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This is my first Cobalt after a Scout, Formula and Rinker. The closest quality the Cobalt was my Formula Fastech 271. Very different boat, but fit and finish similar. Really enjoyed the Scout. Very versatile fish and ski boat with a Yamaha 250 four stroke that sipped fuel and gave me zero issues. Rinker was junk but all I could afford at the time. However, the Cobalt quality, fit and finish, B3x outdrive, the 8.2 liter BB 502 is simply fantastic. I love the Garmin glass gauges, the performance, comfort, bimini etc. To be able to run approximately 30 mph at 3000 RPM's with 2 or 12 people is outstanding. Over Labor Day I had 12 people in the boat and I only lost like 1 mph due to the weight if that. I suppose I was right in the sweet spot of the torque curve of the BB and the B3X? Perhaps the VP does the same? Probably so. It appears from what I have read the performance is very similar except at cruising speeds where the small block RPM's is about 1000 rpms higher than the BB? My top end is 52 at 5000 RPM's. I believe the VP 380 is the same at 6000 RPM's. Anyway this is a great boat, and thanks for the initial comments during my pursuit to purchase.

Great story LJ and that R5 is awesome looking.

Thank you for your old thread as it brought to the forum the discussion of power and how the Volvo 6.2 power these models.


I know you mentioned it in that thread in which way you went, but post your findings, as a lot of R series folk who are shopping would like to hear your Captains report with the Merc 8.2

Your thread
viewtopic.php?f=33&t=1604&start=90


Again. Beautiful!!

Yes, ditto what Matt said. And give us an engine pic too!

Thanks for posting the R5 pics again. Looking good my friend.

I think it would be hard to find a better trailerable boat than that no matter what the criteria. Great setup, LJ.

Love it congrats. Where did you find the boat spec'd the way you wanted it?

Beautiful R5, love the black! We have no regrets on purchasing our R5 Surf in June.

Really love the all black. I hope you have some hot sauce to keep those spots off! Interesting that you went with the Merc Big Block. I had someone from Cobalt do some gel coat repair on my boat last weekend. And she said as of 2017 and on 90% of the boats leaving the factory have Volvo motors on them now.

Btw, here's the first pic for ya' rotated..

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I found the boat in Cleveland OH. The boat had more options on it than I would had probably ordered. Such as the head, stainless helm pad, transom shower. It came loaded sans the transom and underwater lights. The premium bimini top and the front and rear filler cushions are very useful. I did not think I would use the table but I have come to like it. I enjoy the way it swivels like a lazy susan.
Yea, I have noticed that most of these boats come with the VP. I grew up on the lake and around Mercruiser all my life. I knew the units and just wanted to stick with what I knew, and there is a large dealer on the lake where I boat. So makes it easy for service work. As mentioned before I also wanted a BB.

Yea mercury and Cobalt got in a little disagreement over something and that switched Cobalt to Vp.
Sounds like a great boat. Did it have Captains call? How many hours were on it? I have to imagine it was a used boat. Or demo/used

AsLan7 wrote: Sat Sep 15, 2018 10:32 am Btw, here's the first pic for ya' rotated..

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Thanks!

Big Block Power wrote: Sun Sep 16, 2018 10:26 am Yea mercury and Cobalt got in a little disagreement over something and that switched Cobalt to Vp.
Sounds like a great boat. Did it have Captains call? How many hours were on it? I have to imagine it was a used boat. Or demo/used

No did not have Captains Call, no hours were on the boat it was brand new.

LJLakeYlee wrote: Sun Sep 23, 2018 1:26 pm

Big Block Power wrote: Sun Sep 16, 2018 10:26 am Yea mercury and Cobalt got in a little disagreement over something and that switched Cobalt to Vp.
Sounds like a great boat. Did it have Captains call? How many hours were on it? I have to imagine it was a used boat. Or demo/used

No did not have Captains Call, no hours were on the boat it was brand new.

Very cool. So that must be your local dealer for them to sell it to you. I only said demo or used it sounded like it wasn't a local dealer to you. They Protect there territory Pretty tight. Again congrats.

cmattj wrote: Fri Sep 14, 2018 7:15 am Great story LJ and that R5 is awesome looking.

Thank you for your old thread as it brought to the forum the discussion of power and how the Volvo 6.2 power these models.


I know you mentioned it in that thread in which way you went, but post your findings, as a lot of R series folk who are shopping would like to hear your Captains report with the Merc 8.2

Your thread
viewtopic.php?f=33&t=1604&start=90


Again. Beautiful!!

Regarding the Captains report, I snapped a few photos showing the revs/speed. I need to show the gallons per hour. Will do that next.

On another note, this boat does not like a lot of trim? When I trim it up to over 4% on the gauge it porpoises. When I took these shots I had three people in the aft so just had a little trim. Not sure the trim gauge is accurate actually. When the outdrive is all the way out of the water the gauge just shows about 60%. So may have that adjusted at the 20 hour check.