Cobalt CS22: Review

Cobalt is well known as a builder of premium sports bowriders. The CS22 is the new entry-level model in the appropriately named Gateway Series. Standard power comes by way of the latest 240hp Volvo Penta V6 petrol engine — which uses an aluminium GM block — with a Duoprop sterndrive for enhanced performance and anything but a dumbed-down drive and ride.

OVERVIEW
- A 22-footer with loads of luxury  
Dressed in Citron Yellow gelcoat, sporting an upgraded white wake tower, fitted with a Garmin 7in multifunction display, and soft Seagrass matting underfoot, the CS22 is a stand-out in more ways than one. Built in Kansas, mid-western U.S. this Cobalt rates as a premium entry-level bowrider from a highly regarded stable famous for its deep-vee hulls.

The sharp CS22 running surface, with 20 degrees of deadrise at the transom, easily slices the chop on a busy waterway like the Gold Coast Broadwater or Sydney Harbour. When you need to get from one end of the bay or harbour to the next, you’ll appreciate the smooth Cobalt hull. It’s no lake boat.

With an 11-person capacity, a deep and safe bow for the kids, and a nice big aft sunpad, plus an enlarged standard swim platform with submersible step, you get a top in-water and on-board experience. The deck fittings (and bow scuff plate) are all high-grade stainless steel, including grab rails and windscreen supports. Quality is a key part of Cobalt’s appeal.

Custom stitching on the dash, an etched stainless-steel instrument panel with toggle switches, a leather wheel, and an impressive Rockford Fosgate six-speaker stereo add to the luxury.

But we’re also pleased to find a dedicated anchor locker, a wind door to create a quasi runabout in winter with the bow canvass cover clipped on, an inbuilt moulded icebox, and miles of storage from deep lined sub-seat holds to an underfloor ski locker, nooks for personal effects and, of course, abundant drink holders ready for summer.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- High-quality build and fitout justifies the price
Despite costing from just under $100k for a drive-away package, the CS22 still has all Cobalt’s great attributes including the sporty performance we love from a beautifully-executed deep-vee hull.

As an entry-level sports bowrider, the CS22 is better than many brand’s premium models. As we tested it, with some upgrades by the Gold Coast importer, you’ll need about $115k to get aboard. An Ezy-Loader or Dunbier trailer is extra.

The options on our loaded test boat included the white folding tor arch, a deluxe saltwater deck-gear package, bow and stern filler cushions, teak dinette table, air-compressor for the toys and tubes, blue LED lighting, dual batteries, Garmin GPS 7607 touchscreen MFD with maps, trick fender clips, soft matt on the swim step and more.

As presented to us, the CS22 left nothing much wanting and even the base 240hp Volvo Penta V6 petrol engine with alloy block wowed. There are 300hp and 350hp V8 engine options, but these latest generation V6s are well suited to Australian waterways where you’re rarely cruising at 50mph+ and economy for a long and affordable day afloat matters more.

DESIGN AND LAYOUT
- A classic bowrider with convertible seating, sunpad and shade
With 20 bowriders and one coupe in its line-up, Cobalt sticks to what it does best. That is, build quality dayboats based on a time-proven formula. The layouts don’t break the bowrider mould, but the attention to detail, the amenities, and the sweet hull and engine pairings push your pleasure-boat buttons.

We were certainly happy to see the CS22 waiting at Cobalt Boats of Queensland’s dock at the Gold Coast City Marina. We jumped aboard, removed the matching yellow covers, stowed them and our gear aboard, and headed out as easy as that. A 22-footer is just an easy boat to handle.

Meantime. the comfortable bow seating area will appease your kid crew, with an infill that creates a sunpad, storage under the seats, and especially in deep holds under the helm and co-pilot consoles, which are accessed through flip-up backrests on gas struts. This way, you’re not left holding ‘floating’ seat bases when you need to stow or access gear.

The dedicated anchor locker will be welcome in Australia, where we tend to find a bolthole and hangout for much of the day on  the hook, as will the stainless grab rails and drink holders throughout when cruising to the spot.

The big underfloor central ski locker mid-cockpit can swallow all your riding gear, boards and more. Storage also extends to a glove box, more underseat areas, even the sides of the engine bay, where the lid lifts easily on gas struts.

The clip-in vinyl seagrass flooring feels great underfoot, even in the height of a blistering summer, and helps break-up the fibreglass finish. Meanwhile, the hard-stitched and variously textured upholstery is as good as you’ll find in a U.S. production boat. No, better than most.

The helm seat has a bolster, while the co-pilot seat has a flip-over backrest to create an aft-facing sun and observer’s lounge. There’s a big transom sunpad atop the engine bay, while an infill drops into the transom walk-through to maximise seating. All told you can easily carry two families on this CS22.

The optional cockpit table and a portable esky add to the amenities. If not lunching aboard, this boat would be perfect for accessing a sandbar, island or spit and setting up camp ashore. We snapped a pic of the CS22 on the Gold Coast in just such a setting, at the back of Wavebreak Island, where it seemed right at home.

