Newbie in Utah

[Newman]

Hi everyone.

New guy in Utah with a couple little kids.
Picked up a 1998 23LS with the 7.4 Merc bravo3 last week and have fallen in love. Have had a few boats in the past, usually an 18-20 runabout that gets you out on the water, but this 23LS feels like a big step up, so I'm excited.
Spent the evening going through everything on the boat, making a list of all the little odds and ends that need a little attention. But nothing urgent that will keep us off the water.

I had a couple questions, would appreciate any feedback.
1. Under the captains bench, there are some 1/2 holes and some molded features that make me think that something is supposed to go there, a cooler maybe?
2. Anyone with a similar boat that fishes out of it? Looking for some tips on where to stow stuff. And under a couple seats look like the are enclosed boxes that could maybe turn into a live well? Is that a bad idea?

Anyway, thanks for having me, I was already getting spring fever, and this new toy is certainly not helping that fever

[Big Block Power]

First of all welcome from Wisconsin. What lake will you be taking her fishing on. I can't think of a finer boat to have to go fishing in. I think I might add a few down riggers myself to mine when I'm done with the stereo. I hear fish like music. I would use one of the coolers for alive well.
Those holes. No idea. I think we tried to find out 1 other time. Maybe can the factory.
Can't wait to see her in the water fishing. Oh fair warning. The others will be chiming in shortly.

[Ytmsn]

Alive well? Spaces mean something?

Congratulations on your purchase Newman! Is that a sink on the port side? It looks like an excellent place to klean phish.

Welcome to the site! Get a deep seat and a firm grip..

20190111_223659.jpg

[AsLan7]

.
We sure will bbp.
....and loce the fishing reference YT.

HELLO Newman. (Seinfeld fan?)

Great to have you here. So glad you found us.

Thanks for posting pictures too. Any engine pics ?

My guess is a cooler that came with the boat was supposed to fit under the Captain’s bench in that molded out area with a hold down to strap her down using each of those 1/2 holes.

I’ve used my swim platform cooler as a live well in the past since it has the auto drain function. Overall though, I can’t say our Cobalt is the ideal fishing machine.

Planning on doing any upgrades? Downriggers perhaps.

Keep those pics comin’
....and Welcome aboard mate!

.

[cmattj]

Helloooooooo Newman.. welcome from California!
Nice Cobalt! Live well or coolers work great for those boxes. I’m more of a troller than bait fish . Not as messy. Plus I can cut the line if she’s a bleeder and tie on a new lure to avoid the permanent blood stains to remind me of the last fishing trip.
Not sure what the holes are for but get us some pics on that one.

[akorcovelos]

Welcome from Illinois, don't let these guys get to you, fish don't care how much your boat costs, lol. That said, I would look into a portable Alive well that you can strap to the swim deck versus cutting up or modifying anything as it will hurt resale value. My Dad made a removable downrigger setup for his Wellcraft that clamped to the rear cleats and worked well, basically a finished 2x6 with the riggers mounted to it and stainless U-Bolts that strapped it to the cleats.

[Driller]

Welcome from Austin, TX. Great to have a fisherman onboard. Remember we loce pics.

[Jeeper]

Welcome neighbor from South Jordan, always good to see another Cobalt on the lakes.

[Mr Hahn]

Hey Newman, I'm also in Utah. I'm just over in American Fork if you need any help with anything.

[Newman]

Hey all, thanks for the welcome. And a 'hey neighbor' to the fellow Utahns.

Went for a maiden voyage today (to American Fork, ironically, but didn't run into Mr Hahn, maybe next time)
67 degree air temperature, 36 degree water temperature.
Boat was awesome. Easy 55 mph and smooth as can be. Kids all had a blast helping drove the boat, and 2 or them had hats fly out he back of the boat. Probably won't be the last time that happens. Boat gets right up on plane, sits nice and high on the water, and doesn't have an excessive lean in the turns where you worry a kid might fall over the side (looking at you, hydroswift). Steering felt a little sticky. And the 23LS has a table that goes in the bow, the table is the bow floor when not in use, and there is mount hole for the post to hold the table. Well that mount hole is full of water. Anyone with one of these boats know if that hole is supposed to be able to drain and mine is plugged up, or of that's just a poor design feature on the boat?

As awesome as the boat is, on the way home, the trailer did less awesome on the maiden voyage. Thought it was just a wheel bearing making noise, so took the hub off when I got home, and the brake pads and springs all came out in many and mangled pieces. And the bearing seems to be a size that AutoZone doesn't carry (big surprise). So some more work to do before I'm confident enough to take this on a longer trip.

To answer some of the questions above. The most important fishing destination is lake Powell. Top water fishing on striper boils is my kind of heaven.
The cubby next to the console does have a sink in it, with a 10 gallon fresh water tank in the back. A nice feature for sticky kid fingers and fishy hands.
Attached a picture of the pretty motor and the mystery space under the captains bench as requested. My guess is a cooler as well, but curious what Cobalt had in mind.

[Newman]

So not sure what broke first, but all the mangled springs and pieces of metal fell out when I took the hub off, and the pads were not on opposite sides of the hub where they belong, they we're spooning on the same side.

[Big Block Power]

Very cool to see you on the water. There are numbers on the side of the brains stamped in them. Clean them real good and take a picture of them and blow them up bigger to read them. Then Google that bearing number and all of the trailer companies will have them. They really pretty much only have a couple of sizes. Order a spring and shoe kit or you can get the complete backing plate with the shoes already on them. Need help I might be able to help later today find them.

[Ytmsn]

Cool Beans Newman. And you'll come to realize that BB is a good friend, valuable resource, and an endless source of amusement. Especially when he talks about stamping brains.

Now go ketch a phish on your Cobalt!

[AsLan7]

.....Brains....

[Bfun220]

Reminds me of