Cobalt R5WSS Surf: Review

Cobalt is justifiably famous for its sweet-running, deep-vee bowriders and runabouts with signature sports performance, terrific build quality and great comfort levels. You can now add serious surfing to the mix thanks to the addition of a Volvo Penta’s revolutionary Forward Drive and the US boatbuilder’s latest push-button TruWave surf system. Add a super accommodating layout with surround seating and a full head compartment and the R5WSS Surf rocks.

OVERVIEW
- Cobalt’s deep-vee hull works with the cool wake-surfing system
US boatbuilder Cobalt enjoys a strong following for its performance bowriders and runabouts. Over the years we’ve raved about their deep-vee hull pedigree, hot petrol V8 performance and ensuing smooth ride.

The revered US family boatbuilder gets its hull-and-engine pairings just right and adds a beautiful helm for added driving pleasure. The boats look fantastic, timeless and they boast serious saltwater fit-outs that have lasted in the harsh Aussie environment.

Some years ago, Cobalt added a Water Sports Series (WSS) range with various combinations of towers, board racks, foam Sof-Trac swim platform matting, sound upgrades, speakers and GPS Cruise Control.

Blinged-up this way, you could wakeboard with the family and cruise in comfort. Now Cobalt has gone one step further with the WSS Surf boat range spanning four different 23-27ft bowrider models.

The Surf package includes Volvo Penta’s Forward Facing drive, integrated ballast and a push-button wake-making system promoted with the catchphrase “Surfing Made Simple.”

There are big advantages of the Forward Drive for wake surfing. The prop blades are some 65cm further forward than a sterndrive, which means greater safety and less chance of fouling tow ropes; all the exhaust gases are dissipated deep in the water; and, we can vouch for it, operation is super smooth and quiet even compared with the latest sterndrive.

What’s more, the balanced Duoprop leads to an even wake, while the deep-vee 21-degree Cobalt hull makes a big hole in the water, creating a decent wave at the maximum displacement speed of 10-12mph — just prior to planing — for surfing.

The downsides of the Forward Drive, which is a tad smaller than Volvo's smallest IPS unit, are an increase in trailering height and, perhaps, limitations launching on really shallow ramps. Underway, should the drive hit the bottom, there's a kick-up mechanism and drive saver. We should add, we’ve seen plenty of conventional sterndrives suffer a serious fate from hitting bottom.

Back to the mission. We launched on the Coomera River with a rider to test out the new wake surfing variant of the Cobalt R5WSS. This model has a claimed wave height of 1.067m out the back according to the specs. . How they measure it so precisely, well, we don't know. What we do know is that this is one cool wakesurf boat for ripping the river.

Tied to the dock with a slate-grey hull colour, the R5WSS Surf looks hot with a retro spoon bow, angular windscreen and groovy graphics. But it morphs into a whole lot more fun when you cast the lines and launch your surfing assault with the tunes playing…

Brett Thurley, the Queensland Cobalt importer, has just established a dedicated branded showroom on the Gold Coast. He has a long association with the brand and with towsports. So you’re getting a boat set-up with a wealth of knowledge from the Kansas-based factory and local Cobalt dealer.

Dressed to impress in the hot new Shale Grey hull colour, the loaded $199,500 surf-away R5WSS included the Wake Surf package, an upgraded 350hp Volvo Penta V8 350 CE with Forward Drive, but a trailer was an extra.

Other fitted options included dual batteries, premium Rockford Fosgate stereo with transom remote and transom speakers, electric pump-out Porta Potti, saltwater package, soft mat and lighting on swim platform, black folding tower with bimini, bow and cockpit covers, transom shower and tilt switch, and aft walk-through carpet.

There was an LED interior lighting and underwater upgrade, plus 12V air compressor for your inflatables. Board racks were about the only thing we’d add, along with a trailer for about $10k. But it would be a nice surf rig to keep in a rack or floating dock for dispatch at a whim when the surf bug bites.

DESIGN AND LAYOUT
- A big 25 footer with abundant comforts and a big wake
This isn’t a lake wakeboat, but a deep-vee watersports weapon with loads of freeboard. The bow is traced by upholstery and grab rails to keep your family safe and dry, too.

The 25 footer makes the most of its internal volume, with a trick asymmetrical forward seating layout that boosts floor space, flip-up infill to create two lounges, flip-down armrests and lined sub-seat storage Yes, there is a dedicated bow anchor locker and self-stow stainless plough.

Attention to detail in these Cobalts is something else again — the safety latch for the opening windscreen, quick release fender clips, docking lights, quilted upholstery, stitched dash, and more are all impressive.

Cockpit space is maxxed-out internally, measuring 2.41m across. The cockpit is fitted a swivel helm seat, two-person co-pilot seat with flip-over backrest, and surround cockpit lounges for a social setting and seating. The aft lounge has a flip backrest to make a handy aft-facing transom observer lounge within earshot of the surfer.

At rest, the aft-most transom sunpad has a flip-up backrest, while the central swim step on the big platform folds into the deep for easy water access. We pulled our rider off the pop-up ski pole before he ditched the tow rope and surfed freestyle as you do.

Meantime, hinged cockpit seat swabs reveal a garbage bin, moulded icebox and other storage areas, plus there’s a large underfloor locker. But the full-sized step-down head is the clincher for families, while the shower sharing the 38lt of water will come in handy.

