Cobalt 25SC: Review

Outboards have come a long way in the last four decades, during which time Cobalt has been building all sterndrive boats. But mark this turning point. With a supercharged 300hp Mercury Verado on the tail, the sharp 25SC Cobalt bowrider offers a refined ride and drive. But there are other compelling reasons you choose an outboard boat over a sterndrive. They include greater practicality, convenience, and, long term, potentially lower maintenance costs.

OVERVIEW
- Cobalt joins the outboard revolution
Few boatbuilders can rival Cobalt for pairing deep-vee fibreglass hulls with inboard engines and sterndrives. But as much as you can perfect that craft, the dayboat market is shifting gears. Outboard engines are the power plants driving new-boat design today. Everywhere you turn, there’s a new outboard offering in the 20-35ft market.

Enter the Cobalt 25SC, the first outboard-powered model the Kansas-based boatbuilder has created in more than 40 years. With a single supercharged 300hp Mercury, this 25-foot bowrider was a surprisingly strong performer right across the rev range.

We had a Cobalt SC22 with 240hp V6 Volvo Penta and Duoprop sterndrive alongside for a second test. This typically sporty bowrider was a blast, but this big 25-footer wowed us with its smooth outboard power and performance delivery. It’s just an exceptionally quiet and refined boat underway.

On a shallow and sandy waterway like the Gold Coast Broadwater, the outboard-power option opens up new possibilities. You can tuck right into tight beaches, find perfect family boltholes, picnic spots on sandbars, and tilt the prop and leg clear of the water without worrying about damage when the wake crashes ashore.

Should you keep the boat in the water for any length of time, as in a mooring situation, an outboard of course reduces maintenance and marine growth on the drive and leg. So, long term, you could be streets ahead if the boat is kept in the water. If it’s in a dry stack, well, that’s a different argument.

With the outboard, you gain a stack of on-board storage space where the sterndrive engine would otherwise go under the floor at the transom. That lets you carry more watertoys and fun stuff aboard your boat.

On a high-volume bowrider like this 25-footer, all these things create an increased feeling of functionality and utility. The bottom line is that the new outboard-powered Cobalt 25SC is a great party platform and beachgoer perfect for cruising and hanging out on big saltwater bays, harbours and estuaries.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- A premium dayboat for comfortable cruising
Dressed to impress, with a shale-grey hull colour, the 25SC packs a lot of day boating comforts and, on our test boat, some notable upgrades, too. These ranged from dual batteries to a premium Rockford stereo system. Now that this test boat has found an owner, a new 2018-model 25SC was on the way for December 2017 delivery and in time for summer.

That cool new Pacific blue 2018-model 25SC is listed for sale for $209k on our sites. With the 300hp Mercury Verado outboard and plenty of options, it’s a premium bowrider with lifted comfort levels and amenities.

Among the options are an electric aluminium tow arch with blue folding bimini, swim platform extensions, Soft Trac matting, teak dinette table with cockpit receptacle, refrigerator, dual batteries and charger, Garmin Glass Cockpit 7607, premium Rockford sound system with transom remote, electric toilet, sink console, bow and transom showers, windlass with all chain rode and anchor, ski tow pylon (removable), LED lighting, air compressor, fender clips, bow cushion inserts, covers and tool kit.

With these upgrades, the 25SC is set to go for summer. A trailer will add about $10k to the equation, and you’ll need the usual permit due to the U.S. boat’s 2.59m beam and a car with a 3t towing capacity. But that’s not insurmountable if you want to tow your 25SC.

DESIGN AND LAYOUT
- More space, seating and storage
The SC model has a sharp 21 degree deep-vee in keeping with Cobalt’s tradition, but it’s also a full-beam-forward design almost like a deck boat. There’s a lot of space up front, though it’s not all given over to just seating.

The concealed windlass and anchor sit behind a centre walkthrough with non-skid moulded steps. With a fold out bow ladder, you are encouraged to walk right on through and step off at the beach or sandbar. That makes this boat perfect for the Gold Coast Broadwater, where we pulled into Wavebreak Island to stretch the legs.

The bow seating comprises two forward facing premium in-built seats with flip-down armrests, with two additional small aft-facing seat swabs up front. It’s a comfortable arrangement for two adults or teenagers when under way and up to four people at rest. There are infill seat swabs that link the fore and aft bow seats, but it’s not a permanent full surround bow-seating set-up.

The bow is mindful of ergonomics, with plenty of freeboard, plush and supportive backrests, stainless-steel grab rails, drink holders and stereo speakers. Being wide and deep, it’s a very safe area even in rough bay and harbour conditions.

With a bow cover and wind-door, you can seal the bow area in winter and create a quasi runabout for greater mid-cockpit comfort. It’s in the cockpit proper that the seating steps up.

The cockpit has seating for eight. There’s a reversible backrest on the co-pilot/ski observer’s seat and a swivel helm seat. This way, you can create a lunch setting around the slot-in table under the shaded bimini top.