There’s a lot happening back at the transom of the CS22, with an extended swim platform at water level that facilitates an easy dip or launch. The fold-down submersible swim step and the foam deck matting add to the amenity — this is an easy boat for kids to climb back aboard.

With the wake tower and lower ski hook, you can tow tubers, wakeboarders and skiers all day long. As we tested it, it would make a great social watersports platform for writing your weekend script.

HULL AND ENGINEERING
- Kevlar reinforced hull and stiff construction
Composite construction using Kevlar reinforcing and a full-fibreglass stringer system contribute to the high-quality ride. This is something you can share with your crew on that plush seating from bow to stern, with plenty of bolsters, backrests and just the right application of bling.

The hull styling, with a somewhat squared-off windscreen and deck moulding pushed outboard to maximise space, has a hint of the retro cool about it. Yet this is a timeless bowrider that we can’t see dating.

To give you some idea of the volume, the 6.86m (22ft) hull has a common 2.59m-wide beam, yet the interior beam of 2.34m certainly makes the most of that available space. As such there’s plenty of room for crew, gear and getting around.

The CS22 also feels stable in the water thanks to its low centre of gravity and generous application of fibreglass in the lay-up. The hull weight of 1542kg says this is a solid boat and it feels that way.

As for build quality, we jumped aboard with a critical eye and left impressed. From bilge access to the fold-down arch, it’s all accessible and it works.

ON THE WATER
- A beautiful ride and drive
As we cast the lines and idled down the Coomera River, the bimini top on the fold-down powder-coated white aluminium tow arch was appreciated. The canvass top cast welcome shade over the helm seats and most of the U-shaped cockpit seating nearby.

At the helm, the Duoprop adds to the handling and manoeuvrability; it was easy to reverse back out of the marina spot surrounded by luxury motoryachts and, without wandering, it will be easy lining up the trailer at the ramp. . It’s also a nice drive off the wheel at speed.

We have plenty of experience with this latest generation 240hp Volvo Penta V6 with alloy block. The V6-240-G offers better performance than the small-block V8s it supplants. There’s also less noise and vibration, while economy means the 189lt fuel supply should last a long day on the water.

On a beaming blue Broadwater, the CS22 was keen. The boat had great hole shot, held plane down to 2500rpm, and levelled out at 3000rpm for a smooth cruise of 16-17 knots. This is a good speed for towing kids.

The family-friendly day cruise kicks in at 3500rpm and 21-22 knots, which is a nice wakeboard clip, while the boat’s sporty persona wakes up at 4000rpm and 26-27 knots cruise. The off-the-wheel steering at these skiing speeds is responsive thanks to the Duoprop.

Throttle up and you’ll see around 29-30 knots fast cruise at 4500rpm and 33-34 knots at 5000rpm. Handling is predictable and reassuring, with clear sight lines behind the functional windscreen. At 5500rpm, we saw 38-39 knots and 5800rpm wide-open-throttle returned close to 40 knots or 46mph.

VERDICT
- A pure bowrider experience
While this isn’t quite the 50mph flyer with a look-at-me V8 note, the sweet mid-range cruising speeds in this deep-vee 20-degree hull are intoxicating all the same. The sight lines and ergonomics add to what is a pure bowrider boating experience that extends from the helm to the fore and aft seating.

The ride and drive of the CS22 honours the respected Cobalt badge and puts it up there with the best bowriders on the market today. While it’s from the Gateway Series, the CS22 is a better boat than many other brand’s premium offerings.

LIKES
>> Smooth ride and sweet handling
>> Attention to detail, fit and finish
>> Comfortable, premium seating
>> Latest clean-running alloy Volvo Penta V6
>> Cobalt has a respected name

NOT SO MUCH
>> Not the biggest drain holes on the cockpit deck
>> More esky storage would be good
>> Price premium for a 22-foot bowrider

RATINGS
Overall rating: 94/100
Mechanical/equipment: 4.7/5.0
Packaging and practicality: 4.8/5.0
On the water performance: 4.9/5.0
Value for money: 4.5/5.0
X-factor: 4.7/5.0

Specifications: Cobalt CS22
Price as Tested: $115k with 240hp Volvo Penta V6 and options including white folding two arch, a deluxe saltwater package of deck gear, bow and stern filler cushions, teak dinette table, air-compressor for the toys and tubes, blue LED lighting, dual batteries, Garmin GPS 7607 touchscreen MFD with maps, trick fender clips, soft matt on the swim step and more.

Priced From: Base boat about $98k

Length Overall: 6.86m
Beam: 2.59m
Interior Cockpit Width: 2.34m
Deadrise: 20 degrees
Fuel: 189lt
Bridge Clearance w/Arch: 2.08m
Draft: 0.61m minimum
Dry Weight: 1542kg
Crew Capacity: 11 persons
Boat Certified Capacity w/Gear: 723kg
Engine on Test: Volvo Penta V6-240-G DP

Supplied by:
Cobalt Boats of Queensland

Managing Director Brett Thurley.
Phone: (07) 55194 019.
Email: brett@cobaltqld.com.au.
More at Cobalt Boats