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Brief Summary
Cobalt has been manufacturing family pleasure boats in Neodesha, Kansas, for more than five decades. Over this period Cobalt says it has refined its boat designs with the help of feedback from the owners of its boats. According to the builder, the Cobalt 23SC is a reflection of Cobalt’s dedication to its customers.
Key Features
Cobalt says the 23SC offers the following features:
- Stainless steel bow boarding ladder
- Dual Garmin touchscreen multifunction displays
- Built-in swim step in the starboard aft swim platform
- Aft sun pad with adjustable backrest
- Walkthrough windshield with air-dam door below
- Double-wide helm seat
- Companion seat with backrest that changes position for both forward- and aft-facing seating
- Sound system with Bluetooth, six speakers and two remotes
- Kevlar reinforced hull
- Warranty (10-year structural, 5-year components, 3-year gelcoat)
Specifications
Length Overall | 23' 2'' / 7.06 m |
---|---|
Beam |
8' 6'' 2.59 m |
Dry Weight |
4,200 lbs. 1,905 Kg |
Draft Up |
20'' .50 m |
Draft Down |
38'' .97 m |
Deadrise/Transom | 21-deg. |
Max Headroom | N/A |
Bridge Clearance |
8' 1'' 2.46 m |
Weight Capacity |
1,595 lbs. 732 Kg |
Person Capacity | 12 |
Fuel Capacity |
59 gal. 223 L |
Water Capacity |
10 gal. 37.8 L |
Engine Options
Tested Engine |
Currently no test numbers |
---|---|
Std. Power |
Not Available |
Opt. Power |
1 x 225-hp Mercury Verado with PAS 1 x 250-hp Mercury Verado with PAS 1 x 300-hp Mercury Verado with PAS |
Captain's Report
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Contents of Report
Cobalt says its 23SC makes the most of onboard space and outboard power with flexible seating and comfort features. The company says the design came from owner feedback: An 8’6” (2.59 m) beam carries far forward to increase room in the bow, while a head compartment lets everyone relax.
Features
The wide foredeck with forward boarding ladder makes getting on and off when beached simple. Cobalt has brought the beam forward to allow for greater forward seating and storage.
The builder says standard dual Garmin multifunction displays centralize the data flow on the Cobalt 23SC. The stitched helm eyebrow above the gloss-black dash console combines with stainless steel accents to give the helm an automotive polish.
According to the manufacturer, power options include Mercury Verado 4-stroke outboards, including 225, 250, and 300 horsepower, which will give the Cobalt 23SC the performance that people have come to expect from a Cobalt boat.
Mission
With a 12-person capacity, the Cobalt 23SC is designed and built to maximize the enjoyment of the operator and the passengers on the water, according to the builder. Cobalt said it paid attention to the plush upholstery and fit-and-finish, which are expected to help deliver pride of ownership. The nonskid foredeck with bow boarding ladder suggests that Cobalt understands how their customers use their boats.
Power
The builder says outboard power means the Cobalt 23SC is quick to plane and will get boaters to their destinations quickly and with confidence.
Helm and Interior
The Garmin touchscreen helm displays, leather and stainless steel steering wheel, and well-positioned binnacle are expected to make it relaxing to operate the Cobalt 23SC, according to the builder. The company says its effective overall interior layout provides easy flow for socializing underway or on the beach, but it is the details that make the Cobalt 23SC mission even more ready to entertain family and friends on the water.
Major Features
- • Adjustable Helm Seat Bolster. When the bolster is in the up position, the operator sits well above the windshield for 360-degrees of uninterrupted view, according to Cobalt.
- • Touchscreen Helm. Cobalt says it designed the 23SC with dual Garmin multifunction touchscreen displays that allow the operator to configure the boat’s data.
- • Bow boarding ladder makes it easy to get on and off the boat when beached, according to the builder.
- • Aft Sun Pad. Cobalt says the aft sun pad has an adjustable backrest that can be configured to be forward- or aft-facing seating.
- • Flexible forward seating in front of the port and starboard consoles have fold-down armrests. The aft-facing seating forward can be used for lounging.
- • Outboard Propulsion. The option of a 225-, 250- or 300-hp Mercury outboard gives the 23SC plenty of power, according to Cobalt, and the space that an inboard sterndrive would have taken is used for additional seating and storage.
- • Extended Running Surface. By extending the running surface of the hull, Cobalt says the 23SC comes on plane quicker and with less bow rise.
