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I don't think it looks so bad.

Haha, yeah.... just not my type of styling cue.
Love the bimini

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T, your pictures are almost as mouth watering as Italian food.
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AsLan7 wrote: Sun Mar 31, 2019 1:57 pm .
T, your pictures are almost as mouth watering as Italian food.
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Time to stop by my friend. I have some goodies waiting to send home!

For me the tower was a no brainer. But my boat sits in a covered slip 365 days a year. So I never have to deal with folding the tower down or collapsing the canvas unless it’s winter and I don’t want birds crapping on it.

Tuscany wrote: Sun Mar 31, 2019 7:31 pm

AsLan7 wrote: Sun Mar 31, 2019 1:57 pm .
T, your pictures are almost as mouth watering as Italian food.
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Time to stop by my friend. I have some goodies waiting to send home!

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Very cooooool T.
Hopefully in April or May my friend.
I will surely give you a heads up.

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Bfun220 wrote: Sun Mar 31, 2019 10:36 am I don't think it looks so bad.

That's my neighbors house. Motor home.

So I went out to the dealer this afternoon and sat in the R3 Surf with the tower and an R3 with a Premium Bimini. The short story is that I will be keeping the tower in my build.

The overhead tower bar reaches forward past the head of the captain and there is another overhead tube that passes rearward of the captain's head, but there is a significant area over the captain and front passenger's heads that, while framed by the overhead tubes is completely open to the sky.

The other positive thing about the tower is while the tower bimini is a chore to put up (compared to the premium bimini), it has greater coverage, especially towards the rear bench, where it is at least 8" longer than the premium bimini. Finally, the tower just looks cool.

I wrote to Cobalt about the VP V8/380 vs 350. They don't have the power/torque charts for that engine but said I could expect about another 2 -3 mph at the top end and similar fuel economy. There is no question that a fully loaded boat (8 adults) with the VP V8/350 will easily pull up a wakeboarder or skier, so that ends the VP 380 discussion for me.

I reviewed the options list for possible additions:

Volvo Tow Mode - the dealer confirmed that this can be added later at the dealership if I want it;

Transom Tilt Switch - dealer says this is mostly for people who trailer a lot and don't want to have to get up on the boat. My boat doesn't come out of the water, but once a year (at haul out), so I'll skip that option;

Rudder Indicator - I thought about this, but I think I'll pass. I've figured out where the rudder is pointing without this gauge in my first year of boating. It's not expensive, but I just don't think I need it;

Trim Tabs - I asked the dealer about this again and he really doesn't feel I need it on the R3.

Colour - My boat will be Navy with a Sandstone Edge stripe. Looking at the Navy with Pacific stripe in the showroom, the navy isn't near as dark as it is on the website, where the navy looks almost as dark as black. The navy on the boat is several shades lighter, so I'm not exactly sure how the boat will look with that combination. I'll look around for pictures as I have at least a week or two before the options lock on my order. The dealer said that the Navy seems to be one of the most popular colours.

Other than that, it looks like I'm good to go. Finally, Cobalt said to contact them if I want a tour and they will pick the best window for me to visit if I want to see my boat in production. Tours are Monday and Wednesday mornings only.

Bob

Seeing your boat on the production line = priceless

True Aj. Bobrae I pull tubers and skiers all of the time and for 20 years. If I had the option. For the rudder I would get it. Tilt unit is nice at the sand bars if you go to them. Another I wouldn't do without and yes I trailer. Oh and of course the 380/430 i wouldn't do without. So no can't end that conversation yet. Lol

BobRae99 wrote: Mon Apr 01, 2019 3:21 pm So I went out to the dealer this afternoon and sat in the R3 Surf with the tower and an R3 with a Premium Bimini. The short story is that I will be keeping the tower in my build.


Other than that, it looks like I'm good to go. Finally, Cobalt said to contact them if I want a tour and they will pick the best window for me to visit if I want to see my boat in production. Tours are Monday and Wednesday mornings only.

Bob

Congrats Bob! Despite all the jokes for what it's worth I think you made the correct decisions all around. Now sit back and relax, or plan a trip to Kansas, the factory was cool by itself, it would be extra special knowing my boat was on the line.

Katie and I were talking about what stage we would want to see our boat, my vote was once they had the V8 in but before they put the upper and lower halves together. Katie said test tank. If they let you be the first to turn the key, test tank would be my vote too but I don't know if thats a thing.

I am sure others who went on the tour will chime in on when you should get there, but definitely get there.

