1998 Cobalt 220

[RSoo1]

Purchased a 1998 Cobalt 220 last Saturday, 2 Jul 22. It has the 5.0 dual-prop.

220.JPG

Disclaimer: I haven't searched this forum extensively, so I will probably mention things here that have been answered/discussed already.

You'll see in the pictures that it needs a good buff, polish, and wax, but it's not terrible. The interior has one small 1' crack on the sun pad and two tears in the corners of the bow where the bottom cushions hit it not closed carefully. Otherwise, there are just a few other small cracks pulls in corners. Today, I cleaned and conditioned the interior with 303. (Picture was taken prior.)

Seat.JPG

I was worried the 5.0 would not be enough for the 22' boat. However, when my wife rolled into the throttle like we have done on past boats, it just snatched the ski rope from my hands. She had to slow the application way down as compared to our old 18 footer with the 3.0. So, no lack of power from that point-of-view.
However, on my pre-purchase trial, the engine did seem to bog as the power was brought in from idle and then be fine once it built RPMs. I didn't notice it as much on our first trip out, but I was pretty distracted with my family on the new boat. The only thing I did was pour in some SeaFoam. I'll pay more attention to it next time. Any suggestions?

We have also mostly decided to go without the carpet. What would be good to plug the button screw holes?

Lastly, for now, we have looked at SwimPlatforms.com. They're definitely nice, but it'll be $2k+. Thoughts there?

Plans going forward:
- Clean - buff, polish, wax
- Refurb trailer (new tires tomorrow)
- Use as much as possible
- Accomplish routine maintenance
- Swim platform?

Looking forward to the discussion.

[Big Block Power]

Replace your impeller before you use it unless it's been recently done.. Platform is the best thing to add to a boat other than stainless steel cup holders with leds

[dustinm]

I would just burn out the current tank of gas and see what some fresh gas does, for the hesitation. On our 97 220 we never used the carpet either, but we just left the snaps there, they never caused a problem. If you want to fill them in you would need gel coat.

That generation was a very good riding hull and we were on the edge of installing a swim deck but ours just had too many other things that I wasnt happy with and we ended selling and buying a boat with a swim deck installed already. For us swim decks are a must.

[SAB220]

BBG above means the water pump impeller. After you make the trailer safe for travel, suggest you forget about swim decks and shiny objects and schedule an appointment at your local mercruiser mechanic. That would be my very first step. You need to baseline the boat maintenance because you have to assume the former owner did nothing. That means the impeller too. I hope its a FW boat. Good luck.

[RSoo1]

Replace your impeller before you use it unless it's been recently done.. Platform is the best thing to add to a boat other than stainless steel cup holders with leds

Yep, I’ve got one ordered, it’ll be here Friday. $650 on tires today hurt a little. Engine and drive oil next week or week after. Bellows are soft and pliable so that’ll probably be a winter project.
Trailer lights are mostly working (read, partly not working) so that’ll be soon. Bearings are on the list, too. Hubs are staying cool, but I’ve had a wheel fall off before.

[Kate]

"Replace your impeller . . ."

And the fuel/water separator. Could be the cause of your "bog."

[RSoo1]

"Replace your impeller . . ."

Yes, that’s what I meant. The impeller will be here tomorrow. It’ll be replaced before I use it again.
I’ll also replace the fuel/water separator.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

[RSoo1]

Replaced the impeller. Old vs. New:

662D80F5-FA0F-42DE-8BE3-504B43DF5EBB.jpeg

New fuel/water separator. Changed the outdrive lube using the VP brand. Only thing is I didn’t have the correct drain o-ring so I’ll get that ordered this week and install it prior to the next use.

[Krob1114]

Congratulations on your purchase. You purchased a 24 year old boat so I'm sure it's going to need a little loving car.
If you spend some time on the exterior, Cobalts do not look like 24 year old boats when on the water.
Personally, I'd keep the snaps in just in case I wanted to add flooring later. I replaced the snap in carpet on our first boat as an extra present for my admiral, and she loved it. Probably got the cost back when we sold boat.
We're all pretty good here at advice and spending OPM.
Welcome and enjoy.

[RSoo1]

I posted in the “How fast can you trailer your Bimini?” post that mine pulled off the front windshield mounting point. The screw pulled out of the aluminum frame, probably just due to years of vibration and stress.

We are thinking of using this as an opportunity to upgrade to a 4 bow Bimini. Any suggestions on brands?

Thanks.

[skno]

This is a very good Bimini. Suggested to me several years ago on this site by another chatter.
Northstar Products Inc.
2925 South Ave
Toledo OH 46309
Ph.419-389-5515

[RSoo1]

skno, thanks for the pointer, those do look nice and at a reasonable price.

Krob1114, I went against your advice and removed the remaining floor carpet buttons (about 1/4 were missing anyway). I was motivated after stepping on one yet again barefooted. I did save them, but probably going to add some sort of seadek/marine mat to the list.

I was out doing some more work on the boat, and decided to remove the twin bow walk-thru wind doors. So far they have only gotten in the way, rattled, and tempted my 3 year old to play with them while under way. Any problems with taking them out?

[Kate]

"tempted my 3 year old to play with them while under way. Any problems with taking them out?"

Yes. A three-year old tempted by something else.

[Krob1114]

skno, thanks for the pointer, those do look nice and at a reasonable price.

Krob1114, I went against your advice and removed the remaining floor carpet buttons (about 1/4 were missing anyway). I was motivated after stepping on one yet again barefooted. I did save them, but probably going to add some sort of seadek/marine mat to the list.

I was out doing some more work on the boat, and decided to remove the twin bow walk-thru wind doors. So far they have only gotten in the way, rattled, and tempted my 3 year old to play with them while under way. Any problems with taking them out?

My advice is worth what you paid, nothing. LOL.
I was thinking of the advantages of using the snap ins for soft track mat so it could be removed and cleaned. Of course my logic is based on our experience. Our boat stays on a lift 180 miles from home. Every now and then, we take all the soft mat home and really work on it. By we, I really meant my wife.

We didn't buy a boat until our daughter was around 10. I can picture the joys (and problems) of a 3 year old. Congratulations.

[RSoo1]

Quick update on the stalling issue: I had a mechanic look at it, he noticed the engine was never coming up to temp. The thermostat was stuck open. Not getting to operating temp was causing the computer to adjust the fuel mixture. Replaced the thermostat and took it out yesterday, I got another 700 RPMs on the top end and the acceleration stumble improved as I drove it around. New spark plugs are in, the old ones were foiled due to the rich mixture.