R8 Announced

[Big Block Power]

That video with the kid and the barefoot-skiing grandfather is truly awful. Cringe-worthy, even.

That would be a super temping boat if not for the 1800 lbs of flab they added. I don't even know how you can do that.

- Mark

Mark why didn't you like the barefooter? 3 generations of water sports family. I liked it. I was thinking I wish I could do that!

[BobRae99]

That video with the kid and the barefoot-skiing grandfather is truly awful. Cringe-worthy, even.

That would be a super temping boat if not for the 1800 lbs of flab they added. I don't even know how you can do that.

- Mark

From what I understand most of the weight is in the new stringer system, so not really “flab”.

If the new stringer system isn't 1800 lbs better than the old stringer system - and I am willing to bet it's not - then it's flab.

That's a really shocking increase in weight. Weight affects EVERYTHING.

- Mark

I was told by Cobalt that the new stringer system on the R6 added about 950 lbs. I'm not sure how much more it weighs on the R8 and I don't know where the extra weight is. There are lots of light boats on the market - Cobalt isn't one of them. People who want light and fast might consider a Regal - they go really fast with low HP motors and turn on a dime - the rough water performance? Not so good in comparison to Cobalt.

[cjmiller]

If they offer twins I might have to think about a bad financial decision.

Why stop at one, sell me that R7 for $35K and you can call that R8 "twin bad decisions".......

[mdadgar]

That video with the kid and the barefoot-skiing grandfather is truly awful. Cringe-worthy, even.

That would be a super temping boat if not for the 1800 lbs of flab they added. I don't even know how you can do that.

- Mark

Mark why didn't you like the barefooter? 3 generations of water sports family. I liked it. I was thinking I wish I could do that!

I liked the concept a lot. The dialogue and acting was ... not very convincing!

- Mark

[mdadgar]

I was told by Cobalt that the new stringer system on the R6 added about 950 lbs. I'm not sure how much more it weighs on the R8 and I don't know where the extra weight is. There are lots of light boats on the market - Cobalt isn't one of them. People who want light and fast might consider a Regal - they go really fast with low HP motors and turn on a dime - the rough water performance? Not so good in comparison to Cobalt.

That's a lot of apologizing for a 20% weight gain on an already heavy boat.

7200 lbs for an R7 puts it out of trailering range for a LOT of potential customers. And this on a boat with an 8.5' beam! Might as well go to an R30 at that point and get a wider boat at only 200 lbs more weight (with the same single engine).

I think this is a mistake.

- Mark

[tgrace98]

If they offer twins I might have to think about a bad financial decision.

Why stop at one, sell me that R7 for $35K and you can call that R8 "twin bad decisions".......

Haha you forgot the 1 on the front of that offer

[Dadof3girls]

What I like is that I purchased a new R7 this year. I think in the end I won’t envy not having the new R8 that is out. My boat looks good and performs well, therefore I am a happy guy.

[BobRae99]

I was told by Cobalt that the new stringer system on the R6 added about 950 lbs. I'm not sure how much more it weighs on the R8 and I don't know where the extra weight is. There are lots of light boats on the market - Cobalt isn't one of them. People who want light and fast might consider a Regal - they go really fast with low HP motors and turn on a dime - the rough water performance? Not so good in comparison to Cobalt.

That's a lot of apologizing for a 20% weight gain on an already heavy boat.

7200 lbs for an R7 puts it out of trailering range for a LOT of potential customers. And this on a boat with an 8.5' beam! Might as well go to an R30 at that point and get a wider boat at only 200 lbs more weight (with the same single engine).

I think this is a mistake.

- Mark

I don’t know about where you are but in my neck of the woods 98% of the Cobalt boat owners don’t own a trailer. The dealer runs them up in the spring, puts them in the owners boat house and picked them up in the fall. I don’t see the weight of the R7 being a problem. As to the R8, it’s hard to decide until you’ve driven one, don’t you think? Maybe with Malibu owning Cobalt, people wanting light and fast and people wanting a more substantial boat with a luxury feel will stick with Cobalt?