Congrats again and when you get to KS PM me I will get you to the best BBQ possible.

Big Block Power wrote: Mon Apr 01, 2019 4:30 pm True Aj. Bobrae I pull tubers and skiers all of the time and for 20 years. If I had the option. For the rudder I would get it. Tilt unit is nice at the sand bars if you go to them. Another I wouldn't do without and yes I trailer. Oh and of course the 380/430 i wouldn't do without. So no can't end that conversation yet. Lol

We don't have any sandbars to beach on so, I think I'll skip that option. I'll add the rudder position indicator. It doesn't cost much and may help my brother back out of the slip in a straight line. Its just down to the colour. I wonder if anyone has seen the Navy/Sandstone Edge stripe? As I wrote, Navy in person is lighter than on the build site. I just want to make sure the combo is the best. How about a red bull with black edge bootstrap? I don't like any of the light hull colours and I've had black. Given that this boat will be a longer hold, I wonder about maintenance on black.

Finally, I'm thinking about a mooring cover. As I moor in the water, as long as the mooring cover stretched over the swim platform doesn't touch the water, I think I would get one.If it touches the water, I'd pass - it would be awfully slimy at the end of the season.

BobRae99 wrote: Mon Apr 01, 2019 7:55 pm

Big Block Power wrote: Mon Apr 01, 2019 4:30 pm True Aj. Bobrae I pull tubers and skiers all of the time and for 20 years. If I had the option. For the rudder I would get it. Tilt unit is nice at the sand bars if you go to them. Another I wouldn't do without and yes I trailer. Oh and of course the 380/430 i wouldn't do without. So no can't end that conversation yet. Lol

We don't have any sandbars to beach on so, I think I'll skip that option. I'll add the rudder position indicator. It doesn't cost much and may help my brother back out of the slip in a straight line. Its just down to the colour. I wonder if anyone has seen the Navy/Sandstone Edge stripe? As I wrote, Navy in person is lighter than on the build site. I just want to make sure the combo is the best. How about a red bull with black edge bootstrap? I don't like any of the light hull colours and I've had black. Given that this boat will be a longer hold, I wonder about maintenance on black.

Finally, I'm thinking about a mooring cover. As I moor in the water, as long as the mooring cover stretched over the swim platform doesn't touch the water, I think I would get one.If it touches the water, I'd pass - it would be awfully slimy at the end of the season.

The mooring cover fits snug around the rub rail of the swim platform then has a hook on each side to attach to the transom tow hooks. It’s the only cover I have because I didn’t want the snaps all over the boat. So far I love it. Really easy to get on and off and protects your swim platform mat if you go with that option.

tgrace98 wrote: Mon Apr 01, 2019 8:02 pm

BobRae99 wrote: Mon Apr 01, 2019 7:55 pm

Big Block Power wrote: Mon Apr 01, 2019 4:30 pm True Aj. Bobrae I pull tubers and skiers all of the time and for 20 years. If I had the option. For the rudder I would get it. Tilt unit is nice at the sand bars if you go to them. Another I wouldn't do without and yes I trailer. Oh and of course the 380/430 i wouldn't do without. So no can't end that conversation yet. Lol

We don't have any sandbars to beach on so, I think I'll skip that option. I'll add the rudder position indicator. It doesn't cost much and may help my brother back out of the slip in a straight line. Its just down to the colour. I wonder if anyone has seen the Navy/Sandstone Edge stripe? As I wrote, Navy in person is lighter than on the build site. I just want to make sure the combo is the best. How about a red bull with black edge bootstrap? I don't like any of the light hull colours and I've had black. Given that this boat will be a longer hold, I wonder about maintenance on black.

Finally, I'm thinking about a mooring cover. As I moor in the water, as long as the mooring cover stretched over the swim platform doesn't touch the water, I think I would get one.If it touches the water, I'd pass - it would be awfully slimy at the end of the season.

The mooring cover fits snug around the rub rail of the swim platform then has a hook on each side to attach to the transom tow hooks. It’s the only cover I have because I didn’t want the snaps all over the boat. So far I love it. Really easy to get on and off and protects your swim platform mat if you go with that option.

I wonder if it is difficult to cinch down the cover with the boat moored in the water. I don’t mind the snaps on the deck. I’d use the bow and cockpit covers on the weekends (I go in and out a few times a day and then put the bow/cockpit covers for overnight. I was thinking of the mooring cover for more extended periods. Cobalt recommends the mooring cover because it lets the interior breathe and avoids mildew buildup.

Here you go an install video.