Looking for a luxury day boat without compromise? Cobalt has an entry with few competitors. Starting with bold design cues and legendary Cobalt quality, the 262 is in a class all by herself. For instance, a radically styled radar arch with integrated, retractable sunshade is available. This new option has become very popular with consumers and adds a wild, futuristic look to the 262.

With a centerline length of 26 feet, 8 inches overall and a typical beam of 8 feet 6 inches, the 262 has plenty of room for entertaining your family and friends. Her all-composite construction weighs in at 4,700 pounds, and provides a solid, yet subtle ride. Gasoline stern drive propulsion options are available from either MerCruiser or Volvo Penta, or you can choose the efficiency of diesel power from Yanmar. Because this is a single engine configuration, I strongly suggest opting for drive units that utilize dual, counter-rotating propellers. This feature eliminates torque bias, and makes backing down into your slip a breeze.

As you board the 262, you will appreciate the large beam width swim platform and transom walk-thru located on the centerline. Small sun pads flank the walk-thru and conceal self-draining storage compartments beneath. Aft in the cockpit, you will find L-shaped settees to port and starboard. These have generous storage under the cushions, and are accompanied by drink holders. Like all the Cobalts we tested, the upholstery is first rate throughout. In a boat of this caliber though, I expected to see a small wet bar in the cockpit, but this would be at the expense of seating space.

Moving forward to the helm and companion seating, we find the dash beautifully covered in leatherette and real Babinga wood inlays. Instrumentation is simple and straightforward, making it easy to read. An Italian steering wheel is comprised of wood and leather and has a tilt column for adjustability. Best of all, the Zero-effort throttle and shifter complete the first class helm. The companion side dash receives the same treatment with leatherette trim and Babinga wood covered glove box. Inside the glove box you’ll find the CD stereo system.

Neatly camouflaged behind the port side dash is a head. The entire dash and foot rest double as a door, swinging out to reveal a small head and Porta Potti. What a slick idea! Both the seats at the helm are wide and comfortable, except for the flip-up bolsters, which were a bit thin and hard on one’s backend.

One of the best places to enjoy the ride on the 262 is up front in the bowrider’s wrap-around seating. The seating incorporates chaise lounges on each side with concealed storage space under all the cushions. A removable table can be installed to convert the bow seating into a dining area for lunch or cocktails. When not in use, the table neatly stows into a slot under the starboard side chaise lounge. At the front of the bow is a deep anchor locker that is lined with rubber matting and is also self-draining.

On the water, the 262 performed flawlessly. Equipped with a Mecruiser 496 Mag producing 375-horse power, this big bowrider got on plane in just over 4 seconds. We got to 30 miles per hour in just under 7 seconds and found acceleration to be good. Top speed was achieved at 50.9 miles per hour turning 4,500 rpm. Most surprising is the 262’s fuel economy. With a best cruise speed at 25.6 miles per hour at 2,500 rpm, the 3.2 miles per gallon burn rate provides a range of just over 200 miles.

All these numbers mean that Cobalt has produced a very efficient hull design that will keep you smiling, even at the fuel dock.

By Captain Ron Svoboda

Test Captain

• Top speed for the Cobalt 262 is 50.9 mph (81.9 kph), burning 27.70 gallons per hour (gph) or 104.84 liters per hour (lph).


• Best cruise for the Cobalt 262 is 25.6 mph (41.2 kph), and the boat gets 3.20 miles per gallon (mpg) or 1.36 kilometers per liter (kpl), giving the boat a cruising range of 202 miles (325.09 kilometers).


• Tested power is 1 x 375-hp MerCruiser 496 MAG.