[mdadgar]

[I don’t know about where you are but in my neck of the woods 98% of the Cobalt boat owners don’t own a trailer. The dealer runs them up in the spring, puts them in the owners boat house and picked them up in the fall. I don’t see the weight of the R7 being a problem.

Right - that's kind of the point: not everyone is in the same situation you are in.

As to the R8, it’s hard to decide until you’ve driven one, don’t you think? Maybe with Malibu owning Cobalt, people wanting light and fast and people wanting a more substantial boat with a luxury feel will stick with Cobalt?

I am sure that's what they are thinking. Although it's a little schizophrenic when they spend the whole promo video for their 7200 lb+ boat showing watersports.

Ultimately, the market will decide.

- Mark

[tgrace98]

That video with the kid and the barefoot-skiing grandfather is truly awful. Cringe-worthy, even.

That would be a super temping boat if not for the 1800 lbs of flab they added. I don't even know how you can do that.

- Mark

Mark why didn't you like the barefooter? 3 generations of water sports family. I liked it. I was thinking I wish I could do that!

I liked the concept a lot. The dialogue and acting was ... not very convincing!

- Mark

Hey I offered up my services for the promo video when the cobalt guys were getting the boats ready at my marina. But they didn’t seem to thrilled when I said I would pudgy the had harder the whole time

[Big Block Power]

Mark why didn't you like the barefooter? 3 generations of water sports family. I liked it. I was thinking I wish I could do that!

I liked the concept a lot. The dialogue and acting was ... not very convincing!

- Mark

Hey I offered up my services for the promo video when the cobalt guys were getting the boats ready at my marina. But they didn’t seem to thrilled when I said I would pudgy the had harder the whole time

Tank they just don't know a good thing when they got it

[CaptainTom]

I also thought the video could have been better. The Mom doesn't talk? Where is Grandma? Pretty cool that Master Aemon can barefoot though. Needed a sunny day and a whole pack of grandkids and a grandma to really sell the "generation" angle. I would love some comparative and objective marketing on the new R6/R8 (what is "totally redesigned", "bigger" than what?, "more storage" than what?). Also, why didn't Cobalt shoot the R6 outboard video in a saltwater environment on a sunny day? Not many lake boaters are going to buy an R6 outboard. Cobalt must not be having any problems finding buyers. Enough of my rant.

The actual R8 looks nice.

[Table Rockin]

but they didn’t seem to thrilled when I said I would pudgy the had harder the whole time

This again!

[Table Rockin]

Pretty cool that Master Aemon can barefoot though.

Lol you guys are killing me today!

[BobRae99]

[I don’t know about where you are but in my neck of the woods 98% of the Cobalt boat owners don’t own a trailer. The dealer runs them up in the spring, puts them in the owners boat house and picked them up in the fall. I don’t see the weight of the R7 being a problem.

Right - that's kind of the point: not everyone is in the same situation you are in.

As to the R8, it’s hard to decide until you’ve driven one, don’t you think? Maybe with Malibu owning Cobalt, people wanting light and fast and people wanting a more substantial boat with a luxury feel will stick with Cobalt?

I am sure that's what they are thinking. Although it's a little schizophrenic when they spend the whole promo video for their 7200 lb+ boat showing watersports.

Ultimately, the market will decide.

- Mark

I'd like to run a survey on how many people are hauling their 27' boats back and forth to the ramp every weekend. I'm betting not too many. But that is beside the point, once you are pulling an R7 every weekend, you are probably are better off with a 2500 so does it really matter if it weights 1,800 lbs more?

I also don't see any conflict with a 7,200 lb boat promoting water sports. Clearly this boat is aimed at the older boater - look at the driver and the grandfather bare footing. They are trying to show the boat has plenty of performance for water sports while providing a luxury experience.

I can't wait to water test an R6 - unfortunately it won't be until next spring. The first one won't arrive at my dealer until December and everything will be well frozen before then up here.