Cobaltchat.com

Went to the Ft. Lauderdale Boat Show yesterday. After months of research (and assistance from cobaltchat brothers and sisters), I placed the order:

From the Cobalt website:
BASE MSRP$122,138
Selected EngineMercury 300 Verado w/PAS
Selected Options
Frost/Slate $1554
Bow Tonneau Cover $447
Cockpit Tonneau Cover $1121
Glass Cockpit, Dual Garmin 8610 $5092
Wireless Phone Charger, w/Holder $259
Prem Sound w/Transom Spkrs. $3036
White Arch, Folding w/Rotating Sunshade $11900
Flagpole w/Flag $562
Portal Light (1 in Head Compartment) $745
Sof-Trac Mat, Swim Platform w/Flip-Down Swim Step $977
Dinette Table w/Cockpit Receptacle $1264
Head w/Electric Porcelain Toilet $2429
LED Interior Accent Lighting (RGB) $2040
Sof-Trac Mat, Cockpit $1807
Trim Tabs w/Indicators, w/o Autoglide $1624
Windlass, All Chain w/Anchor $4785

From the dealer:
Base Price $114,575
Interior (Frost/Slate) upgrade $1399
Mercury 300 Verado w/Pas 300HP $1349
Bow Tonneau Cover $402
Cockpit Tonneau Cover. $1008
Glass Cockpit, Dual Garmin 8610 $4582
Wireless Phone Charger, w/Holder $233
Flagpole w/Flag. $505
Portal Light (1 in Head Compartment) $670
Sof-Trac Mat, Swim Platform w/Flip-Down Swim Step Arch $879
Folding w/Rotating Sunshade (White) $10,710
Dinette Table w/Cockpit Receptacle $1137
LED Interior Accent Lighting (RGB) Sof-Trac Mat, Cockpit $1836
Head w/Electric Porcelain Toilet $2186
Premium Sound System w/Transom Spkrs.$2732
Trim Tabs w/Indicators w/o Autoglide $1461
Windlass, All Chain w/Anchor $4306
Additional dealer discount - $22,500

Didn't take long looking at the competition to make the Cobalt choice. Everyone involved was top-notch. Cobalt reps from Kansas, regional sales rep and local folks were all outstanding.

Boat should be a Jan-Feb timeframe delivery. Planning on South FL winter boating and Va Beach/Chesapeake Bay summers.

Nice congrats on the new purchase! I think I might have my eyes set on the r8 outboard in a few years should it be offered the way I hope they will.

Looks like you optioned her out nicely and should be a great boat for you

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Sounds like you had a great experience.
Thanks for posting the side by side.
Looking forward to your pics dg!
Btw I'm a big fan of the transom remote and transom trim switch. Did you consider those options?

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Didn’t think that long about the transom remote. We didn’t have sound on our Sea Ray back in the 80s (other than boombox!) and figured the helm area controls would suffice.

As you all know, options rack-up fast. Told my son this morning that it was worth the $$ to avoid buyer’s remorse in the “wish I had” department.

Thanks to all for providing this superb forum and sharing info. You guys cost me a bundle!!
Looking forward to sharing pics & experiences.

dgangwer wrote: Fri Oct 30, 2020 11:21 am Didn’t think that long about the transom remote. We didn’t have sound on our Sea Ray back in the 80s (other than boombox!) and figured the helm area controls would suffice.

As you all know, options rack-up fast. Told my son this morning that it was worth the $$ to avoid buyer’s remorse in the “wish I had” department.

Thanks to all for providing this superb forum and sharing info. You guys cost me a bundle!!
Looking forward to sharing pics & experiences.

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Roger that. You can always add them later if you find you want them. Enjoy!

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Congratulations. Looking forward to the pics. You will certainly enjoy your new Cobalt.

Just received an email from the dealer: Boat arrives in 2 weeks. It has been 35 years since I last took delivery.
Any advice/lessons learned?
I have a new F250 for towing between VA and FL. Any recommendations on adjustable vs fixed hitch?
Thanks. Pictures and performance report to follow.

Sorry a little side track while you were thinking of what to order a new mercury engine became available. It has a few extra cylinders. Lol
Did you upgrade to that. V12 baby!!
Actually congrats!

