Cobaltchat.com

Last week I ordered a new CS23. Super excited for its June arrival. I have a buddy that has a Sea Ray that I’ve never seen or been in. He swears up and down that Sea Ray is the best runabout boat out there. Says I should have at least looked at one. I’ve wanted a Cobalt for years and had no desire to give much consideration to other brands. I have no second thoughts at all, but am curious on everyone’s take on Sea Ray versus Cobalt.

Thanks for any comments/insights you have!

Has he rode in a Cobalt?

He might be on drugs

I had a sea ray 185 (2011). Now have a cobalt 220s (2014) and the cobalt is a much different class. Build and finish quality so much better

Anesslet wrote: Fri Jan 15, 2021 6:25 am Last week I ordered a new CS23. Super excited for its June arrival. I have a buddy that has a Sea Ray that I’ve never seen or been in. He swears up and down that Sea Ray is the best runabout boat out there. Says I should have at least looked at one. I’ve wanted a Cobalt for years and had no desire to give much consideration to other brands. I have no second thoughts at all, but am curious on everyone’s take on Sea Ray versus Cobalt.

Thanks for any comments/insights you have!

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JD Power has since stopped ranking runabouts but Cobalt Boats always ranked #1 many years consecutively. It's too bad they don't start ranking again.

Yea sorry not even close to being in the same class. 8 put it under crownline and rinker and they stopped making rinker
I was in one at a boat show not to long ago and for as a finish was terrible. I Prob have pictures. Crownline and chap and regal make nice boats. l wouldn't even put it close with those. Sorry he needs to get in a Cobalt. Have him look at the price of a 15 year old cobalt and then look at the price of a 15 year old SeaRay. Better yet go look at a actual boat from those time frames. You made the right decision.

I think Sea Ray is a good but not great boat, but not one of Cobalt's closest competitors. If I wanted to feel like I'd done my due diligence anew before buying a Cobalt, I'd look at Formula (especially for the somewhat bigger boats) and Bryant (smaller to mid-sized).

Sea Ray belongs with Chapparal, Regal, etc., in the next tier from my experience. But they're still boats, and pretty decent ones at that.

John

A SeaRay these days is barely one step up from a Bayliner. Back in the days before Brunswick bought SeaRay out and put them under their umbrella, they were upper mid level quality. Now they are slightly below mid level.

Shopping for used boats I came across a few Sea Rays similar in age and usage to the Cobalts I was looking at. Have to agree with the above posts, ie materials, fit and finish and the overall durability / condition of the Cobalts seemed to be a step above. These boats were typically better cared for and showed pride of ownership - even some of the older cobalts looked better than newer Sea Rays. I have friends that swear by them but after looking at alot of boats I would rank them behind Chap, Regal and Crownline for that matter.

Like what others have said. When Sea Ray was acquired by Brunswick they put in a lot of cost savings measures to make Sea Ray profitable again and well the quality of the boats just went down hill. I was at the STL boat show 2 winters ago and they had a 46 dancer there that had more imperfections in the gel coat of any boat I have ever seen. And a close to 1mil dollar price tag on it. Same with their smaller boats. I would never own one after having 2 Cobalts.

I sell Sea Rays....

I own a Cobalt.

Nuff said?

willyswagon wrote: Fri Jan 15, 2021 2:54 pm I sell Sea Rays....

I own a Cobalt.

Nuff said?

Lol love it

willyswagon wrote: Fri Jan 15, 2021 2:54 pm I sell Sea Rays....

I own a Cobalt.

Nuff said?

I think so

That’s gotta be post of the year and it’s only January

rabiddawg wrote: Fri Jan 15, 2021 6:44 pm

willyswagon wrote: Fri Jan 15, 2021 2:54 pm I sell Sea Rays....

I own a Cobalt.

Nuff said?

I think so

That’s gotta be post of the year and it’s only January

Wildwillie strikes again

Big Block Power wrote: Fri Jan 15, 2021 9:34 pm

rabiddawg wrote: Fri Jan 15, 2021 6:44 pm

willyswagon wrote: Fri Jan 15, 2021 2:54 pm I sell Sea Rays....

I own a Cobalt.

Nuff said?

I think so

That’s gotta be post of the year and it’s only January

Wildwillie strikes again

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Yes...that’s awesome WW.

SeaRay has nothing on a Cobalt! Not even close!!! I’ve owned 2 SeaRat’s, a 195 and a 210SEL. The fit and finish isn’t even in the same ballpark as a cobalt. Resale on a SeaRat is terrible, ask me how I know, it took me two beatings to figure it out. You are on a Cobalt forum so of course we are biased but I have owned two of them and I am telling you they have lost quality in the last 15 years. I know you said you ordered a Cobalt but if you are bored someday go look at a new SeaRat and see for yourself. Willyswagon post said it best!