Access More Boat Tests
Already have an account? Login
Price
See the price by becoming
a BoatTEST member.
Members Must Log In
Brief Summary
The large amount of seating and storage with an accessible layout makes the Cobalt 30SC a very social day boat. Power options range from twin 250-horsepower, twin 300-hp or twin 350-hp from both Yamaha and Mercury. Plush upholstery, world-class fit-and-finish, top-quality hardware and attention to detail make the Cobalt 30SC at the top of its class.
Key Features
- Dual Garmin glass helm
- Convertible aft lounger/sun pad
- Built-in swim step in the starboard aft swim platform
- Aft sun pad with adjustable backrest
- Double wide helm seat
- Companion seat with flip-flop backrest for 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). See Cobalt for details.
Specifications
Length Overall |
29' 8'' 9.04 m |
---|---|
Beam |
9' 9'' 2.97 m |
Dry Weight |
6,900 lbs. 3,130 kg |
Draft Up |
26'' .66 m |
Deadrise/Transom | 21-deg. |
Max Headroom | open |
Bridge Clearance |
5' 0'' 1.52 m |
Fuel Capacity |
130 gal. 492 L |
Water Capacity |
18 gal. 68 L |
Engine Options
Opt. Power |
2 x 250-hp Mercury Verado with PAS 2 x 300-hp Mercury Verado with PAS 2 x 350-hp Mercury Verado with PAS 3 twin engine options for Yamaha from 250-hp to 350-hp |
---|
Captain's Report
Learn More
Watch Our Video
Contents of Report
Mission
The Cobalt 30SC is designed, engineered, and built to provide recreational day boating for a variety of purposes. The effective overall interior layout provides easy flow for socializing underway or on the beach.
Major Features
- Outboard Propulsion. The option of twin 250-horsepower, twin 300-horsepower or twin 350-horsepower Yamaha or Mercury outboards gives the Cobalt 30SC plenty of power, and the space that an inboard sterndrive would have taken is utilized for additional seating and storage.
- Glass Helm. Cobalt designed the 30SC with dual Garmin GPSMAP® 741xs multifunction touchscreen displays that allow the operator to custom configure the boat’s data.
- 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. With the bolster lowered, the helm seat provides the operator protection behind the windshield.
- Flexible Forward Seating. The forward-facing seating in front of the port and starboard consoles have drop-down armrests. The port side wraps around to the bow which offers aft facing forward seating.
- Convertible Companion Seating. The companion seat back can be adjusted for forward-facing seating for two or it can be reversed to deliver aft facing lounge seating that can provide observer seating for tow-sports.
- Aft Sun Pad. The aft sun pad has an adjustable backrest that can be configured to be forward-facing seating or aft-facing seating.
- Extended Running Surface. By extending the running surface of the hull, the Cobalt 30SC 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 uses the finest components and the latest proven construction methodologies.
- Resale Value. Cobalt boats have traditionally maintained their desirability over time. The Cobalt 30SC should hold its value better than many brands.
- Warranty. Cobalt stands behind the 30SC with a Ten-Year Structural Warranty, a Five-Year Bow to Stern Component Warranty and a Three-Year Gelcoat Finish Warranty.
Performance
BoatTEST.com has not tested this boat so we can offer no first-hand information of performance and handling.
However, Yamaha has tested the boat, and reports that she has a dry weight of 6,900 lbs. (3,130 kg) and the tested weight was 9,089 lbs. (4,123 kg). The twin Yamaha F250s used 15’1.4 x 19” ss props. Yamaha reports a top of 56.3 mph, and a best cruise of 22.3 mph at 3500 rpm, getting 1.9 mpg.
Optional engines include twin Mercury 300-hp Verados and twin Mercury Verado 350s. Twin 300 and 350s are also available from Yamaha. We will be interested in seeing how the new Mercury V8s perform in this application.
