Cobalt versus Sea Ray

[LordEdward]

I must be honest. Most of these: uneducated l, small marina, small boat owner comments are hysterical. However almost all are incorrect. Searay is a great quality boat. Rarely seen for sale on the secondary market compared to cobalts. Don’t get me wrong, cobalts “look pretty” but cost of ownership is disgusting when compared to a Searay. Cobalt worked hard to make you require a dealer for repairs.

One post above tried comparing a 185 and 220 hahahahah those themselves aren’t even in the same categories of one another very much, the cobalt compared them to.

Another comment said they were only good pre Brunswick purchasing them! Ahhahahhahahah that was in 1986!! all carbureted boats were horrible I don’t care who you’re talking to or what manufacturer! that was the most ignorant uneducated comment I’ve seen to date. Back then most if not all boats still had plywood floors rhat rotted out

I suppose ignorance is bliss but it’s hysterical looking down from a pedestal lol. Cobalt comes standard with little to no features why Searay will give you joystick drive stock. Searay seats are designed for constant sun abuse, cobalt… well, you can buy new seats or have them reupholstered. Cobalt electrical system is riddled with bugs and check engine lights. And everyone ends ups selling them becaus the costs of repair make more sense to trade in and buy new again.

These problems compounded when cobalt was acquired by Malibu for 130million in 2017…. now you do the math of how great a company this is think about the price you paid for your boat. It’s probably an easy percentage of the total value of the company lol.

I’ve owned 37 boats in my life being I have multiple waterfront homes. And my favorites based on comfort, reliability, maintenance, and thanks way are hands-down, Chris Kraft, and Searay, I would put my slx 350 and slx 400 in battle against comparative conalt and searay will take the cake every time!

If you’re the person that buys your black car with red leather interior your then cobalt is probably for you, I’ve seen grown men petting the diamond stitch pattern on the gun walls bragging to his friends and I almost lost it. But if you buy cars based on specs, performance, reliability ease of docking… well you should be at a searay dealer.

My guess the guy above that commented: “I sell Searay, but own a cobalt, nuff said” isn’t expressing the fact that he’s a boat salesman and can’t afford a new searay and probably sports his 85 21’cobalt lol so thank pal but then men are talking! Why don’t you go get some brochures to pass around or better yet, let’s hear the name of this “boat dealer” you work at!!

[bruceb58]

I’ve owned 37 boats in my life being I have multiple waterfront homes. And my favorites based on comfort, reliability, maintenance, and thanks way are hands-down, Chris Kraft, and Searay,

You would think if you actually owned a Chris-Craft, you would know how to spell the brand name.

Searay is a Bayliner with a little bit more lipstick. Some even made in the same plant together.

As far as check engine lights, you do realize both Cobalt and Searay use the same Mercruiser powerplant right? Check engine lights are an engine issue, not a boat manufacturing issue. You can't even get Volvo Penta on a Searay since you are stuck with what Brunswick sells.

[SeattleA28]

LordEdward, Curious, what made you find a 2yr old thread and come in so strong?

...And what's the story behind your profile name?

[dsthomas]

I think "his lordship". Is trolling, my experience has been it's best not to feed the trolls.

[Snowman8]

Trolling? I’ve had both, a signature series Sea Ray and now an R5. The R5 is superior in every way! I could have bought a Sea Ray 250 SEL for the same money as I paid for my R5 but I turned it down because the resale on my previous 2 Sea Rays was terrible! I owned my second Sea Ray for 3 years from new and all of the seats in he bow of the boat were showing signs of wear, one was worn so badly it wasn’t white anymore. My R5 is going on going on 9 years old with no signs of any wear... enough said.
Bruce said it best, Bayliner with lipstick.

[dsthomas]

Trolling? I’ve had both, a signature series Sea Ray and now an R5. The R5 is superior in every way! I could have bought a Sea Ray 250 SEL for the same money as I paid for my R5 but I turned it down because the resale on my previous 2 Sea Rays was terrible! I owned my second Sea Ray for 3 years from new and all of the seats in he bow of the boat were showing signs of wear, one was worn so badly it wasn’t white anymore. My R5 is going on going on 9 years old with no signs of any wear... enough said.
Bruce said it best, Bayliner with lipstick.

I agree with you for sure... Trolling is a term my kids use, its basically when someone comments on something not to really share information or educate but more just to make the majority of the people in the forum angry, to stir the pot so to speak. I have no problem with people sharing their opinion. But no need to call people out and refer to them as clowns. Easy to do behind a keyboard I guess.

