2020 Cobalt R3 WSS vs 2020 Bryant C3

[CampEye]

Hi there - I'm on the fence considering between an R3 Surf and a Bryant C3 (surf version of the Calandra). I want a high-end feel for comfortable and dry cruising in all big lake conditions. The teenagers do a fair amount of all water sports, too.

I currently own a 2016 R5 with the VP380 and trim tabs. What do you all think about the Bryants? Some things I thinking about:
- how do they compare riding in big lake chop? Are the hulls comparable to the R3?
- fit and finish?
- quality of surf system and wave? (Bryant has borrowed Nautique's tabs and controls apparently)
- I like that the Bryants have a head in a boat under 24' (my slip is limited to 24' or else I'd be looking at something bigger)
- my dock gets a bit shallow late in the fall, so the Bryant's minimum draft of 16" is a big plus over the R3 WSS, as Bryant figured out how to trim the I/O all the way with the VP forward drive.

I'm also hesitant to go the surf route, as I can't get trim tabs which were on my "must-have" list. The kids obviously really want a surf boat. I'm indifferent. Any thoughts on this? When the lake gets rough, I usually slow down and lower the trim tabs to smooth the ride. I presume doing something similar with the surf tabs is not possible/recommended. And I also can't use surf tabs to level the ride when cruising... Thoughts?

Has anyone had success installing after-market front and side curtains to keep the rain out when the weather turns? Even if I don't get the surf version of the R3 or Bryant, I'm definitely getting a boat with a tower (doesn't need to fold).

Thanks all for your thoughts!! This forum is clearly a huge plus for Cobalt.

[AsLan7]

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Hey CE...so glad you found us!

Jim Bryant has put out a quality runabout product since the 60's but Cobalt has consistently taken the JD Power awards as best runabouts over that brand for many years in the 90's and 2000's. Since then Cobalt has been acquired by Malibu and as you know Bryant was purchased by Correct Craft--(both acquisitions occurring in 2017). Time will tell if this was an overall positive merger for either of these family owned builders. Quality seems to be an issue now that Bu/Cobalt is working thru the acquisition growing pains of incorporating Cobalt into their line and boating style. I'm sure you have read about the latest quality issues brought up by owners in posts here.... here, and possibly here. That being said, Cobalt has always been one of the nicest riding runabouts on the planet even to this day and their interiors are still hand made by the employees at their World Headquarters in Neodesha.

As far as specifics to your questions regarding tabs, and surf waves, others will chime in shortly. It seems the newest Cobalt surf models (R6 for example) have a much improved wave over the surf models made in just the past few years as Cobalt continues to perfect it's tab and ballast system with Bu technology. 2021 surf wave pic here.

Any pics of your R5?

And welcome aboard mate!

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[Stagdad]

I was looking at Bryant and Cobalt at the same time. Like Cobalt owners, the Bryant people are passionate about their boats. What steered me away was about 2012 -13, before Correct Craft, Bryant got new leadership, Dorton, I believe was the name of the guy. They started focusing on wake board boats even bringing out the Heyday brand wake tractor (ugly) and ignoring the bread and butter customers. Bryant did not even have an updated website for a year or two and according to the posts in the Bryant owners forum quality was rapidly dropping off and dealers were abandoning ship. I know personally of two dealers in my area that dropped the brand. That was 2016-17 and this is now. I bought the Cobalt and am not disappointed. Rides like a dream.

[CampEye]

Thanks both for your thoughts. Maybe I should wait to see the R4 specs...

I wish Cobalt would figure out how to get the draft to less than 20" on the surf boats!

[AsLan7]

Thanks both for your thoughts. Maybe I should wait to see the R4 specs...

I wish Cobalt would figure out how to get the draft to less than 20" on the surf boats!

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Sure thing CE. It's what we do here.

Apparently images of the R4 are starting to get out to the dealers. This may be one in Birmingham with just a few specs listed. More info will be forthcoming as we get thru Fall.

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[MnLakeBum]

Thanks both for your thoughts. Maybe I should wait to see the R4 specs...

I wish Cobalt would figure out how to get the draft to less than 20" on the surf boats!

I’d wait and look at the R4. The quality of ride will be better in the Cobalt IMO and the wave on the R6 Surf is very impressive so the R4 should be similar.

I can’t imagine having teenagers/college kids and not getting the surf. My kids are 16, 21, and 23 and most of the 75 hours on our R5 Surf this summer were in surf mode. 20” or 16” of draft between the Cobalt and Bryant real world is not that much difference. I wouldn’t run mine in anything less than 2.5-3 feet of water and in Surf mode you need at least 10 feet or you start to lose wave shape and height. If much of your lake is less than 2.5 feet deep neither boat would be a good choice. We just had a $5,300 hit on our R5 Surf(shaft and props) when a friend of our son/daughter was at the helm and ran it into 3 feet of water in surf mode.

