The Cobalt R6 Coastal is the best Cobalt boat model, a 25 ft 5 in outboard bowrider certified for 14 persons with an 80-gallon tank and a head. The R4 (from $148,720) is #2, and the CS22 (from $107,891) is the best value.
Starting at $537,320 (USD, excludes freight and prep)
The flagship: the longest and widest Cobalt with the biggest tank
Pick by what you want
Best overall
Cobalt R6 Coastal
Best value
Cobalt CS22
Best sterndrive pick
Cobalt R4
Best weekender
Cobalt R31
Biggest fuel tank
Cobalt R35
The ranking
1
Cobalt R6 Coastal
Answrs VerdictThe best Cobalt for big families.
Price: Not publishedLength: 25 ft 5 in with swim platformCertified capacity: 14 personsFuel: 80 galEngines: Mercury Verado or Yamaha outboards, 250 to 350 hpHead: Yes
The R6 Coastal is a 25 ft 5 in outboard bowrider certified for 14 persons, with an 80-gallon tank and a head. Cobalt offers Mercury Verado or Yamaha outboards from 250 to 350 hp. Cobalt does not list a price for it in its online builder.
Go ifThe most seats of any Cobalt here, with a head and outboard power
Skip ifYou need a published price before you visit a dealer
Why #1 over #2: It is certified for 14 persons to the R4’s 13, and it has a head; the R4 does not.
2
Cobalt R4
Answrs VerdictThe best all-round sterndrive pick.
Price: Starting at $148,720 (USD, excludes freight and prep)Length: 24 ft 3 in with swim platformCertified capacity: 13 personsFuel: 50 galDry weight: 5290 lbs (varies with options)
The R4 is a 24 ft 3 in sterndrive boat certified for 13 persons, with a 50-gallon tank and a 5290 lb dry weight, starting at $148,720 in Cobalt’s builder.
Go ifA 24-foot sterndrive boat for 13
Skip ifYou want a head on board
Why #2 over #3: It is certified for 13 persons to the CS23’s 12.
3
Cobalt CS23
Answrs VerdictThe best mid-priced Cobalt.
Price: Starting at $116,852 (USD, excludes freight and prep)Length: 23 ft 5 in with swim platformCertified capacity: 12 personsFuel: 60 galDry weight: 4000 lbs (varies with options)
The CS23 is 23 ft 5 in, certified for 12 persons, with a 60-gallon tank and a 4000 lb dry weight, starting at $116,852.
Go ifSeating for 12 at a lower price than the R Series
Skip ifYou need more than 12 seats
Why #3 over #4: Its 60-gallon tank is bigger than the CS22’s 52 gallons.
4
Cobalt CS22
Answrs VerdictThe best-value Cobalt.
Price: Starting at $107,891 (USD, excludes freight and prep)Length: 22 ft 5 in with swim platformFuel: 52 galDry weight: 3943 lbs (varies with options)Head: No
The CS22 is 22 ft 5 in with a 52-gallon tank and a 3943 lb dry weight. At $107,891 it has the lowest starting price in Cobalt’s builder.
Go ifThe lowest starting price in the Cobalt lineup
Skip ifYou want the bigger 60-gallon tank of the CS23
Why #4 over #5: It starts at $107,891 to the R26’s $212,695.
5
Cobalt R26
Answrs VerdictThe best step-up runabout.
Price: Starting at $212,695 (USD, excludes freight and prep)Length: 26 ft 5 in with swim platformFuel: 68 galDry weight: 6,750 lbsHead: Yes
The R26 is a 26 ft 5 in sport runabout with a 68-gallon tank, a 6,750 lb dry weight and a head, starting at $212,695.
Go ifA 26-foot sport runabout with a head
Skip ifYou are shopping under $150,000
Why #5 over #6: It is the shorter boat: 26 ft 5 in to the R8’s 27 ft 10 in.
6
Cobalt R8
Answrs VerdictThe best big R Series pick.
Price: Starting at $206,724 (USD, excludes freight and prep)Length: 27 ft 10 in with swim platformFuel: 80 galDry weight: 6400 lbs (varies with options)Head: Yes
The R8 is 27 ft 10 in with an 80-gallon tank, a 6400 lb dry weight and a head, starting at $206,724.