- • Quality Construction and Materials. From the waterproof Deutsch connectors to the gas-assist struts on all hatch covers, Cobalt says it uses the finest components and the latest proven construction methods.
- • Resale Value. Cobalt says its boats have traditionally maintained their desirability over time. The Cobalt 23SC should hold its value making it easier to trade in, trade up or simply have a better selling proposition, according to the builder.
- • Warranty. Cobalt stands behind the 23SC with a Ten-Year Structural Warranty, a Five-Year Bow to Stern Component Warranty, and a Three-Year Gelcoat Finish Warranty.
Performance
The Cobalt 23SC has a length overall of 23’2” (7.06 m), a beam of 8’6” (2.59 m), and an empty weight of 4,200 lbs. (1,905 kg).
Although BoatTEST.com has not tested this boat, it is our experience and opinion that Cobalt has a reputation for designing, engineering, and building boats with exceptional performance, ride, and handling.
Boat Inspection
Bow
Cobalt says the bow boarding ladder stows beneath the anchor locker hatch lid. The foredeck, including the anchor locker hatch lid have molded non-skid. Additional features include LED docking lights and a stainless-steel scuff plate, according to the builder.
All Boats Should Have Anchors. While the mission of this boat is for pleasure boating, owners should not forget that all boats must have at least one anchor suitable for holding securely in wind and sea state. The type of bottom – mud, grass, sand or rock – requires different styles of anchors. Some anchoring situations also call for more than one anchor to be used simultaneously.
Windshield. The walkthrough windshield provides protection from the elements, and the foldaway door on the console can be positioned as an air dam for chilly days, according to the builder.
Head
Cobalt says the port console has a head with standard Porta-Potti, behind a molded, swing-away door. There is an incidental storage space on top of the console door, which, when the door is closed, it’s positioned right in front of the companion seat opposite the helm.
Companion Seating. The starboard side console seating has a backrest that can be positioned for forward-facing seating or reversed to create an aft-facing lounge seat, according to the builder.
Helm
The helm has a leather and stainless steel wheel mounted on a tilt base for operator comfort, according to the builder. Cobalt built an armrest into the coaming next to the helm seat to place the operator’s arm within easy reach of the engine control binnacle.
The dashboard has a leather brow and is finished in black for reduced glare, according to Cobalt. A pair of Garmin touchscreen multifunction displays are mounted in the upper panel. System switches are located on top of the console.
Interior
Behind the helm seat is a jump seat with storage beneath. Between the helm and companion seat is a hatch offering access to in-deck storage. Stainless steel grabrails are built into the back of the helm seat and next to the companion seating.
Re-Boarding Ladder. ABYC standards call for all boats to have a re-boarding ladder that is deployable by someone in the water. It must reach a minimum of 22” (.56 m) below the waterline. Since we haven’t tested the Cobalt 23SC, we have not measured this one.
Warranty
Following is a brief summary of the warranty description on the Cobalt 23SC. We always recommend that consumers read the fine print of all boat and engine warranties.
Ten-Year Structural Warranty. Covers hull and deck structure, joints, bulkheads, floor, transom, stringers, motor mounts. It is fully transferable.
Five-Year Bow to Stern Component Warranty. All components manufactured or purchased. Including all canvas and all upholstery. It is fully transferable.
Three-Year Gelcoat Finish Warranty. Fully transferable.
Engine Warranty. Manufacturer Direct.
Click on the link below to read the full warranty …
http://www.cobaltboats.com/support/warranty.html#.WsPOxmW7mgQ
Options to Consider
Cobalt says the following options are available on the 23SC:
- • Galley console with sink
- • Sirius XM Weather
- • Sport tower with sunshade
- • Power captain’s chair
- • Dinette cockpit table
- • Electric head with porcelain toilet
- • Trim tabs with indicator
- • Dual batteries with switches
- • Bow and transom shower package
- • Battery maintainer/charger
Observations
BoatTEST.com has not yet tested the Cobalt 23SC. Like many builders of sterndrive-powered boats, Cobalt has recently begun also to produce outboard-powered boats. The Cobalt 23SC is a recent addition to its line of outboard bowriders, and this model looks to have flexible seating, an innovative helm design, and a comfortable layout. With the performance of the outboard and the proven handling of a Cobalt, along with the transferable warranty, the 23SC may hold its value.