[dustinm]

Thanks both for your thoughts. Maybe I should wait to see the R4 specs...

I wish Cobalt would figure out how to get the draft to less than 20" on the surf boats!

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Sure thing CE. It's what we do here.

Apparently images of the R4 are starting to get out to the dealers. This may be one in Birmingham with just a few specs listed. More info will be forthcoming as we get thru Fall.

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Are you sure? It looks very much like our CS23.

[AsLan7]

Thanks both for your thoughts. Maybe I should wait to see the R4 specs...

I wish Cobalt would figure out how to get the draft to less than 20" on the surf boats!

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Sure thing CE. It's what we do here.

Apparently images of the R4 are starting to get out to the dealers. This may be one in Birmingham with just a few specs listed. More info will be forthcoming as we get thru Fall.

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Are you sure? It looks very much like our CS23.

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Honestly no idea. It's what the dealer had pictured in the link under R4. Maybe a bait and switch.

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[Stagdad]

That is CS 23. Lodders Marine Cincy dealer has some R4 pics on FB page. If eye wur teknikal I wood post a pic hear.

[AsLan7]

That is CS 23. Lodders Marine Cincy dealer has some R4 pics on FB page. If eye wur teknikal I wood post a pic hear.

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Roger that SD . Thanks. How about this then….
(Link here. )
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605E9C29-8992-436E-81A1-9879383C5040.jpeg

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[CampEye]

20” or 16” of draft between the Cobalt and Bryant real world is not that much difference. I wouldn’t run mine in anything less than 2.5-3 feet of water and in Surf mode you need at least 10 feet or you start to lose wave shape and height. If much of your lake is less than 2.5 feet deep neither boat would be a good choice. We just had a $5,300 hit on our R5 Surf(shaft and props) when a friend of our son/daughter was at the helm and ran it into 3 feet of water in surf mode.

Ouch on that one!

Interesting, I didn't realize Cobalt improved the minimum draft on the R6 Surf to only 19". I had just seen the R5 Surf minimum draft was 33", which with my sort of shallow dock in the dry season could be problematic with a big storm. I only ever cruise/surf in > 10' of water. Thanks for pointing that out!

This 2020 Bryant C3 caught my eye https://www.watersportscentral.com/inve ... 11116761i/ It has a VP350, a head, full sea-deck, decent options for lights/stereo, heater, and the Nautique tabs/computer which seem pretty good. And I won't have to wait an unknown length of time to get an R4 Surf built.

Someone talk me out of it! My dogs will miss the Cobalt flip down step for sure.

[dustinm]

You will def save some money going with the C3

[CampEye]

You will def save some money going with the C3

that's not talking me out of it!

[AsLan7]

20” or 16” of draft between the Cobalt and Bryant real world is not that much difference. I wouldn’t run mine in anything less than 2.5-3 feet of water and in Surf mode you need at least 10 feet or you start to lose wave shape and height. If much of your lake is less than 2.5 feet deep neither boat would be a good choice. We just had a $5,300 hit on our R5 Surf(shaft and props) when a friend of our son/daughter was at the helm and ran it into 3 feet of water in surf mode.

Ouch on that one!

Interesting, I didn't realize Cobalt improved the minimum draft on the R6 Surf to only 19". I had just seen the R5 Surf minimum draft was 33", which with my sort of shallow dock in the dry season could be problematic with a big storm. I only ever cruise/surf in > 10' of water. Thanks for pointing that out!

This 2020 Bryant C3 caught my eye https://www.watersportscentral.com/inve ... 11116761i/ It has a VP350, a head, full sea-deck, decent options for lights/stereo, heater, and the Nautique tabs/computer which seem pretty good. And I won't have to wait an unknown length of time to get an R4 Surf built.

Someone talk me out of it! My dogs will miss the Cobalt flip down step for sure.

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I say Go for it and stop back with a Captain’s report!

[Snowman8]

What you said about your dogs being able to get in the boat on their own is enough for me and should be enough for you. It SUCK’S when the dogs jump out and they can’t get back in on their own! We have two English Springer Spaniels that love water and it was miserable when we had our older Sea Rat’s and they couldn’t get in on their own. They would jump out and then swim back and forth scratching at the back of the boat until I would lift them in. Now they climb in and out whenever they want.

You are on a Cobalt Forum but there is no way that I would put a Bryant on the same level as a Cobalt! Although I have never owned a Bryant I have owned 2 Sea Ray’s before our R5 and there is no comparison between a Sea Rat and a Cobalt!