New to boating

[ACM]

I know they don't like to sell out of their territory, but I'm surprised with it being an inventory boat they wouldn't sell to you? I fully understand a new order boat. I'm sure the demand right now probably doesn't help that cause though.

Have you been out on the lake before on another boat, just to see how rough it actually gets? I'm on Lake of the Ozarks which short of the ocean or great lakes, it's probably one of the busiest and roughest lakes, more so now than ever before. I would've feel safe in anything under 30'. Just make sure you get enough boat for you lake to be safe.

I was really surprised, too. I even asked if the dealer in my territory could buy it from them, then, we could turn around and buy it from our dealer. He still said they couldn't do that because inventory is so low right now. You would think they would sell a boat regardless of how it's done. My husband was saying that he thinks it has a lot to do with the service. Since the dealer with boats wouldn't be getting the money for servicing our boat, which I think is a big money maker for them.

Yes, we went out on the lake in a rental. It wasn't too bad at all. It gets crowded, but it's also 139 square mile lake. So, it can handle a lot of boats. It also has a natural shore line for the waves to dissipate into so you don't get that washing machine effect.
We'd love to get a big boat, but I think 30' is way too big for us; especially for a first boat.

[ACM]

I know they don't like to sell out of their territory, but I'm surprised with it being an inventory boat they wouldn't sell to you? I fully understand a new order boat. I'm sure the demand right now probably doesn't help that cause though.

Have you been out on the lake before on another boat, just to see how rough it actually gets? I'm on Lake of the Ozarks which short of the ocean or great lakes, it's probably one of the busiest and roughest lakes, more so now than ever before. I would've feel safe in anything under 30'. Just make sure you get enough boat for you lake to be safe.

I was really surprised, too. I even asked if the dealer in my territory could buy it from them, then, we could turn around and buy it from our dealer. He still said they couldn't do that because inventory is so low right now. You would think they would sell a boat regardless of how it's done. My husband was saying that he thinks it has a lot to do with the service. Since the dealer with boats wouldn't be getting the money for servicing our boat, which I think is a big money maker for them.

Yes, we went out on the lake in a rental. It wasn't too bad at all. It gets crowded, but it's also 139 square mile lake. So, it can handle a lot of boats. It also has a natural shore line for the waves to dissipate into so you don't get that washing machine effect.
We'd love to get a big boat, but I think 30' is way too big for us; especially for a first boat.

[ACM]

Welcome. 2 totally diff boats. You should really ride in both of them. It's like my 220 vs 222 I really didn't like the 222 at all. Felt like a grandpa boat to me. Only you can say if it's worth the extra cash. The resale of a r3 I think will always be better though.

I agree. I guess we're just going to have to be patient because our dealer doesn't have anything to look at much less test drive.
I had no idea we could only purchase from a dealer in our area.

Yes it's a good and a bad thing. It protects the dealer and the brand another reason why resale is so good. This year maybe not but sometimes they will do a dealer trade to the other dealer with no boats. You can ask your local dealer if they would buy / that other boat from the other dealer and sell it to you. There are a few used r5s around. I haven't seen any r3s other than sailor's

So what lake will you be on? A bunch of us are on rough lakes. I think other than loto and the great lakes or the ocean a CS or R series can handle anything within reason of course.

I actually asked the dealer that had boats if our dealer could purchase from them, then, we could turnaround and buy it. He said no because inventory is so low right now. It's a tough time to try to get into boating.
We really fell in love with the R series. We like the deeper hull, too.

We will be on Lake Texoma. It's a 139 square mile lake.
We rented a boat out there and it didn't seem bad. It's a natural shore line so the water dissipates instead of turning the lake into a washing machine. I agree with you. I think either would work on that lake. We saw much smaller boats out there, and they were managing fine.

[Big Block Power]

I agree. I guess we're just going to have to be patient because our dealer doesn't have anything to look at much less test drive.
I had no idea we could only purchase from a dealer in our area.

