you give them your hull number.

If the parts are no longer available try great lakes skipper.com.

Again welcome aboard mate!

.

[Big Block Power]

Welcome and congrats. Did you pay pictures yet. No pictures no parts. Ummmm

[greg r]

I ran over to my friends house to get these. It's getting the bellows done it. He has the keys and he's not home yet. So I couldn't get to cuddy right now.

[akorcovelos]

Beautiful! You should definitely get more than 30mph out of that boat with a 330hp 454. What is WOT RPM?

[Holy Smokes]

I just question... How the hell do you sleep at night?... because you flat out STOLE that beauty!

It's likely due for a good dose of maintenance. For good measure, I'd plan on replacing all the bellows, new gimbal bearing, impeller, drive lube and outdrive alignment while you're in there. You'll figure out the speed / engine issue in time. Start with fresh fuel, new fuel filters, an oil change, a new set of plugs, wires & distributor.

Congrats on a very solid purchase!

[Big Block Power]

I just question... How the hell do you sleep at night?... because you flat out STOLE that beauty!

It's likely due for a good dose of maintenance. For good measure, I'd plan on replacing all the bellows, new gimbal bearing, impeller, drive lube and outdrive alignment while you're in there. You'll figure out the speed / engine issue in time. Start with fresh fuel, new fuel filters, an oil change, a new set of plugs, wires & distributor.

Congrats on a very solid purchase!

X2

[MnLakeBum]

Yes, that is a beauty for what you stole it for! Even if you have to spend $2,000 to get it fixed up, you have a solid boat that looks great for less than price of a new boat trailer! Congrats!

[Bleil05]

Nice boat
We just put a 230hp 305 mercrusier in one of these last week
It’s a Volvo Duo prop drive and originally had a 260 350 in the boat
Boat ran 45 with 5 people in the boat tacking 4200
Your 330 should get that boat over 50
Nice riding and running boat
Do the maintenance that was suggested and let us know the outcome
Welcome to the club

[greg r]

Thanks for the comments. I am getting all the bellows and the bearing done now. I am changing the plugs, cap, wires today. The engine runs great, but my wot is 30 mph at 4500 rpms with a 17 pitch prop. I figured it should do better than that, but then again i never owned a big boat before. I was hoping to hear from other owners to let me know what there are getting out of there Condesas.

[akorcovelos]

17p prop? Seems like that should be running a 19p, maybe a 21p depending on whether you want hole shot or top speed. I’m assuming it’s got an Alpha 1 Gen 1? Have you pulled the prop to look at the hub?

[greg r]

A spare prop with a piece of a blade missing is a 19 pitch. They put a 17 pitch on there now. I would like more top in than holeshot.

[greg r]

akorcovelos what size pitch are you running?

[akorcovelos]

akorcovelos what size pitch are you running?

I’m running a Bravo 3, but my last boat was very similar to yours and I played with a lot of props. I’d talk to the local marina, many will loan you props to try before you buy. Try it with a 19p SS 3 blade, unless you want to run aluminum, in which case you’d want to go to a 21p.

[greg r]

akorcovelos what size pitch are you running?

I’m running a Bravo 3, but my last boat was very similar to yours and I played with a lot of props. I’d talk to the local marina, many will loan you props to try before you buy. Try it with a 19p SS 3 blade, unless you want to run aluminum, in which case you’d want to go to a 21p.

I may try a 21p, but I am not sure that I am going to pick up much more speed out of it. I know the rpm range says 4400 to 4800. This morning I am going to change cap, plugs, fuel filter, and wires are on order. I just thought even with the times I've been out the boat would do better on speed than what did. The motor sounded perfect.