R4 Release

[Rlauria]

In talking to my Cobalt dealer last week. He said that he thought that Cobalt would be starting production on the New R4's shortly(before the first of the year). That is not what I thought, I had heard that the R8 would be next out and then the R4. With a R4 release in 2022 or later. Any rumors here. Is the thought that the R4 will have a similar weight increase as the R6. Which seems problematic for me if the same engines are available. Especially if you are not interested in the big block engines(interested in VP DP 350).

[BobRae99]

In April of 2019, a Cobalt factory rep told me the new R series would roll out with R6 (October) of 2019, followed by the R8 (as a 2021 model) followed by the R4 in the spring of 2020 as a 2021 model. Clearly, the timeline on the R6 slipped.

With the R6 introduction 9 months past the initial rollout plan, it is hard to know whether everything has shifted 9 months, or it just took Cobalt longer to launch the first boat (R6) and the rest will follow in quick succession?

As to the weight increase, as I have posted elsewhere, Cobalt told me the bulk of the increase comes from the new stringer system which will make the new R series even quieter and stronger than the hull it replaces. Cobalt told me that the R6 is expected to hit around 51 mph with the VP380 which is withing about 1 -2 MPH of the R5 with the same engine. Cobalt's promotional material for the R6 touts a more efficient hull with less wetted surface.

My R3 (VP350) will go around 52 - 53 mph with half a tank of gas, two people, and a calm lake. My guess is the same engine in the R4 will be a couple of MPH slower than that. My guess is that the R4 will not gain as much weight as the R6 from the new stringer system as it is a shorter hull. but who knows.

My best guess is that if you want the same performance in an R4 to the R3 (i.e. 52 - 53 mph), you might need to build your boat with a VP380. When you think about it, while it is an expensive upgrade, relative to the cost of the whole boat, it isn't that much.

Is there some reason (other than cost) you'd like to avoid the 380?

[Rlauria]

The two reasons are: $6.5K, on an already very expensive boat. Plus I had a big block (7.4L) Merc-cruiser about 25 years ago that I never really like mostly due to the added weigh in the rear of the boat. Which I think is not an issue as the larger Volvo engine is not heavier( I think). I do not burn enough fuel for it to make a difference.

[Big Block Power]

Sounds like a 350 is your engine then.

[BobRae99]

The two reasons are: $6.5K, on an already very expensive boat. Plus I had a big block (7.4L) Merc-cruiser about 25 years ago that I never really like mostly due to the added weigh in the rear of the boat. Which I think is not an issue as the larger Volvo engine is not heavier( I think). I do not burn enough fuel for it to make a difference.

The VP380 is actually a bit lighter than the VP350, so that shouldn't be an issue. I considered the 380 for my R3, Cobalt said the fuel consumption increase would be minimal but they said the boat didn't need a 380 - the 350 was considered to be the price/performance "sweet spot". After discount, I think the engine upgrade would be in the $4,500 range. My prospective R6 build is about $160,000 before discount, the 380 would add about 2.5% to that (after discount), more on the lower-priced R4. Personally, given the increased weight of the R4, I'd get the 380.

[Rlauria]

We are in are very early 60’s, probably 80% of our cruising is a 30-35 MPH or so, my current 2006 Cobalt that is +/- 3500 RPM. I assume all these engines with a R3 or R4 configuration would have similar cruising characteristics, with a much more forgiving ride due to the new hull? Making noise is not really anything that I would look for. Really, quick to plane and smooth operation is what I am looking for. I took a R3 with a 300HP for a test drive last week and it seemed good. The 350 HP will only help with the top end based on power curves? But I will only get the 350 HP as my old boat has 320 HP and can not believe the new boat would perform like I want with less HP.
Not sure of the rules of the Chat Room, but you suggest that the $6,500 engine upgrade would be cut to $4,500 with discount. That is 30% off. Is that realistic?

