New member 21br pre-purchase question.

[Debeste]

New member here. Need some expert opinion!

I’ve been shopping for a classical Cobalt for a couple of months and thought I had finally found the one. 1990 21br. Owner has had it for 25 years. No expense spared. All records. Outdrive brand new, controls, linkage all new. Reupholstered 5 years ago and looks great. 5.7 Merc is immaculate with 700 hours. He’s dropped nearly $20k into this boat over the last couple of years. Needs a good buffing but otherwise in good shape. However when I arrive I found a decent chunk/ding in the keel. The owner is in his 80’s and had no idea it was there. My concern is that if it happened 15 years ago that would add up to a lot of exposure. Transom is good according to the mechanic that put in the new outdrive. Floor is solid.

My question: How much damage required to cause moisture and rot inside the hull? I’ve heard too many horror stories (although not about Cobalt). I’d like to buy it but got spooked. Will try to post some photos. Appreciate any thoughts.

[bruceb58]

The hull is VERY thick at that point. I really doubt any water would penetrate very far at all.

On older boats, I would be way more worried about the transom than the keel area like this. If the boat was stored in the water, the transom is what you need to worry about on older boats.

[AsLan7]

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

And wow, that is quite a chunk of fiberglass taken out of that keel. Whatever that boat hit, that fiberglass got stripped away in one chunk. It's definitely repairable but my concern would be why the owner doesn't remember how this happened....old man or not. That is quite a hit. I've seen other vessels that had keel damage like this caused by hurricane force winds; tidal surges and retreats; and vehicle collisions while trailering or while boating and running up onto something. That boat has some mystery history and the outdrive being replaced is probably part of that mystery collision. I'd certainly be concerned about other hidden damage due to a traumatic event. If you still want to pursue this, a professional surveyor would be a smart choice as they are trained to look for this. Could be the best $200 you ever spent.

Others will chime in shortly. Let us know what you decide.

And again welcome aboard mate!

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[Debeste]

Thank you for the input. I don’t believe the outdrive and this are related. He had it in for maintenance and the mechanic (who I’ve spoken with) told him he needed a new one. He was genuinely surprised when I showed him the photo. I had to get on my back to see it. Something he hasn’t tried to do in a long time I’m guessing (at 82 years old). It also may seem like a bigger chunk in the photo because I’m zoomed in pretty good. In reality that long scrape is about 12 inches long and the chunk itself is only maybe an inch or two big.

[Big Block Power]

My thought is it looks like that boat has been beached a ton. The sand and gravel scratched it. So ask him if he beached it a bunch. Mine has very similar marks just obviously not that deep. Bring it to a body shop that does fiberglass work and have them spray new gel on her. Or a marina can probably do it too. My 2 cents.

[Debeste]

I’ll ask about beaching it. So you don’t feel like there’s any chance moisture/rot in the hull has become an issue based on that photo?

[Big Block Power]

Na run it.

[AsLan7]

I’ll ask about beaching it. So you don’t feel like there’s any chance moisture/rot in the hull has become an issue based on that photo?

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I don't really see a moisture issue...more of a what other damage is there that is unseen issue. I'd steer clear without a survey or at least a knowledgeable third person to go thru the boat with you. Just me though. Thanks again for the pics. If you go thru with the purchase be sure to post more.

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[Lockey14s]

I’ll ask about beaching it. So you don’t feel like there’s any chance moisture/rot in the hull has become an issue based on that photo?

This looks exactly like your typical boat beaching wear. The chunk you are worried about would not concern me at all, as Bruce stated the keel is about 1" thick there where they overlap the fiberglass. there must have been a rock where he beached it one time (im cringing). it can be easily repaired with some new glass and gel coat, but its really just cosmetic at this point.

you will definitely want to check around and make sure the boat is solid. walk over every inch of the floor and see if there are any soft spots. you can also tap on the transom and stringers to see if they are rotted or not. But a wood construction Cobalt of that age will inevitably have some rotted wood at some point, but dont let that discourage you from owning a classic. transoms, floors, stringers can all be redone.

[Macarokks]

New member here. Need some expert opinion!

I’ve been shopping for a classical Cobalt for a couple of months and thought I had finally found the one. 1990 21br. Owner has had it for 25 years. No expense spared. All records. Outdrive brand new, controls, linkage all new. Reupholstered 5 years ago and looks great. 5.7 Merc is immaculate with 700 hours. He’s dropped nearly $20k into this boat over the last couple of years. Needs a good buffing but otherwise in good shape. However when I arrive I found a decent chunk/ding in the keel. The owner is in his 80’s and had no idea it was there. My concern is that if it happened 15 years ago that would add up to a lot of exposure. Transom is good according to the mechanic that put in the new outdrive. Floor is solid.

My question: How much damage required to cause moisture and rot inside the hull? I’ve heard too many horror stories (although not about Cobalt). I’d like to buy it but got spooked. Will try to post some photos. Appreciate any thoughts.

First, that thing is BEAUTIFUL - best color combo on a Cobalt IMHO.