Yes it's a good and a bad thing. It protects the dealer and the brand another reason why resale is so good. This year maybe not but sometimes they will do a dealer trade to the other dealer with no boats. You can ask your local dealer if they would buy / that other boat from the other dealer and sell it to you. There are a few used r5s around. I haven't seen any r3s other than sailor's

So what lake will you be on? A bunch of us are on rough lakes. I think other than loto and the great lakes or the ocean a CS or R series can handle anything within reason of course.

I actually asked the dealer that had boats if our dealer could purchase from them, then, we could turnaround and buy it. He said no because inventory is so low right now. It's a tough time to try to get into boating.
We really fell in love with the R series. We like the deeper hull, too.

We will be on Lake Texoma. It's a 139 square mile lake.
We rented a boat out there and it didn't seem bad. It's a natural shore line so the water dissipates instead of turning the lake into a washing machine. I agree with you. I think either would work on that lake. We saw much smaller boats out there, and they were managing fine.

I wonder if Cobalt and the dealers could agree this 1 time because of the market? I doubt it but hey worth a try.
Yea those boats will be perfectly fine on that lake. Did you look at the used listings? Would you jump into the r5 if you had to?

[ajcampen]

I know they don't like to sell out of their territory, but I'm surprised with it being an inventory boat they wouldn't sell to you? I fully understand a new order boat. I'm sure the demand right now probably doesn't help that cause though.

Have you been out on the lake before on another boat, just to see how rough it actually gets? I'm on Lake of the Ozarks which short of the ocean or great lakes, it's probably one of the busiest and roughest lakes, more so now than ever before. I would've feel safe in anything under 30'. Just make sure you get enough boat for you lake to be safe.

I was really surprised, too. I even asked if the dealer in my territory could buy it from them, then, we could turn around and buy it from our dealer. He still said they couldn't do that because inventory is so low right now. You would think they would sell a boat regardless of how it's done. My husband was saying that he thinks it has a lot to do with the service. Since the dealer with boats wouldn't be getting the money for servicing our boat, which I think is a big money maker for them.

Yes, we went out on the lake in a rental. It wasn't too bad at all. It gets crowded, but it's also 139 square mile lake. So, it can handle a lot of boats. It also has a natural shore line for the waves to dissipate into so you don't get that washing machine effect.
We'd love to get a big boat, but I think 30' is way too big for us; especially for a first boat.

Where do you boat

[Big Block Power]

I know they don't like to sell out of their territory, but I'm surprised with it being an inventory boat they wouldn't sell to you? I fully understand a new order boat. I'm sure the demand right now probably doesn't help that cause though.

Have you been out on the lake before on another boat, just to see how rough it actually gets? I'm on Lake of the Ozarks which short of the ocean or great lakes, it's probably one of the busiest and roughest lakes, more so now than ever before. I would've feel safe in anything under 30'. Just make sure you get enough boat for you lake to be safe.

I was really surprised, too. I even asked if the dealer in my territory could buy it from them, then, we could turn around and buy it from our dealer. He still said they couldn't do that because inventory is so low right now. You would think they would sell a boat regardless of how it's done. My husband was saying that he thinks it has a lot to do with the service. Since the dealer with boats wouldn't be getting the money for servicing our boat, which I think is a big money maker for them.

Yes, we went out on the lake in a rental. It wasn't too bad at all. It gets crowded, but it's also 139 square mile lake. So, it can handle a lot of boats. It also has a natural shore line for the waves to dissipate into so you don't get that washing machine effect.
We'd love to get a big boat, but I think 30' is way too big for us; especially for a first boat.

Where do you boat

Lake Texcoma

[ACM]

I know they don't like to sell out of their territory, but I'm surprised with it being an inventory boat they wouldn't sell to you? I fully understand a new order boat. I'm sure the demand right now probably doesn't help that cause though.

Have you been out on the lake before on another boat, just to see how rough it actually gets? I'm on Lake of the Ozarks which short of the ocean or great lakes, it's probably one of the busiest and roughest lakes, more so now than ever before. I would've feel safe in anything under 30'. Just make sure you get enough boat for you lake to be safe.

I was really surprised, too. I even asked if the dealer in my territory could buy it from them, then, we could turn around and buy it from our dealer. He still said they couldn't do that because inventory is so low right now. You would think they would sell a boat regardless of how it's done. My husband was saying that he thinks it has a lot to do with the service. Since the dealer with boats wouldn't be getting the money for servicing our boat, which I think is a big money maker for them.

