Cobaltchat.com

Came across an 82 cs7 for $1000. Is it worth it. It’s all complete and original but needs cosmetics like upholstery, color sanding battery, bellows etc. no gel coat damage. 204 hours on original engine, not running at the moment

transom and floors? if those are good why not?

Floors seem solid. I haven’t looked close. It only saw lake use and was stored inside until the last 5 years or so I’m told. Clean titles for the boat and trailer. Transom seems fine without taking stuff apart. What worries me is that the spark plugs where out of the engine and there was a new bellows replacement kit under the engine cover like maybe it had taken on water or something. Or just could be the last owner new the bellows should be replaced as it has been years since t was in the water.

Im not to up on the wood in these boats, but bellows are a normal maintenance items.

Buy a cheap bore scope and look into all the cylinders. That can be a major problem requiring a new engine. You do not want to see any rust in the cylinders.

Yes! They are neat boats and totally worth restoring. Hopefully that motor is ok... thats the big question. rotted wood can be replaced no problem, just adds more time.

Here are some pics of it.

Looks like the bones are solid. Last registration was 2011.

I’ve always enjoyed the early offshore controls in the console set up.
Should be a interesting project. Even with the mystery motor and interior needs it’s still a great start.
Hopefully stored with the hull drain plug out so we can hope the transom and stringers are good.

In the early 80s "C" Series boats, Cobalt built their transoms and stringers with layers of plywood and then sealed them with resin prior to glassing them in the boat. Unless there were holes drilled and not properly sealed in those areas the boat should be fine structurally. For a grand, I would buy it, gut it, update and replace all the interior and replace the Merc 898 with a newer 5.7 and an Alpha I-Gen II drive.
Shawn

nolaboater99 wrote: Thu Jan 07, 2021 4:36 pm In the early 80s "C" Series boats, Cobalt built their transoms and stringers with layers of plywood and then sealed them with resin prior to glassing them in the boat. Unless there were holes drilled and not properly sealed in those areas the boat should be fine structurally. For a grand, I would buy it, gut it, update and replace all the interior and replace the Merc 898 with a 700 SCi and an Bravo One XR drive.
Shawn

Fixed

Unless you wanta go farm truck then leave the interior as is

dustinm wrote: Thu Jan 07, 2021 4:45 pm

nolaboater99 wrote: Thu Jan 07, 2021 4:36 pm In the early 80s "C" Series boats, Cobalt built their transoms and stringers with layers of plywood and then sealed them with resin prior to glassing them in the boat. Unless there were holes drilled and not properly sealed in those areas the boat should be fine structurally. For a grand, I would buy it, gut it, update and replace all the interior and replace the Merc 898 with a 700 SCi and an Bravo One XR drive.
Shawn

Fixed

Unless you wanta go farm truck then leave the interior as is

Lmao!

OMG

Might be a bit too much HP for that size boat.