Go ifAn 80-gallon tank and a head in a 27 ft 10 in boat
Skip ifYou want the lighter, cheaper R4
Why #6 over #7: It starts at $206,724 to the A29’s $249,747.
7
Cobalt A29
Answrs VerdictThe best A Series pick.
Price: Starting at $249,747 (USD, excludes freight and prep)Length: 29 ft 0 in with swim platformBeam: 9 ft 0 inFuel: 121 galHead: Yes
The A29 is a 29-foot deep-V with a 9 ft 0 in beam, a 121-gallon tank and a head, starting at $249,747.
Go ifA 29-foot deep-V with a 121-gallon tank
Skip ifYou are shopping under $200,000
Why #7 over #8: It starts at $249,747 to the R31’s $361,279.
8
Cobalt R31
Answrs VerdictThe best weekender.
Price: Starting at $361,279 (USD, excludes freight and prep)Length: 31 ft 5 in with swim platformBeam: 9 ft 10 inFuel: 160 galBuilder description: Real Cabin Space for Weekend Cruising
The R31 is 31 ft 5 in with a 9 ft 10 in beam and a 160-gallon tank. Cobalt’s builder describes it as Real Cabin Space for Weekend Cruising, starting at $361,279.
Go ifWeekend cruising with cabin space
Skip ifYou only take day trips
Why #8 over #9: It carries 160 gallons to the R33’s 150 and starts at $361,279 to the R33’s $384,360.
9
Cobalt R33
Answrs VerdictThe best entertainer.
Price: Starting at $384,360 (USD, excludes freight and prep)Length: 33 ft 4 in with swim platformBeam: 10 ft 6 inFuel: 150 galDry weight: 11,193 lbs with twin engines (options not included)
The R33 is 33 ft 4 in with a 10 ft 6 in beam and a 150-gallon tank, with an 11,193 lb dry weight with twin engines, starting at $384,360.
Go ifA 33-foot entertainer with a 10 ft 6 in beam
Skip ifYou want the most fuel; the R31 and R35 carry more
Why #9 over #10: It starts at $384,360 to the R35’s $537,320.
10
Cobalt R35
Answrs VerdictThe flagship pick.
Price: Starting at $537,320 (USD, excludes freight and prep)Length: 35 ft 4 in with swim platformBeam: 10 ft 10 inFuel: 165 galDry weight: 13,400 lbs with twin engines (options not included)
The R35 is Cobalt’s flagship on this list: 35 ft 4 in, a 10 ft 10 in beam, a 165-gallon tank and a 13,400 lb dry weight with twin engines, starting at $537,320.
Go ifThe flagship: the longest and widest Cobalt with the biggest tank
Skip ifYou want a boat you can tow yourself
How we ranked these
We ranked Cobalt’s current models from Cobalt’s own spec pages: the smaller day boats first, ordered by certified capacity and then fuel, then the yacht-certified models from shortest to longest. Prices are the starting prices in Cobalt’s online builder (USD, excluding freight and prep). Three models from our earlier list are not in Cobalt’s current model menu, so the R31, A29 and R26 take their places, and the R6 is now sold as the R6 Coastal. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.
Questions people ask
What is the best Cobalt boat?
The Cobalt R6 Coastal: 25 ft 5 in with a swim platform, certified for 14 persons, with an 80-gallon tank, a head and Mercury Verado or Yamaha outboards from 250 to 350 hp.
What is the cheapest Cobalt boat?
The Cobalt CS22, starting at $107,891 in Cobalt’s builder (USD, excludes freight and prep).
Which Cobalt has the biggest fuel tank?
The Cobalt R35, with 165 gal. It is also the longest model on this list at 35 ft 4 in.
Does the Cobalt R4 have a head?
No. Cobalt’s R4 spec lists Head: no. The R6 Coastal, at 25 ft 5 in, does list a head.
Fuel capacity (as published by Cobalt) at a glance
Cobalt R450 gal
Cobalt CS2252 gal
Cobalt CS2360 gal
Cobalt R2668 gal
Cobalt R6 Coastal80 gal
Cobalt R880 gal
Cobalt A29121 gal
Cobalt R33150 gal
Cobalt R31160 gal
Cobalt R35165 gal
Fuel capacity (as published by Cobalt), as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.
