Tested By Chris Kelly

The 24SX is a powerful example of how Cobalt combines engineering excellence with peak performance and standard amenities. The 24SX uses 20 degrees of deadrise and a bow design that delivers a smooth ride that challenges everyone in its class.

Starting Up Front

The bow platform has a unique swim ladder anchor locker. Stainless grab rails and cup holders along with a speaker are on each side of the bow. The starboard walkthrough is unique to this kind of boat. Along with a flip over windshield the bi-fold bottom panel keeps cool air out of the cockpit. The nearly flat windshield increases cockpit space.

The full changing room under the helm is unprecedented, has a bench and an easy to deploy optional porta-potty. The CD changer is located on the starboard wall with the bench.

At the Controls

The unique setup has the helm in the center. Accents are real wood, just like in a luxury car. The flip lip bolster is great for stand up driving and gives you added comfort underway.

Plenty of Seating

Stern seating wraps from starboard to the port side walkthrough. The fire extinguisher, battery switches and main circuit breakers are located here, as well as an inflator for your water toys. The port side bench converts the companion seat into another large lounger with insulated storage underneath. The stereo is housed in the glove box and you have a removable trash bin back here and 7 stainless steel cup holders.

Transom Features

There are two steps which lead to and from the swim platform and the cockpit. The heavy duty ski tow post locks into position for better ski action. The engine hatch doubles as the sun pad. The headrest can be used in two positions for added comfort. Twin gas shocks make lifting the hatch easy and gaskets and rubber bumpers prevent fiberglass to fiberglass noises

The Engine

This 496 V-8 engine delivers 425 hp. Everything is easy to reach with one hand. The oil filter is on top and the closed cooling is standard. The oil dip stick has an easy oil drain system connection, and the water drain system has an air-actuated single point drains system with had air pump included. A single serpentine belt drives all the parts. The engine control module uses a Motorola microprocessor and optimizes the fuel mixture, knock control and ignition timing independently for each cylinder resulting in improved, precise performance.

Surrounding the swim platform is a heavy stainless steel rail to protect from dock strikes. The ladder back here is a dive type with a release lever in the platform.

Specs

The 24SX is 23’9” long and 8’6” in the beam. Her draft is 18 ¼” with the drive up and 37” with it down. Fuel capacity is 50 gallons and she can carry 10 gallons of fresh water.

Performance

The 24 SX was a fun boat to drive. We found she cruised most economically at 2500 rpm running 25.7mph. At cruise you can expect to burn 8 gallons per hour and have a range of 145 miles on a tank of fuel. At wide open throttle she delivered a thrilling 56.4 mph turning 5000rpm.

• Top speed for the Cobalt 24 SX (Not a Current Model ) is 49.4 mph (79.5 kph), burning 22.2 gallons per hour (gph) or 84.03 liters per hour (lph).


• Best cruise for the Cobalt 24 SX (Not a Current Model ) is 32.5 mph (52.3 kph), and the boat gets 3.69 miles per gallon (mpg) or 1.57 kilometers per liter (kpl), giving the boat a cruising range of 166 miles (267.15 kilometers).


• Tested power is 1 x 320-hp Volvo Penta 5.7 GXi gasoline sterndrive.