With a 14-person capacity and plentiful, plush seating, the R5 certainly lends itself to social and interactive wake surfing. But it’s “Surfing Made Simple” system that makes this sport so accessible on the Cobalt.

HULL AND ENGINEEERING
- The TruWave surf system
Essentially, the Cobalt Surf system, which is also marketed under the name TruWave, comprises the Volvo Penta Forward Drive, inbuilt 2100lb or 950kg ballast tanks, massive push plates or surf tabs that deploy automatically, linked back to an integrated touch-screen on the dash that does the ‘thinking’ for you. You just press a few buttons to go surfing.

Meantime, Cobalts are beautifully made with a composite Kevlar-reinforced lay-up, no wood but fibreglass stringers, backed by a 10 year warranty and, a big selling point here, a five year warranty on the Volvo Penta Volvo Penta V8 350 CE with Forward Drive.

We couldn’t fault the engine installation, engineering, wiring and general quality of the construction, the fine fit or the finish. You get what you pay for and the R5WSS Surf is a premium bowrider with some very clever surf tech. Yet it still rates as a social bowrider for cruising. A win-win.

ON THE WATER
- V8 cruising and a quick left or right ‘break’
The performance of this Forward Drive is a highlight. The boat jumps out of the blocks to planing speed in 3.8 seconds and rockets to a top speed of 49mph (42.5 knots or 78km/h), which is about 5 per cent slower than the Duoprop with rear-facing prop.

There’s a different feeling at the helm and with the running attitude of the boat. Reminiscent of an IPS pod boat, the R5WSS Surf rides high, dry and very free on the water. It’s a bit less responsive to trim, too.

In tight turns at speed, the Forward Drive grips and rips the big boat around. This was just as well as we didn’t have too much river to play with. But at the desirable 10-11mph surf speed, you can certainly make the most of a long reach.

Surfing Made Simple went pretty much like this:
1.    Press button and fill ballast tanks (about eight minutes)
2.    Set GPS cruise control speed
3.    Select right or left wave
4.    Throttle up and surf

Our rider popped out on the tow rope easily and, just like that, he was carving. With a number of wake-surfing boat tests fresh in my mind, I can attest to the fact this R5WSS Surf has a really steep wave face. It does seem to stand about a metre tall on the wave face.

The steep, clean wave face and powerful pocket are perfect for pulling tricks, hitting the lip and snapping off turns. The big tabs have a pronounced effect and, at the press of a button, you can surfing either side without shifting ballast (moving crew weight will help some more).

The trick dash layout is uncluttered with a Garmin multifunction screen, the Volvo Penta LED engine screen and the surf buttons. Hit the Performance Mode button and the surf tabs automatically deploy and adjust for quick hole-shot through to running speed, easily getting the boat on plane with full ballast. This way, there is no need to empty the tanks for a quick run to a new bend of the river. You can also customise the wake for wakeboarding or smooth cruising.

VERDICT
- A premium all-rounder surf machine
Given the simplicity of the surf system and the resulting clean wave, we rate this wakesurf boat highly. The sweet deep-vee Cobalt hull earns plenty of more praise for sports cruising, too. The styling, quality and comforts create a premium all-round surf and social platform.

As tested, the upgraded 350hp Volvo Penta with Forward Drive, the WSS and Surf package adds about $50k to the base R5 Cobalt bowrider with standard 300hp engine.

But for the premium you get a whole new dimension to your luxury Cobalt 25 footer. Surfing made simple using a seaworthy hull for a terrific onboard ride and a pretty neat three footer for shredding out the back.

RATINGS
Overall rating: 4.8/5.0
Mechanical/equipment: 4.8/5.0
Packaging and practicality: 4.9/5.0
On the water performance: 4.8/5.0
Value for money: 4.6/5.0
X-factor: 4.9/5.0

LIKES
>> Surfing made simple system
>> Clean and steep 1m wave face
>> Forward Drive performance and agility
>> Terrific deep-vee hull carves through the water
>> Beautiful Cobalt build quality, premium fit and finish

NOT SO MUCH
>> Price premium for this premium boat
>> Needs board racks, an easy aftermarket addition

Specifications: Cobalt R5WSS Surf
Price as Tested: $199,500 surf-away R5WSS included the Wake Surf package, a 350hp Volvo Penta V8 350 CE with Forward Drive, and options as detailed above. Trailer is an extra.
Price From:  $170k with the 300hp 5.3L V8 Volvo Penta, excluding trailer
Length Overall w/Swim Platform: 7.82m
Beam: 2.59m
Interior Cockpit Width: 2.41m
Deadrise at Transom: 21 degrees
Fuel Capacity: 189lt
Freshwater Capacity: 38lt
Bridge Clearance w/o Bimini: 1.63m
Bridge Clearance w/Bimini: 2.31m
Bridge Clearance w/Arch or Tower: 2.49m
Engine: V8-350CE-G EVC Forward Drive
Draft Drive Up: 0.53m
Draft Drive Down: 0.94 m
Dry Weight: 2214kg
Boat Certified Capacity: 14 persons
Boat Certified Capacity w/gear: 1021kg
More from Cobalt of Australia, Managing Director Brett Thurley. Phone: (07) 55194 019.
Email: brett@cobaltqld.com.au.
More at http://www.cobaltboats.com