My '79 looked exactly like that when I bought it. Just beach wear. I also had a couple lines of glass missing and it turns out there was a hex head bolt that had come out and was twisted sideways in the bunk. My damage much deeper damage than that and had no effect on the overall integrity. It is a simple repair.

((((((( I will also say - I have hit things in shallow coves and expected to find great damage, yet found none. Then I have pulled out of the water and have zero recollection of hitting anything yet found a giant scrape down the keel that was new. - I wipe my boat down in full after every single run. None of this gentleman's story seems off to me. )))))))

3M makes a marine filler; two different densities, one that is very sandable, on that is less easy to sand. Fill the spot and go on with life.

What you found wouldn't cause me to think twice. Old Cobalt's have the thickest glass of almost any boat I know of. Couple weeks ago I mentioned to my mechanic that a friend with a 226 and same power train as mine runs same top end as mine. He didn't flench, and said, Yeah, the 226 is lighter than your 19BR - The glass in the 19 is thicker and has heavier floorboard etc.

I'm rambling - let me sum it up. Buy that thing - it's a classic. A classic may need some work, it may not, but if it were me, I would already had that boat home and in the water.

[Debeste]

Thanks everyone. I'm going back in the morning to see it again. I'll do my best to check transom and stringers but I don't have any experience with this outside of watching a couple of youtube videos. Not all spots on the transom that thud are necessarily rotten, correct? I've heard its best to compare side to side. A difference in sound in the exact spot but opposite side is bad news etc. Sound right? I'd appreciate any suggestions.

The floor is rock solid I already know that. The mechanic that installed the new outdrive and transom assembly said no signs of trouble in the transom when he did the repair work. Is it safe to say that amount of work in that area would reveal any rot?

This guy is definitely not hiding anything intentionally. He's had it for almost 30 years and has every receipt since then. He also dropped $20k into it over the last couple years. Not something one would do if there wasn't some love involved I don't think. Age has snuck up and made it too difficult for him now. My dad just sold his boat for the exact same reason so I think its a reasonable explanation.

I'll report back what I end up doing and will send some more photos if I do buy it.

[Lockey14s]

Thanks everyone. I'm going back in the morning to see it again. I'll do my best to check transom and stringers but I don't have any experience with this outside of watching a couple of youtube videos. Not all spots on the transom that thud are necessarily rotten, correct? I've heard its best to compare side to side. A difference in sound in the exact spot but opposite side is bad news etc. Sound right? I'd appreciate any suggestions.

The floor is rock solid I already know that. The mechanic that installed the new outdrive and transom assembly said no signs of trouble in the transom when he did the repair work. Is it safe to say that amount of work in that area would reveal any rot?

This guy is definitely not hiding anything intentionally. He's had it for almost 30 years and has every receipt since then. He also dropped $20k into it over the last couple years. Not something one would do if there wasn't some love involved I don't think. Age has snuck up and made it too difficult for him now. My dad just sold his boat for the exact same reason so I think its a reasonable explanation.

I'll report back what I end up doing and will send some more photos if I do buy it.

thats very reassuring! if the mechanic took the transom assembly off and said the transom was in good shape then I would take his word for it. Most marinas would stop work immediately and notify the customer that they have a rotted transom, and then give a large quote to fix it because they just dont know how far the rot might have spread. but typically it all starts at the bottom of the keyhole and goes out from there. so if they said it looks good and installed a new transom assembly then I would think you are golden. Good luck and hope you bring it home!

[Macarokks]

Thanks everyone. I'm going back in the morning to see it again. I'll do my best to check transom and stringers but I don't have any experience with this outside of watching a couple of youtube videos. Not all spots on the transom that thud are necessarily rotten, correct? I've heard its best to compare side to side. A difference in sound in the exact spot but opposite side is bad news etc. Sound right? I'd appreciate any suggestions.

The floor is rock solid I already know that. The mechanic that installed the new outdrive and transom assembly said no signs of trouble in the transom when he did the repair work. Is it safe to say that amount of work in that area would reveal any rot?

This guy is definitely not hiding anything intentionally. He's had it for almost 30 years and has every receipt since then. He also dropped $20k into it over the last couple years. Not something one would do if there wasn't some love involved I don't think. Age has snuck up and made it too difficult for him now. My dad just sold his boat for the exact same reason so I think its a reasonable explanation.

I'll report back what I end up doing and will send some more photos if I do buy it.

Awesome! In regards to stringers. They’re fiberglass stringers with a plywood reinforcement. they almost can’t go bad. If the floor is solid, so are the stringers.

Anxiously waiting on your decision!

[Debeste]

Decided to walk away again today. Something just feels wrong about it. Could just be a false gut feeling but couldn't ignore it. The hunt continues. Thanks to all for the helpful advice and expertise. If anyone sees something pop up for sale please let me know!

[Macarokks]

Decided to walk away again today. Something just feels wrong about it. Could just be a false gut feeling but couldn't ignore it. The hunt continues. Thanks to all for the helpful advice and expertise. If anyone sees something pop up for sale please let me know!

Can you tell me where to find this boat? I know more than one person who could be interested.