2018 Cobia 240CC review

The latest Cobia model has arrived in Australia via the 2018 Sydney International Boat Show after making its global debut at Miami earlier this year.

Cobia is one the best regarded fishing brands in the US, with this model featuring a large volume, deep-vee hull capable of venturing wide offshore to catch larger pelagics.

Aussie fishers traditionally favour cuddy cabin craft because of the shelter they offer. However, there has been a noticeable swing towards centre console designs over the last decade, largely because of the influx of well-designed US craft like the Cobia 240CC.

Cobia builds eight centre console models ranging from 20-34 feet. However, Gameboats agent Jan Crutch says this boat should hit the mark in Australia. "The Cobia 240CC is about the smallest size boat you'd want to keep in the water, and fish offshore,” he says.

The Cobia 240CC looks like a scaled-down game boat, with powerful, upswept Carolina bows, a solid console and targa-style canopy. Add the optional outrigger poles to the targa and it will have you humming Key Largo!

Pricing is about right for an entry-level offshore sport fisher, with the standard package kicking off from $126,750 with a single Yamaha F300 four-stroke. The extras on our boat, including the targa top, bow cushions, antifouling, electric anchor winch and coloured topsides, pushed our price as tested to $163,000.

The Cobia 240CC is over-width for normal trailing. Gain a wide-load permit, though, and a tandem-axle trailer adds another $10,761.

Sydney had turned on one of those beautiful winter days, with our Pittwater venue bathed in sun-kissed waters and dotted with yachts enjoying a mid-week sail.

The Cobia 240 can be fitted with twin-115hp/150hp outboards, but Gameboats has opted for a single 300hp Yamaha. This is right on the power limit, and makes sense because the single motor delivers the best overall performance at a lower purchase/running cost.

A deep vee of 21.5 transom degrees and a fairly heavy hull (1587kg) means there's a lot of boat to push. Clear of the moorings at Church Point we opened up the throttle and the big Yamaha 300 pushed the Cobia out of its hole quickly and smoothly.

On the plane the big Florida fishing machine ran nice and level, requiring only a touch of up-trim to run at the best angle.

It's a particularly nice driving experience from the central helm position, with a clear, uninterrupted view. The helm and co-pilot seats both have flip-up bum bolsters, moving easily from the seated to stand-up driving position even whilst driving.

Hydraulic steering and an electronic fly-by-wire throttle make for finger-tip steering at speed.

Some boats will slide sideways when turned too hard and fast, but the Cobia just carved nicely through the turn with no noticeable loss of pace. It builds confidence in the boat, and makes it a pleasure to throw the 240CC into a hard power turn.

Our test day admittedly was hardly a challenge for this blue water fishing craft. However, I'm confident the Cobia would do the job of fishing Sydney's offshore waters such as Browns Mountain, especially in bigger summer swells.

Two things that should make the Cobia 240CC a great offshore are the soft ride of the deep vee, and the extra stability of a wide hull. A fully moulded, self-draining cockpit is handy if water slops over the sides on rough days.

The 300hp Yamaha four-stroke gives the Cobia 240 more than enough speed for fishing distant grounds. A top speed of 40 knots WOT is impressive, but the motor on our test boat didn't hit the maximum 6000rpm as it was running an oversize 19-inch prop instead of the standard 17.

The Cobia's sweet spot for cruising appears to be about 4000rpm where it does 27 knots. A 454L under-floor fuel tank yields a 240nm safe cruising range.

What's nice about this US fibreglass beauty is the extra seating cleverly integrated into the cockpit, enough for five to six passengers.

The Cobia 240CC has a dual-helm seat, a two-seat fold-out lounge in the stern, a U-shaped bow lounge, and for'ard console seat. The latter gives you another three seats. The moulded cockpit is also great for those family days with the kids cruising to a beach, swimming, tube-towing and diving.

The Cobia 240CC’s helm and co-pilot console seats are well protected from the wind; something to appreciate on a winter's day.

As well as appreciating the seating’s plush padding, passengers will also appreciate a proper standing room toilet and change room built into the console, accessed via the front of the console.

The Cobia 240CC is one of the better quality fishing craft arriving from the US. Its fibreglass mould work is flawless, and the attention to detail impressive; for example, the side handrails and cleats are located just where they're needed, and through-bolted and recessed into the deck so they’re less likely to snag a fishing line.

The Cobia 240CC's bow area is clean of cleats, rollers and rails. The anchor exits from the bow stem in super yacht fashion, and operates via an electric windlass.

One feature that stands out are bow navigation lights that pop up only when needed.

Stowage is expansive, including under the bow seats and in three large floor lockers, or kill tanks. Fishing features abound with triple rod racks under each stern deck, a large 106L live-bait well, four heavy-duty stainless steel rod holders and an overhead five-slot rod rack. Two drawers and a tackle rack are located on the rear of the helm seats.

The Cobia 240CC’s fibreglass hardtop gives great shade, and includes storage and flush mounts for speakers.

Cobia purposely doesn't fit a fish-finder/GPS plotter to the 240CC, believing keen fishermen tend to want their own set-ups. Gameboats can add a sounder once the boat arrives in Australia. The Cobia 240CC also includes an icebox under the for'ard seat, and under-deck LCD blue lights.

Overall, the Cobia 240CC appears to strikes the right size and balance for both inshore – including up rivers – and offshore fishing. The 300hp rig will also make her a reasonably affordable craft to run compared to larger cruisers.

Construction is impressive. The copper-tinned wiring is labelled clearly, and the Cobia 240CC has seacocks on all through-hull drains below the water. A nice touch are the samples of the hull/deck cut-outs the boat’s builders leave in the lure draws – it is great to know the factory has so much faith in the boats they build.

What does the Cobia 240CC cost?
Price as tested: $163,000 including cockpit fish boxes, livewell, four stainless steel gunnel rod holders, under-gunnel rod storage, self-bailing cockpit, bow rail, cockpit lights, compass, helm footrest, rear seating with backrest, hydraulic tilt steering, Yamaha 6YC information station, stainless ssteel flip-up bow light, stainless steel rub rail, white cushions, boarding ladder, aft cockpit bolsters, fresh water washdown, insulated console cooler. Options include the targa top, bow cushions, antifouling, electric anchor winch and coloured topsides

Priced from: $126,750

Performance – Speed
22kt (41km/h) @ 3500rpm
27kt (50km/h) @ 4000rpm
32kt (59km/h) @ 4500rpm
40kt (75km/h) @ 5400rpm (WOT)

Performance – Fuel use
33L/h @ 3500rpm
48L/h @ 4000rpm
69L/h @ 4500rpm
100L/h @ 5400rpm (WOT)

Specifications
Length overall: 7.2m
Beam: 2.7m
Draft: 432mm
Weight: 1587kg
Deadrise: 21.5 degrees
Maximum power: 300hp
Engine as tested: Yamaha F300UCA 300hp 4.2L 60-deg V6 four-stroke
Fuel capacity: 454L

Supplied by: Gameboats