Cobalt versus Sea Ray

[Anesslet]

Last week I ordered a new CS23. Super excited for its June arrival. I have a buddy that has a Sea Ray that I’ve never seen or been in. He swears up and down that Sea Ray is the best runabout boat out there. Says I should have at least looked at one. I’ve wanted a Cobalt for years and had no desire to give much consideration to other brands. I have no second thoughts at all, but am curious on everyone’s take on Sea Ray versus Cobalt.

Thanks for any comments/insights you have!

[dustinm]

Has he rode in a Cobalt?

[ajcampen]

He might be on drugs

I had a sea ray 185 (2011). Now have a cobalt 220s (2014) and the cobalt is a much different class. Build and finish quality so much better

[AsLan7]

Last week I ordered a new CS23. Super excited for its June arrival. I have a buddy that has a Sea Ray that I’ve never seen or been in. He swears up and down that Sea Ray is the best runabout boat out there. Says I should have at least looked at one. I’ve wanted a Cobalt for years and had no desire to give much consideration to other brands. I have no second thoughts at all, but am curious on everyone’s take on Sea Ray versus Cobalt.

Thanks for any comments/insights you have!

.
JD Power has since stopped ranking runabouts but Cobalt Boats always ranked #1 many years consecutively. It's too bad they don't start ranking again.

[Big Block Power]

Yea sorry not even close to being in the same class. 8 put it under crownline and rinker and they stopped making rinker
I was in one at a boat show not to long ago and for as a finish was terrible. I Prob have pictures. Crownline and chap and regal make nice boats. l wouldn't even put it close with those. Sorry he needs to get in a Cobalt. Have him look at the price of a 15 year old cobalt and then look at the price of a 15 year old SeaRay. Better yet go look at a actual boat from those time frames. You made the right decision.

[jhnmdahl]

I think Sea Ray is a good but not great boat, but not one of Cobalt's closest competitors. If I wanted to feel like I'd done my due diligence anew before buying a Cobalt, I'd look at Formula (especially for the somewhat bigger boats) and Bryant (smaller to mid-sized).

Sea Ray belongs with Chapparal, Regal, etc., in the next tier from my experience. But they're still boats, and pretty decent ones at that.

John

[bruceb58]

A SeaRay these days is barely one step up from a Bayliner. Back in the days before Brunswick bought SeaRay out and put them under their umbrella, they were upper mid level quality. Now they are slightly below mid level.

[20mm]

Shopping for used boats I came across a few Sea Rays similar in age and usage to the Cobalts I was looking at. Have to agree with the above posts, ie materials, fit and finish and the overall durability / condition of the Cobalts seemed to be a step above. These boats were typically better cared for and showed pride of ownership - even some of the older cobalts looked better than newer Sea Rays. I have friends that swear by them but after looking at alot of boats I would rank them behind Chap, Regal and Crownline for that matter.

[tgrace98]

Like what others have said. When Sea Ray was acquired by Brunswick they put in a lot of cost savings measures to make Sea Ray profitable again and well the quality of the boats just went down hill. I was at the STL boat show 2 winters ago and they had a 46 dancer there that had more imperfections in the gel coat of any boat I have ever seen. And a close to 1mil dollar price tag on it. Same with their smaller boats. I would never own one after having 2 Cobalts.

[willyswagon]

I sell Sea Rays....

I own a Cobalt.

Nuff said?

[Norris_Boating]

I sell Sea Rays....

I own a Cobalt.

Nuff said?

Lol love it

[rabiddawg]

I sell Sea Rays....

I own a Cobalt.

Nuff said?

I think so

That’s gotta be post of the year and it’s only January

[Big Block Power]

I sell Sea Rays....

I own a Cobalt.

Nuff said?

I think so

That’s gotta be post of the year and it’s only January

Wildwillie strikes again

[AsLan7]

I sell Sea Rays....

I own a Cobalt.

Nuff said?

I think so

That’s gotta be post of the year and it’s only January

Wildwillie strikes again

.
Yes...that’s awesome WW.

[Snowman8]

SeaRay has nothing on a Cobalt! Not even close!!! I’ve owned 2 SeaRat’s, a 195 and a 210SEL. The fit and finish isn’t even in the same ballpark as a cobalt. Resale on a SeaRat is terrible, ask me how I know, it took me two beatings to figure it out. You are on a Cobalt forum so of course we are biased but I have owned two of them and I am telling you they have lost quality in the last 15 years. I know you said you ordered a Cobalt but if you are bored someday go look at a new SeaRat and see for yourself. Willyswagon post said it best!