[BobRae99]

We are in are very early 60’s, probably 80% of our cruising is a 30-35 MPH or so, my current 2006 Cobalt that is +/- 3500 RPM. I assume all these engines with a R3 or R4 configuration would have similar cruising characteristics, with a much more forgiving ride due to the new hull? Making noise is not really anything that I would look for. Really, quick to plane and smooth operation is what I am looking for. I took a R3 with a 300HP for a test drive last week and it seemed good. The 350 HP will only help with the top end based on power curves? But I will only get the 350 HP as my old boat has 320 HP and can not believe the new boat would perform like I want with less HP.
Not sure of the rules of the Chat Room, but you suggest that the $6,500 engine upgrade would be cut to $4,500 with discount. That is 30% off. Is that realistic?

We share a similar age and cruise profile. The acceleration and mid-range power are the same between the 300 and 350 until you get to about 4,500 (if memory serves) and then the 350 adds more top end. The new 300HP would have a quicker hole shot than your 320, but more importantly, the mid-range punch from these new direct injection engines is really surprising. I think the performance of the new 300 would exceed that of your older 320. I had a Cobalt 210 with a current-generation V6/280 that Cobalt proved had a quicker holeshot and better mid-range than the V8270 it replaced.

As for discounts, I was rounding a bit. I think you might expect around 25% off at a boat show although short inventory due to Covid might have affected that. I initially negotiated a deal on my R3 that was short of that % and then the dealer agreed to add some options on at "invoice" which is about 30% off srp. I added a tower and upgraded sound system that way. You might try that with the engine upgrade after the dealer has established the discount, but doesn't yet have your order. They already have their profit calculated so if they don't make more on the engine, they might stiff be satisfied.

[tgrace98]

Latest I have heard on the R4 is it will be out by boat show season 2021 Most likely as a 22 model. Just speculation at this point still. Nothing set in stone.

[BobRae99]

Latest I have heard on the R4 is it will be out by boat show season 2021 Most likely as a 22 model. Just speculation at this point still. Nothing set in stone.

That makes sense to me.

[Big Block Power]

I don't think you will see that big of a discount on a brand new model. A heavier or even a save r4 I can't imagine having just a 300 up in it. No you can't go from a 320 to a 300. Maybe a 240 but that's it. Power it right. Don't buy a showroom spec boat for pricing with a 300.

[Rlauria]

We test drove a New R3 with the 300 HP engine this weekend. It seemed fine to me, but my wife was very impressed with the way that it handled the wakes verse my old 226. She thought that it settled much quicker. Plus, it is at least 2 generations newer on technology. On my boat, I never like the location of the depth finder and that it was LCD. I always had trouble reading it with polarized sunglasses on, but the new boat had at least two locations for the depth finder and easily readable. all of the information on the big screens was nice, not sure I need all of it. But still love the classic lines of my old 226.

[J9lake]

I think the R8 is next and Cobalt has inadvertently revealed it. Check out this link I found when searching Cobalt R8. They’re already putting the build my dream page together.
https://cobaltboats.com/bab/web/R8

[carrera]

Interesting. That build page isn't ready for primetime yet, but interesting anyway.

[Krob1114]

We test drove a New R3 with the 300 HP engine this weekend. It seemed fine to me, but my wife was very impressed with the way that it handled the wakes verse my old 226. She thought that it settled much quicker. Plus, it is at least 2 generations newer on technology. On my boat, I never like the location of the depth finder and that it was LCD. I always had trouble reading it with polarized sunglasses on, but the new boat had at least two locations for the depth finder and easily readable. all of the information on the big screens was nice, not sure I need all of it. But still love the classic lines of my old 226.

I'm a little older than you. We have the R3 with the VP-300. I've yet to regret it, but have nothing to compare it to.

[evmolinar]

I ordered my R4 in October, supposed to start in production in February. I loaded it with the 430HP. I took the demo for a spin, on plane quick and hit 57 with 4 adults on a smooth lake. We are mostly at the sand bar, idling around the shoreline, and cruising 30mph, but when you do go WOT for a minute why not be able to go as fast as you can? And when you have a boat load on a fun day, you need all the HP available believe me!