The question begs: How does the performance of the Cobalt 30SC with twin outboards stack up against the Cobalt R30 with sterndrives. At some point we hope to be able to tests them and find out.
Boat Inspection
Bow
This boat comes without a standard anchor. While the mission of this is watersports and day boating, owners should not forget that all boats must have at least one anchor suitable for holding the vessel securely. The type of bottom – mud, grass, sand or rock – requires different styles of anchors to be most effective.
Grab Rails.Well-placed grab rails are an important safety item required by ABYC standards, but Cobalt has done a particularly good job of integrating them into the padded backrests in an attractive manner.
Port Console
Head
Helm Console
Horn Switch. It is hard to tell which switch is the horn. We like to see the horn switch set apart either by location or by color for easy identification when quickly needed.
The Mercury Joystick Piloting for Outboards or Yamaha Optimus 360 Joystick. The joystick position is the same for both systems, forward of the control binnacle and raised. It is well-positioned for operating standing up, which is the preferred position when close in maneuvering or docking.
Aft Cockpit
Dinette Table. Cobalt offers an optional galley and dinette table that fits in the receptacle in the aft cockpit floor. The galley replaces the jump seat behind the port lounge seating.
Stern
Aft-Facing Transom Seating. Passengers should never occupy aft-facing transom seating while underway on any sportboat. They should only be used when the boat is at rest and the engine is turned off. With the seatback forward this becomes a lounger or sun pad.
Re-Boarding Ladder. ABYC standards call for all boats to have a re-boarding ladder deployable by someone in the water. It must reach a minimum of 22” (.56 m) below the waterline.
Swim Platform
Perhaps the largest drawback to outboard power for a sportboat is the elimination of an across-the-transom swim platform such as those found on sterndrive-powered boats. These platforms are an ideal place to launch watersports of all kinds. The Cobalt 30SC has two small platforms to each side of its twin-engine outboard installation.
People who are active enthusiasts should seriously consider Cobalt’s R30 which is sterndrive powered and has a full-width swim platform. It is a particularly functional one – quite the opposite of what is found on the 30SC.
Notable Details
Trailer. Cobalt does not sell or manufacture trailers. The local Cobalt dealer should be able to match your boat and needs to the trailer that will best suit.
Hull Colors
Warranty
Following is a brief summary of the warranty description on the Cobalt 30SC. We always recommend that consumers read the fine print of all boat and engine warranties. Cobalt’s warranty is one of the best in class.
- 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. These are warranted by the engine manufacturer and the standard warranty is for 3 years.
Options to Consider
- Joystick, Mercury ($18,369)
- Refrigerator ($2,904)
- SiriusXM Weather ($1,066)
- Arch, stainless steel aluminum with Sunshade ($12,019)
- VacuFlush head ($2,781)
- Forward and aft dinette cockpit tables ($1,226)
- Driver’s rearview mirror ($409)
- Lenco trim tabs with indicator ($1,858)
- Transom shower ($632)
- Battery maintainer/charger ($489)
- Mooring cover ($1,604)
- Three custom colors on hull and bottom ($3,444)
- Anchor, chain, and power windlass ($4,523)
Price
The base MSRP price of the Cobalt 30SC is $210,612 with twin 250-hp Mercury Verados. The options above that we recommend come to $62,622, bringing the total MSRP for this boat to $273,234.
Observations
Cobalt has a long-standing reputation for superior quality. Like many manufacturers, they have recently placed a higher emphasis on the outboard day-boat segment. The 30SC is the largest outboard boat to be introduced to Cobalt’s dedicated devotees and aspirants.
In our opinion, the most important thing that consumers must make up their mind about is the stern platform, and which is the best configuration for one’s application – sterndrive or outboard. Entering into that equation is also the fact that the Cobalt R30, a similar-size boat, is about $22,000 less money.
Cobalt is now owned by the same company that owns Malibu and Axius ski/wake boats, so dealers for both brands now have the option of carrying both. This can only put more Cobalts on the water.