Yes, we went out on the lake in a rental. It wasn't too bad at all. It gets crowded, but it's also 139 square mile lake. So, it can handle a lot of boats. It also has a natural shore line for the waves to dissipate into so you don't get that washing machine effect.
We'd love to get a big boat, but I think 30' is way too big for us; especially for a first boat.

Where do you boat

We're going to get a slip at Lake Texoma

[ACM]

Yes it's a good and a bad thing. It protects the dealer and the brand another reason why resale is so good. This year maybe not but sometimes they will do a dealer trade to the other dealer with no boats. You can ask your local dealer if they would buy / that other boat from the other dealer and sell it to you. There are a few used r5s around. I haven't seen any r3s other than sailor's

So what lake will you be on? A bunch of us are on rough lakes. I think other than loto and the great lakes or the ocean a CS or R series can handle anything within reason of course.

I actually asked the dealer that had boats if our dealer could purchase from them, then, we could turnaround and buy it. He said no because inventory is so low right now. It's a tough time to try to get into boating.
We really fell in love with the R series. We like the deeper hull, too.

We will be on Lake Texoma. It's a 139 square mile lake.
We rented a boat out there and it didn't seem bad. It's a natural shore line so the water dissipates instead of turning the lake into a washing machine. I agree with you. I think either would work on that lake. We saw much smaller boats out there, and they were managing fine.

I wonder if Cobalt and the dealers could agree this 1 time because of the market? I doubt it but hey worth a try.
Yea those boats will be perfectly fine on that lake. Did you look at the used listings? Would you jump into the r5 if you had to?

We may try to give it another try if we find a boat we really love. Right now the dealership that had some boats didn't actually have an R3. They just had a 220, some R5's, R7, and an A-something. At this point, we're thinking we'll just end up building one. Did you do that??? I don't think we will go up to an R5 for our first boat. I can barely handle the thought of bumping into the dock with an R3.

[BobRae99]

I know they don't like to sell out of their territory, but I'm surprised with it being an inventory boat they wouldn't sell to you? I fully understand a new order boat. I'm sure the demand right now probably doesn't help that cause though.

I'm sure there is one out there but the first thing any Cobalt dealer asks me when I contact them for information on a new Cobalt is where I'm located, after which they tell me that they are limited to selling into their own market. On a related note and especially when boats are in short supply, I can see why a dealer would want to sell locally. They not only keep Cobalt happy, but they put a local customer in a boat, thereby increasing their service business and an opportunity to move a local customer up in several years.

[ACM]

I know they don't like to sell out of their territory, but I'm surprised with it being an inventory boat they wouldn't sell to you? I fully understand a new order boat. I'm sure the demand right now probably doesn't help that cause though.

I'm sure there is one out there but the first thing any Cobalt dealer asks me when I contact them for information on a new Cobalt is where I'm located, after which they tell me that they are limited to selling into their own market. On a related note and especially when boats are in short supply, I can see why a dealer would want to sell locally. They not only keep Cobalt happy, but they put a local customer in a boat, thereby increasing their service business and an opportunity to move a local customer up in several years.

That's exactly what my husband says!

[TruckerTim]

I realize I'm in the minority here, (only because I have vented on this here before) but in my opinion this "not able to buy outside your market" is just wrong. If a dealer has a boat in their inventory that I want to buy but it's outside my "market" and I don't have an issue moving it four hrs for service, that should be my call... Not someone else's. I move mine back and forth from AL to FL every year. This year I had a warranty issue while the boat was in FL. (Bought it in AL) The dealer in FL NEVER asked where I bought it from... Just fixed it and I was on my way. So I don't buy the whole "you get better service from your selling dealer." In fact, I get better service from the FL than the AL dealer!!

[ajcampen]

I realize I'm in the minority here, (only because I have vented on this here before) but in my opinion this "not able to buy outside your market" is just wrong. If a dealer has a boat in their inventory that I want to buy but it's outside my "market" and I don't have an issue moving it four hrs for service, that should be my call... Not someone else's. I move mine back and forth from AL to FL every year. This year I had a warranty issue while the boat was in FL. (Bought it in AL) The dealer in FL NEVER asked where I bought it from... Just fixed it and I was on my way. So I don't buy the whole "you get better service from your selling dealer." In fact, I get better service from the FL than the AL dealer!!

