Use of wood in Cobalt construction?

[thunder550]

I've browsed quite a few threads on THT and the iBoats forums and see lots of people with 20-25 year old boats doing full rebuilds to replace rotting stringers, bulkheads, decks, and transoms. Got me thinking...I know Cobalt is well known for their composite construction, but I don't know when this started or to what extent Cobalts are "woodless". I'm primarily concerned about my 1995 252, but this may be good information for other older models as well. I've never heard anyone mention wood rot when discussing Cobalts like they do for other brands, primarily ones like Sea Ray and Bayliner (not in the same class, I know...), but also have not seen definitive information about the lack of wood in our boats either.

The only thing I've been able to find is this post from a thread over on THT.

https://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-fo ... st10581595

I received this information recently from a Cobalt customer service rep:

I have been here at the factory for over 35 years and spent 15 of it building the boats.
-We actually did not start using fiberglass stringers until the 252 came out in 1994. The composite liner floor came out at that time, but only on the 252.
-Every new model after that had the liner floor and fiberglass stringers with the exception of the 190 that came out in 1996.
-In 1997, we began to install a composite foam transom on our boats, replacing the wood transom.

We have always used marine grade plywood in the construction of our boats. It is supposed to be resistant to water intrusion, but we ignored that and covered it first with resin, and once it was installed in the boat, we covered it with fiberglass.

Since this post references wood in transoms until 1997, I tried searching for Cobalt transom rebuilds and did not get any results. Do any of you have any additional information about this? Am I not finding anything at all because wood rot just isn't an issue in these boats?

[Big Block Power]

Good info. Myself have not heard of stringer or transom issues on a Cobalt. But on any brands there can be issues with any materials used. I've read a bunch. Some issues with separation and strength with different materials. But yes I would do my home work before I buy.

[AsLan7]

.

Am I not finding anything at all because wood rot just isn't an issue in these boats?

Honestly, I do not think it is an issue on your model Cobalt and later.

Now if you have never watched this video, it's a classic. He tells the story of his Sea Ray purchase and the "minor" wood transom issue.



He chronicles his saga here if you want more. Transom story starts with vid 10.

[thunder550]

Boat restoration just seems like one of those things I wouldn't want to get into. I get nervous enough drilling holes for bimini tops, can't imagine cutting out the boat "framework"...eek!

[88cobalt202]

I know I'm replying to in oldpost, but I picked up a 1988 cobalt and the decking is wood. Had to reinforce a small section but the captains chair until I decide and get time to replace the decking. My bandaid should work for a while, and yes, I do realise it is just that...a bandaid. But anyway, there's a fair amount of wood on mine.

[liquid]

I wouldn't worry about stringer rot in Your boat.

As they said in that thread they use marine plywood, added resin and the coated in glass.

I sold my century because I knew the stringers were rotted. If you can feel the boat flex (you'll know if you've ever felt it) then you got rot.

Nothing like the transom snapping off!

[nolaboater99]

I was very concerned about this topic for obvious reasons. I didn't want to dump a ton of money into my Cobalt only to find $10k later I should have had it surveyed....so I did right after I bought it. Especially knowing the history of this boat like I do. Even after living in salt water for 30 years, and being neglected by the PO it surveyed very dry.

As I have said in the past, I am also a long-time member of the Sea Ray forum and it is amazing the number of people that come on and state, "....got a really great deal on a 198x Sea Ray and I wanna know how to make it go faster." Uuhhh….maybe it was a good deal for a reason. Just last night a guy posted a question about an engine. He bought a 1987 Sea Ray 268. A pretty nice, roomy, aft cabin pocket cruiser. Sea Ray sold a shitload of them. His boat came with the Merc 260HP/Alpha I engine package. He wanted to know if it was going to be a dog. (It will be) But I asked him if he sea trialed before purchase. He replied, "No, it needed bellows and has a cracked lower unit." WTF! No survey, no sea trial.... Just like FriscoBoater in the video but I guess it's not my problem.
Shawn

[AsLan7]

I was very concerned about this topic for obvious reasons. I didn't want to dump a ton of money into my Cobalt only to find $10k later I should have had it surveyed....so I did right after I bought it. Especially knowing the history of this boat like I do. Even after living in salt water for 30 years, and being neglected by the PO it surveyed very dry.

As I have said in the past, I am also a long-time member of the Sea Ray forum and it is amazing the number of people that come on and state, "....got a really great deal on a 198x Sea Ray and I wanna know how to make it go faster." Uuhhh….maybe it was a good deal for a reason. Just last night a guy posted a question about an engine. He bought a 1987 Sea Ray 268. A pretty nice, roomy, aft cabin pocket cruiser. Sea Ray sold a shitload of them. His boat came with the Merc 260HP/Alpha I engine package. He wanted to know if it was going to be a dog. (It will be) But I asked him if he sea trialed before purchase. He replied, "No, it needed bellows and has a cracked lower unit." WTF! No survey, no sea trial.... Just like FriscoBoater in the video but I guess it's not my problem.
Shawn

Lotta wisdom in that post nb99.

