New Member 23 SC - Highland Beach, FL

[Richty3]

Hi,

I'm brand new to boating and just picked up my 23 SC this weekend! My wife and I are absolutely amazed and excited about our new baby!!! Spent the weekend with a captain for 4 hours and a close friend for around 3 hours practicing maneuvering as I'm in a Marina that is pretty tight and find it challenging backing into my slip but I'm getting it. Last night we put the cover on for the first time and that was challenging as well in the dark but got it done!!!

Do most people scrub the boat down every single time they go out even if they go 2 days in a row? We did and my body is paying for it.
Do most people take out the Sea Grass Floor covering every time you clean the boat down or is it ok to just hose it down and maybe take it out once a month?
Is it ok to be spraying the speakers and helm controls with a hose as I worry about the electronics?
We are using a boat soap and water and some spray for the seats from West Marine to clean our boat. Any suggestions are welcomed. Please feel free to get as detailed as you want as I really want to care for our boat for many years to come.

I am amazed by people's reactions to our boat as it's just a little 23 footer. But people are noticing the quality of the boat which was exactly why we bought a Cobalt.

Anyway, I will attach pics in a separate message. I welcome all advice and questions as we embark on this new and exciting chapter of our lives

Best,
Rich T

[Richty3]

Pics attached...

[jhnmdahl]

Gorgeous boat, and I'm envious of your year-round boating weather! Around here, people are making calls to pull their boats out of the water before the first freeze (typically happens in the next couple weeks).

The black arch looks really sharp with the black sides and gray interior. I'm sure you'll hear from our "black boats matter" members in no time

John

[Richty3]

Thanks for reaching out John, really appreciate it!

No idea what the "black boats matter" forum is all about but look forward to hearing from anyone and everyone being that I am so new to all of this and am interested in learning as much as I can.

All the best,
Rich

[jhnmdahl]

Richty, it's not a political thing (we tend to frown on that - the rest of the Internet has more than enough), but simply a group of guys with black Cobalts who are convinced that black is the sharpest-looking color. Although I have a blue boat, it's hard to argue when you see some of the pictures of those black boats polished to a mirror shine, contrasting with glimmering white.

In any event, I love your boat, and I expect I'd have something pretty close if I were in FL. Glad you found us,

John

Edit - BTW, do you have a glass dash or chartplotter installed, or the regular dial instruments? From what I've seen, a chartplotter can be really helpful with all those Florida canals and waterways.

[Richty3]

LOL... John, thx for the clarification on that. I absolutely did not think it had anything to do with anything other than the color of our boats and maybe where it needed more TLC or something like that, but appreciate your description.

Thx for the compliment on my boat. From what I've noticed, I haven't seen a Cobalt Boat that isn't beautiful!!! Blue is actually my favorite color which I would have bought had they had one available but am extremely happy with the black.

Thx again!

[Richty3]

Oh, and yes, I have dual glass Garmin's which I need to figure out, but look cool and offers tons of info.

[Big Block Power]

Again welcome from the leader of the black boats matter club
Yt may think he is but he's not tall enough to see the side of his own boat.

I have never boated in salt water so I can't give you a ton of advise on cleaning the inside of the boat. Myself if I was using the boat 2 days in a row I would clean it the last day its used. A wipe down never hurts. You could ask your dock neighbors what works for them. If there boat still looks new I would take there advise if it looks like a 1920 Bayliner and it's only a year old I wouldn't take there advise. I personally would not hose down any electronics. A good safe cleaner on a rag is what I would use. The sea grass I'm sure you can take that out less frequently and hose it Down and wash it. How will it be stored when you are not using it?
Give us a performance report on that 300. Glad you bought a merc as they are my neighbors down the road!!

[mtwbldr]

Welcome from Tx / about to be Florida! Great looking boat you have there! We are moving in the next few weeks (West Palm area) not too far from you.
I'm in the process of selling out A25 though and looking for an outboard like yours. Really hoping to stay in the Cobalt family unless my wife really convinces me to go the cruiser route.. Hope to see you on the ICW in the near future! Enjoy

[AsLan7]

.
Thx for posting again R3. I love the look of Merc engine covers. So mean.

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[Richty3]

Big Block Power, I am definitely going to take your advice and stop hosing down my electronics. The other stuff I will figure out as well. Made a couple of friends already on the marina and will see what they do being that we are all being attacked by the salt water. Appreciate the advice.

MTWBLDR, I was just up at the Orlando Boat show. Every time I told a rep of another boat dealership that Cobalt was in the mix for what we were looking for, every single one of them were like, yea, Cobalt is a great boat which of course, you already know, but sealed the deal for this newbie. If you need contact info from the place I bought mine, happy to share, just let me know as I was very pleased.

AsLan7, thanks for the compliment. I agree... Love the white Merc engine covers... Very cool looking.

Best,
Rich

[cmattj]

Welcome from California! That’s a beaut and I like they are able to trim up for keeping the lower out of the water.
Good advice as your going to learn about salt air and wiping down weekly when not in use.
The center console guys hose everything but have electronic covers that Cobalt doesn’t have.
Go break her in and give use a captains report as merc likes their out boards to see “ Wide open” for periods of time for ring seal!
Congratulations again.

[Richty3]

Thx so much for that information and appreciate your kind words!!! Will keep you all posted on how things go. So nice to have an active message board with people who are happy to share!

All the best,
Rich

[TruckerTim]

Welcome from Alabama and Florida! I have the same color setup and love it. I rise/ wash every time to get the salt off and always flush. This includes the sea grass. I can see others not doing it as offten but the salt is your enemy. I would invest in electronics covers. Cheap and as Mr BBP says I’d avoid any water on the electronics. As noted, we don’t get a lot of performance feedback on outboards so we would all like to hear the Captains report on haneling, fuel efficiency and ride. Congrats on a great purchase!

[Big Block Power]

Speaking of the glass dash covers. Who has info on the covers.
I also would want to cover the radio remote units. The sun will be harsh on them. Hard to say what they will be like after 5 years old. Look at some of the old sony ones