Cockpit amenities centre has a solid counter top and sink for lunch prep, plus a fridge below. The 25SC also has a full step-down luxury bathroom ahead of the co-pilot with upgraded porcelain electric toilet. Together, you’re set for a summer day afloat.

For towsports and swimming, the flip-back aft lounge backrest creates an aft-facing sunpad looking back over the outboard engine. Under the sunpad, where the inboard engine would otherwise go, is a massive storage area for everything from tubes and boards to a Lily Pad floating foam mat, fishing and dive gear.

While the outboard option means you don’t score a full-width unobstructed swim platform, the optional side platform extensions on our test boat boost waterfront space. A couple of crew will find room to kick back and clamber up the swim ladder. Handheld fore and aft deck showers and 37lt of fresh water let you rinse the salt away, but the rest of the script is up to you.

Besides watersports, the 25SSC and its decent 276lt fuel capacity will serve your adventurous exploratory trips. The boat rates as a great luxury day cruiser and commuter, ideal for accessing a waterfront restaurant, exploring a new marina, and zooming to new anchorages.

HULL AND ENGINEERING
- Deep-vee hull with composite construction
The Cobalt hull has a sharp 21 degrees of deadrise, with a broad beam-forward design for more space above the waterline. The oversized chines keep you nice and dry and the ride is great.

The hull has Kevlar reinforcing, composite construction including the floor and transom, solid stainless-steel deck gear such as the windscreen supports, and circuit-breaker protection on the electrics. All this and the premium upholstery points to a boat built to last and Cobalt offers a 10-year hull warranty.

Of course, a lot of the engine makers are pushing outboards these days. The 300hp Mercury Verado is a six-cylinder motor that has been around a while, so expect reliability. The 2.6lt engine has supercharging, which improves acceleration, and power-assisted steering that adds to the driving pleasure.

While the 25SC will accept from 250hp to 350hp, the 300hp proved a sweet match with surprising sportiness during our Gold Coast test.

ON THE WATER
- A first-class drive and ride
With the optional Garmin Glass Cockpit control centre with dual 7in MFD screens on the test boat, everything is at your fingertips.

Advance the throttle and the big four-stroke outboard zooms up to snappy cruising speeds. There’s not so much of a roar as an aircraft-like drone that’s less intrusive than a sterndrive.

You’ll do 0-17 knots (20mph) in 2.9 seconds, meaning the boat pops out of the hole and planes without labouring, before reaching a top speed of 48-49 knots or 56mph, according to the official data.

So it’s a sportsboat on paper. And getting to the top speed, we found the boat responds to a wide range of trim settings, letting you tackle everything from rough water to a flat surface with aplomb. Thus, the outboard engine set-up was spot on.

But for us it was the 3500-4000rpm smooth cruise in the mid-20 knot range that underscored the comfort that comes with outboard power. The smoothness and reduced decibels allow you to cruise in company and chat along the way.

VERDICT
- Premium party platform, people mover, and beachgoer
With a 13-person capacity and more internal space, the 25SC is every bit the party platform and people mover. But the outboard adds something else to the equation — this boat is a superlative beachgoer. You can nudge in, step ashore, and set up camp for the day.

Back aboard, the 25SC offers a premium fit, finish and the flash looks we’ve come to love from the marque. With greatly reduced noise levels, there’s more refinement in the ride and drive, too.

In this sense, the Cobalt 25SC with outboard power represents the next step forward for the traditional sterndrive brand. The next blue 25SC with 300hp Mercury arrives in December, while the 23SC sistership touches down in January 2018 thereafter.

The trend to outboard power continues and not without good reason.

LIKES
>> Sweet hull and outboard performance
>> Beach access and bow ladder
>> Increased underfloor storage
>> The helm with Garmin Glass Dash
>> Prestige brand offering a high-quality boat

NOT SO MUCH
>> You miss out on full-width swim platform
>> Big ticket and tow on a trailer

Specifications: Cobalt SC25
Price as Tested: The loaded SC25 test boat with upgrades cost $199k including 300hp Mercury Verado outboard, folding white wakeboard tower with integrated bimini, LED interior lighting, transom shower, premium Rockford Fosgate stereo, seagrass floor, electric toilet, a windlass with anchor, bow cushions, teak dinette table, and more (excluding trailer).

Price From: $179k with 250hp Verado engine and options (excluding trailer).
Length Overall w/ Swim Platform: 7.54m
Beam: 2.59m
Interior Cockpit Width: 2.21m
Deadrise at Transom: 21
Fuel Capacity: 276lt
Freshwater Capacity: 38lt
Bridge Clearance w/o Bimini: 1.50m
Bridge Clearance w/Arch or Tower: 2.46m
Draft Drive Up: 0.50m
Draft Drive Down: 0.97m
Dry Weight: 2041kg
Boat Certified Capacity: 13 persons
Boat Certified Capacity w/gear: 839kg
Engine on Test: 300hp Mercury Verado FourStroke outboard
More from Cobalt of Australia, Managing Director Brett Thurley. Phone: (07) 55194 019
Email: brett@cobaltqld.com.au
More at Cobalt boats.