.

[ajcampen]

I really like that Frisco boater guy. I think got divorced bc he spent all his free time fixing boats in their garage

[hoghead54]

I was very concerned about this topic for obvious reasons. I didn't want to dump a ton of money into my Cobalt only to find $10k later I should have had it surveyed....so I did right after I bought it. Especially knowing the history of this boat like I do. Even after living in salt water for 30 years, and being neglected by the PO it surveyed very dry.

As I have said in the past, I am also a long-time member of the Sea Ray forum and it is amazing the number of people that come on and state, "....got a really great deal on a 198x Sea Ray and I wanna know how to make it go faster." Uuhhh….maybe it was a good deal for a reason. Just last night a guy posted a question about an engine. He bought a 1987 Sea Ray 268. A pretty nice, roomy, aft cabin pocket cruiser. Sea Ray sold a shitload of them. His boat came with the Merc 260HP/Alpha I engine package. He wanted to know if it was going to be a dog. (It will be) But I asked him if he sea trialed before purchase. He replied, "No, it needed bellows and has a cracked lower unit." WTF! No survey, no sea trial.... Just like FriscoBoater in the video but I guess it's not my problem.
Shawn

So...ummm. Is my boat going to be a dog because it has the 260/alpha package???or was that because of it being in a 268 sea ray???

[nolaboater99]

No, you'll be fine. The 268 has a dry weight of 4400 lbs. Yours is probably less than 3200. I only have a small block in mine and I weigh 3900 dry. Mine pops right up on plane and will run in the mid 40s.
Shawn

[hoghead54]

No, you'll be fine. The 268 has a dry weight of 4400 lbs. Yours is probably less than 3200. I only have a small block in mine and I weigh 3900 dry. Mine pops right up on plane and will run in the mid 40s.
Shawn

[TechieTechie]

I am the person from THT who contacted Cobalt about the use of wood and when they went 'wood free'. Here is the complete email response.

"Dear (aka)TechieTechie ,
Thank you for your e-mail. That is an excellent question. I have been here at the factory for over 35 years and spent 15 of it building the
boats. We actually did not start using fiberglass stringers until the 252 came out in 1994. The composite liner floor came out at that time, but only on the 252. Every new model after that had the liner floor and fiberglass stringers with the exception of the 190 that came out in 1996.

In 1997, we began to install a composite foam transom on our boats, replacing the wood transom.

We have always used marine grade plywood in the construction of our boats. It is supposed to be resistant to water intrusion, but we ignored that and covered it first with resin, and once it was installed in the boat, we covered it with fiberglass. But even with that, care had to be taken. I hope this information helps."

Techie opinion, reading up on early model designs in boat magazines (as I like the 1st generation 263). Cobalt was painstaking in their build process in the early years. They completely cleaned and waxed each mold after, like, 5 boats. They had 3 cross-checks on layups to make sure there were no voids, crazy quality control. IMHO, that's why, even tho they did have wood in earlier models, they had very few hull failures. And, because their boats came so well outfitted (and very rarely used for offshore fishing) and had low hours, it was more rare for owners to add/replace items that breached the hull (such as depth sounders, replacing old OMC outdrives, etc) that would increase the risk for water intrusion.

That's my 5 cents.

[AsLan7]

Thanks for that report TT.

Great info.

[akorcovelos]

I am the person from THT who contacted Cobalt about the use of wood and when they went 'wood free'. Here is the complete email response.

"Dear (aka)TechieTechie ,
Thank you for your e-mail. That is an excellent question. I have been here at the factory for over 35 years and spent 15 of it building the
boats. We actually did not start using fiberglass stringers until the 252 came out in 1994. The composite liner floor came out at that time, but only on the 252. Every new model after that had the liner floor and fiberglass stringers with the exception of the 190 that came out in 1996.

In 1997, we began to install a composite foam transom on our boats, replacing the wood transom.

We have always used marine grade plywood in the construction of our boats. It is supposed to be resistant to water intrusion, but we ignored that and covered it first with resin, and once it was installed in the boat, we covered it with fiberglass. But even with that, care had to be taken. I hope this information helps."

Techie opinion, reading up on early model designs in boat magazines (as I like the 1st generation 263). Cobalt was painstaking in their build process in the early years. They completely cleaned and waxed each mold after, like, 5 boats. They had 3 cross-checks on layups to make sure there were no voids, crazy quality control. IMHO, that's why, even tho they did have wood in earlier models, they had very few hull failures. And, because their boats came so well outfitted (and very rarely used for offshore fishing) and had low hours, it was more rare for owners to add/replace items that breached the hull (such as depth sounders, replacing old OMC outdrives, etc) that would increase the risk for water intrusion.

That's my 5 cents.

This post on THT is what helped me hone in on year/model of boat I was looking for, thanks much for posting that!