The Cobalt 276 is a luxurious sun-worshipper for lakes, rivers or inshore coastal waters. She has more than a little Riva in her – Lake Como, anyone?
What’s a veteran boat builder like Cobalt doing in the middle of Kansas? Well, for starters, it’s not in the middle of Kansas. It’s in Neodesha, which is in the southeast corner of the state. Further: Many of the country’s best boat builders are in the Midwest – Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
There are plenty of places to get comfortable on the Cobalt 276. The cockpit seating will accommodate a fair-size cocktail party, but what sets Cobalt apart are the details. Look closely at this interior. It reminds us of the interior of an up-market German automobile.
Further still: In small towns in the American heartland labor pools are very stable and because of that, they are also more skilled than in more transient coastal areas of the country. For example the average shop craftsman at Cobalt has worked for the company for over 20 years. It is one reason why companies like Cessna Aircraft are also located in Kansas.
A Big Bowrider
Traditionally, bowriders typically were diminutive things people kept on trailers in their driveways and used almost exclusively on rivers and small lakes. But in recent years, some companies have begun building bigger and bigger bowriders, ones you might feel comfortable driving in coastal saltwater locations. The Cobalt 276, while likely more at home in freshwater, surely would work fine in saltwater, as well, and is certainly one of the new breed of big bowriders.
Head/changing compartment is entered from the aft end of the console making it easy to enter and exit, and we prefer it to side-entry designs. We think a head is a “must” on any boat of this size.
The Cockpit
One thing small bowrider owners are often forced to suffer without is a head. Sitting on the bait bucket is not mama’s idea of a good time on the water. The Cobalt 276 opens up a whole new world for the ladies with a fully enclosed head with a small sink under the passenger-side console. Although this design feature has been around for years now, Cobalt executes it as well or better than any builder. This compartment also becomes a changing room.
The shotgun seat back flips to let the ladies enjoy the sun or spot the kids on skis.
So we have two problems solved. Then what about seating space? The traditional, small bowrider is cozy to say the least. There are only so many adult rear ends you can squish together in a small boat. The 276 has enough seats to accommodate a party load of oversize bottoms or several sunbathing beauties in full stretch.
The helm seat is wide enough for a dad and child to share at the same time, and the companion seat is extra wide, as well. These two wide seats are one of the elements that make the boat feel so luxurious. The forward seating is substantial, largely due to the size and freeboard of the boat.
A sunpad forward of the swim platform extends the usable space when the boat is at anchor and a stern walkthrough makes it easy to get to get on an off from the platform.
The Bow
One really cool thing about this boat is that the center walkway extends through the windshield all the way forward to the anchor locker. There is no seating right at the bow so one doesn’t have to kneel to handle the anchoring chores. Once you’ve done it standing up you’re never go back to kneeling.
Where’s The Beef?
Few if any sportboat builders use costly honeycomb construction.
Let us not mistake “beef” (i.e. strength) for just sheer weight. The fact is that Cobalt has gone to considerable expense to take weight out of the boat without sacrificing strength. After all, the more weight a boat has to carry around, the larger the engines have to be and the more fuel they will burn. The trick is to build a boat that is light (but not too light) and strong.
Most company build a cockpit sole out of plywood in or thick fiberglass or even fiberglass with a foam core that soaks up resin to be strong. All of these solutions are heavy. By using the ultra-light weight honeycomb material seen above, Cobalt is able to take considerable weight out of the boat. In this way, weight is saved and strength preserved. The aircraft industry has been using honeycomb for 50 years.
Cobalt also uses Kevlar in its hull. A sheet of Kevlar has the strength of three or four sheets of fiberglass, plus all of the resin required to encapsulate all of that glass. By using Kevlar in critical areas that would otherwise be built up with layers of glass and resin, Cobalt saves weight and maintains or improves strength.
So not only has Cobalt trimmed the fat, it has also trimmed the weight.
Fabrics are double-stitched and as perfectly done as on any fine automobile or corporate jet.
Most builders say that they use high-grade materials or the “finest materials”, but Cobalt really does. All of these things add up mightily in cost, which is a big reason why all Cobalts have a high price tag. Management has simply made the decision to go first class no matter what it costs because it knows that its owners want the very best of everything in their water-borne pride and joy.
Power Options
Standard power is a Volvo Penta 8.1L Gi DP 375-hp engine with Duo Prop and we’d say this is plenty of power. Options include Volvo Penta and MerCruiser engines up to 425-hp (add $9k for the big engine). Not surprisingly, the 276 has a lot of features as standard equipment that one often finds as options on lesser boats. Nevertheless, the list of options available is considerable and there are many you’ll want to check off, such as canvas, bimini top, transom shower, dinette table, toilet, dual battery switch and trim tabs (total: $7,500), just for starters.
Oh baby: No need to kneel and lean and end up with a ruptured disk (the anchor and windlass are options). Note that the anchor nestles in the bow, not on the deck.
Cobalt is a family-owned and operated company that has an obsession with classy appearances, yes -- but not just skin-deep eyewash! Cobalt expects exact tolerances to be met, highest grade materials to be used, and overall fit-n-finish second to none. Nothing feels like it will rattle loose when you pound back to port in the chop in a Cobalt. If, per chance is does – then take the boat back to the dealer because Cobalt has one of the top, warranty packages of any builder in America.
Warranty is Important
Cobalt has a comprehensive 5-year bow to stern warranty that covers virtually everything (there are a couple of exclusions). Gelcoat and upholstery have three year warranties. Most important, Cobalt has a 5-year warranty on the engine, including “non-defect failure coverage.” Read the fine print so that you can see specifically what is excluded, but, to us, this appears to be the best engine warranty coverage on the market.
The Cobalt 276 speaks for itself.
The Bottom Line
The Cobalt 276 isn’t for everyone. You pay dearly for what you get (base boat with single 375-hp Volvo Penta sterndrive is $105,892).
Okay, let’s talk turkey: is the Cobalt 276 worth the money?
Only you can answer the question. Is a Mercedes, BMW or Lexus worth the money? Not if you don’t value design, quality, reliability, style, and one of the best warrantees in the business. (Cobalt's warranty is actually better than that of the best car company.) If you just want a boat to go out and blast around in, or tow the kids on a doughnut, the Cobalt is not for you. On the other hand, if you appreciate the finer things in life such as a Steinway piano, a vintage Chateau Margaux, or a Cuban Cohiba, perhaps you should think about a Cobalt.
