Cobaltchat.com

So guys

I am going this weekend to look at buying our first Cobalt a beautiful 2014 R7. I have owned and put 1000 hours on my 25 ft Crownline so I know boats.

Here is the rub...I have never bought used so what advice can you give me please?

This looks to be immaculate, never in salt water, never even spend an overnight in the water, Volvo 380.

Use your gut. Listen to it. What is the maint history. Make a list. Don't get too excited or you will lose focus. I always say look at the bilge. It will tell you plenty. If it's clean then someone took care of it. If it's dirty they don't. That's my rule.
Check the oil. Check the dipstick on the drive what does the oil look like? Drive it. Any vibrations? Noises?
How does it shift? Wray does the prop and skeg look like.
So are you on the crownline HQ forum too?

That is most of my list too. I do have the service history and they guy seems very meticulous.

On a boat like that, I'd pay for a marine survey.

Short of that, BB's list, plus:

-- Run her. Turn her off. Let her sit a few minutes. Start her back up. Watch for slow/no crank, vapor lock.

-- Check the bilge for water intrusion after running her.

-- Tied to dock, see if she lists.

I like to ask the owner very specific questions to see if they “know” the boat or do they just jump on and off of it at the end of the day and have some dock mechanic rub on it once a year.

Any salt water? No cool, ever changed the risers?
When was the last impeller put on?
Plug change? Yes, when?

“Oh your mechanic did service, cool did he give you a service sheet?”

The walk around, engine bay inspection is incredibly important, but without a paper trail assume nothing. I bought my 2002 (275 hours) did my inspection, boat test, checked the DP dipstick, oil dip stick, all of it. Ran beautifully. All looked perfect. Got it home pulled both props and drained a little gear lube and it was ice cream.

I’m getting her running and looking to my standard. I LOVE this boat and for 19 yrs old, beautiful.

Regardless, if you like what the seller is saying and what you see, it’s a Cobalt. Get it home, change the impeller. Period.