[AsLan7]

I think his username says it all.

[Krob1114]

Sounds like he sells Sea Ray or has a dealership.
Like everyone else here, I looked around before purchasing a Cobalt.
I rarely spend over a couple hundred dollars without doing a lot of research, shopping, comparing and pricing.
I'm studying a refrigerator for the garage, and electric vehicles now. I wish I could find and EV with Cobalts quality that I could afford.

[bruceb58]

Sounds like he sells Sea Ray or has a dealership.
Like everyone else here, I looked around before purchasing a Cobalt.
I rarely spend over a couple hundred dollars without doing a lot of research, shopping, comparing and pricing.
I'm studying a refrigerator for the garage, and electric vehicles now. I wish I could find and EV with Cobalts quality that I could afford.

If I didn't buy a Cobalt, there are many brands I would buy before a SeaRay.

[Cctvdc]

Had a Searay for 28 years served me well until I moved up to a new Cobalt. Prior to my R7 purchase looked at Chaparral, Four Winds, Searay, and Formula , as well as others that were not a consideration. We found most Searay’s on the lot were under powered unless they were specially ordered. After sea trials there was NO comparison for the ride and maneuverability on the Cobalt. We do scheduled service on our boat and don’t think it’s any more expensive to repair or maintain then any other manufacturer. If you have any doubts visit the factory and see professionals at work !! No regrets.

[Table Rockin]

Given the horrible grammar, spelling errors and time it was posted I'm guessing he was quite a ways into his cups before he posted that. He was likely googling searay and/or cobalt and saw a link to this site and pounced on it because it ran contrary to his drunken opinion. I mean there was ALOT of babbling in there. And the take on the Malibu acquisition was pretty nonsensical hilariousness.

Just a guess.....but it fits in my head cannon

I hope he comes back

[billk2632]

Yeah, 1st post, trolling.

I can't pass up this opportunity to talk about boats though! I bought a Cobalt last summer and have to say they are top notch. I won't drone on and on about the details like molded in graphics, over built stainless fittings and windshields and the hull that planes like a race car and pounds through waves without making a sound - but the longer I own it, the more I appreciate the quality. The marina I am at sells Cobalt and Malibu, so I see a lot of them - all different models - they are not perfect, I know of an R5 that was shipped back to Cobalt to repair to pretty serious hull problems. I'm not going to be too hard on SeaRay's, I have had two of them and really don't have many complaints. Both of my SeaRay's were the late 90's early 2000's vintage, I put close to 1000 hrs on both and really other than normal maintenance / wear items I had no issues. I don't think the newest SeaRays are the same quality. I know it's mentioned they are a Bayliner with lipstick - I don't agree with that, while owned by the same parent company and yes they share some components (most boats do - Cobalt doesn't make everything that goes into their boats) they are not built in the same plants - although I have heard that the new smaller SeaRays are built in Mexico - and that does not sound good. There was a time when Bayliner built some nice high quality boats - ie their motoryachts, but their smaller boats have always been a price point boat - I remember looking at one when I was buying my SeaRay Sundancer - it was really cheaply made - like a cheap camper. SeaRays, in my opinion, are still nice boats - all I can say is so far I like my Cobalt more than any other boat I have owned.

[Kate]

I'm surprised he didn't include that Cobalt owners have small . . . toes.

[CobaltDeadHead]

Drowning out his sorrow for his girlfriend leaving him for a Cobalt owner maybe?

[jhnmdahl]

A couple decades ago, I dreamed of owning a Searay and boating on my local lake, Lake Minnetonka, but I bought a Cobalt for a number of reasons. Searay boats are for sale used all over the Twin Cities, and most show their age far more than Cobalts. Cobalts come equipped comparably or better to Searay at a given price point, and there's nothing particularly proprietary about them - see all the threads of people modifying stereos, gauges, drive components, etc. in this forum. My "go-to" service shop is a Volvo shop but not a Cobalt dealer. Cost of ownership can be further managed by having your choice of Mercury or Volvo powertrain to be serviced by your favorite local shop, whereas Searay is stuck with the somewhat less reliable Mercury.

If he weren't just trolling, I'd expect someone with his vast ownership experience and wealth to discuss Bryant, Formula, and other boats that are a step above Searay and perhaps reasonable alternatives to a Cobalt.

I'm particularly amused that he's owned 37 boats, but accuses all of us of being Cobalt dealers. Lots of projection and delusion here.