I agree. It should be similar to service with cars. You buy from where you get the best deal or have a relationship & you get service from whom you trust or who is allowed to do warranty issues. It is pretty silly. Any other boat brands do this?

[sailor55330]

I realize I'm in the minority here, (only because I have vented on this here before) but in my opinion this "not able to buy outside your market" is just wrong. If a dealer has a boat in their inventory that I want to buy but it's outside my "market" and I don't have an issue moving it four hrs for service, that should be my call... Not someone else's. I move mine back and forth from AL to FL every year. This year I had a warranty issue while the boat was in FL. (Bought it in AL) The dealer in FL NEVER asked where I bought it from... Just fixed it and I was on my way. So I don't buy the whole "you get better service from your selling dealer." In fact, I get better service from the FL than the AL dealer!!

I agree. It should be similar to service with cars. You buy from where you get the best deal or have a relationship & you get service from whom you trust or who is allowed to do warranty issues. It is pretty silly. Any other boat brands do this?

100% agree and this drives me crazy. I have wondered if this is a HQ mandated thing or if it's a courtesy thing between dealers. I have seen "competing" dealers stand shoulder to shoulder at boat shows, they definitely have a network. I know for a fact it doesn't apply to parts. I was able to get my mooring cover from a dealer of my choosing...I tried to go local, but never got a quote. The car dealership analogy is a good one. I have a local dealer that I wouldn't buy a new car from (tried, bad experience), but their service department is pretty solid. On the same token, where I bought my last vehicle, the sales department was really good, but I wouldn't trust their service department to put air in my tires.

[Big Block Power]

I realize I'm in the minority here, (only because I have vented on this here before) but in my opinion this "not able to buy outside your market" is just wrong. If a dealer has a boat in their inventory that I want to buy but it's outside my "market" and I don't have an issue moving it four hrs for service, that should be my call... Not someone else's. I move mine back and forth from AL to FL every year. This year I had a warranty issue while the boat was in FL. (Bought it in AL) The dealer in FL NEVER asked where I bought it from... Just fixed it and I was on my way. So I don't buy the whole "you get better service from your selling dealer." In fact, I get better service from the FL than the AL dealer!!

I agree. It should be similar to service with cars. You buy from where you get the best deal or have a relationship & you get service from whom you trust or who is allowed to do warranty issues. It is pretty silly. Any other boat brands do this?

I think malibu is the same way

[Krob1114]

My husband and I are looking to purchase our first boat (horrible timing...I know!), and we have fallen in love with Cobalts. Can y'all tell me if there is a big difference between the CS23 and R3 in the way they handle, feel on the water, power, etc.? I know they're comparable on size so wasn't sure if the R3 is worth the extra $40,000. Can y'all also tell me what you think a good price is for the CS23 and R3? Prices are all over the place right now, so it's hard to determine what's reasonable.

Welcome to our forum.
Late to the party but my two cents worth. We first saw a 2019 CS22 at a boat show in March and my wife thought it was affordable. It was sitting next to an R3 that was already sold, which she thought was not affordable. I could look at the CS22 without getting in. The R3 sat so much higher, we had to climb aboard to see interior. In the end, we bought an R3 from Futrell Marine on Memorial Day weekend. We've never regretted it. We didn't pay cash, so the extra $30k is spread over 12 years. I don't even think about it.

The sweet spot for us was the size of the R3. Most of the time, we have 4 people or less on board so we couldn't justify the expense of an R5 based on our family income. The R3 stills seems crowded when there are 8 or more people. One of the biggest differences for us was the layout in the back. I love being able to sit in back facing front or rear. If you like music, make sure to a least get the transom speakers.
Our lake has lots of the surf boats with big wave action, so we liked the heavier and deeper V of the R3 over the CS.

On another thread, similar topic, one answer was like "do you want a German sports car or a German SUV?" At 68 years old, time for the SUV.

Did you buy?