Big Block Power wrote: Sat Mar 06, 2021 4:23 pm Did you upgrade to that. V12 baby!!

No; Mercury Verado 300 V8. Thought I'd go for the 350 but it is a supercharged inline 6. Did some research and am content with the choice.
Looking forward to being a Cobalt owner!

dgangwer wrote: Sun Mar 07, 2021 6:05 pm

Big Block Power wrote: Sat Mar 06, 2021 4:23 pm Did you upgrade to that. V12 baby!!

No; Mercury Verado 300 V8. Thought I'd go for the 350 but it is a supercharged inline 6. Did some research and am content with the choice.
Looking forward to being a Cobalt owner!

That's awesome. Congrats! Can't wait to see and hear about her.

dgangwer wrote: Sat Mar 06, 2021 12:35 pm Just received an email from the dealer: Boat arrives in 2 weeks. It has been 35 years since I last took delivery.
Any advice/lessons learned?
I have a new F250 for towing between VA and FL. Any recommendations on adjustable vs fixed hitch?
Thanks. Pictures and performance report to follow.

I am a huge fan of the Andersen Rapid Hitch.

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I am a huge fan of the Andersen Rapid Hitch.
[/quote]

Thanks! Looks good.

dgangwer wrote: Tue Mar 09, 2021 5:29 pm

I am a huge fan of the Andersen Rapid Hitch.
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Thanks! Looks good.
[/quote]

If you get one, make sure you get the two locks they make for them for about $40 more.

I stray away from aluminum ball mounts after seeing one break right in front of me while in Idaho on a snowmobile trip. The truck lost control on ice with a 4 place snowmobile trailer and jack knifed in the ditch right in front of my truck. We were maybe going 20-25mph but when the truck went into the truck the trailer jack knifed into the RR corner of the pickup and blocked the road. There was only one way out as they only plow the road a few miles off the main road due to snow depths so we were forced to help them out of the ditch because they were blocking the entire road. I was shocked to see that the 2” receiver style ball mount broke right in two right at the drop of the hitch. The truck and trailer were hardly moving when it jack knifed but the hitch was in 2 pieces and unusable. Once we got his trailer pulled back and his truck out of the ditch he had no way to hookup to his trailer again. I ended up selling him a spare 3 way ball mount of mine so they could continue on their way.

I myself have a GenY mega duty 6” drop hitch and really like it. The 2” shank version is rated for a 16,000lb trailer and also works with my pintle hitches. If I had to make another choice of hitches I would buy a Bulletproof hitch. I will never own an aluminum ball mount after watching a relatively small trailer break an aluminum ball mount in two!

Snowman8 wrote: Tue Mar 09, 2021 7:01 pm I stray away from aluminum ball mounts after seeing one break right in front of me while in Idaho on a snowmobile trip. The truck lost control on ice with a 4 place snowmobile trailer and jack knifed in the ditch right in front of my truck. We were maybe going 20-25mph but when the truck went into the truck the trailer jack knifed into the RR corner of the pickup and blocked the road. There was only one way out as they only plow the road a few miles off the main road due to snow depths so we were forced to help them out of the ditch because they were blocking the entire road. I was shocked to see that the 2” receiver style ball mount broke right in two right at the drop of the hitch. The truck and trailer were hardly moving when it jack knifed but the hitch was in 2 pieces and unusable. Once we got his trailer pulled back and his truck out of the ditch he had no way to hookup to his trailer again. I ended up selling him a spare 3 way ball mount of mine so they could continue on their way.

I myself have a GenY mega duty 6” drop hitch and really like it. The 2” shank version is rated for a 16,000lb trailer and also works with my pintle hitches. If I had to make another choice of hitches I would buy a Bulletproof hitch. I will never own an aluminum ball mount after watching a relatively small trailer break an aluminum ball mount in two!

There have been a few instances of them breaking, but I’m almost ever case they had bottomed out badly and weakened the hitch. Steel is obviously stronger, but I like that I can switch mine out with one hand. My 2.5” shank with a 2 5/8” ball is rated for 12k I believe.