This or That???

[liquid]

Have you thought about a gently used boat - lot of R5's and A25's out there that people thought they wanted but don't use.

Can't comment on the swim step or sea grass as my little 190 doesn't have wither but my carpet is lovely and doesn't get too hot.

about colors - I have white with classic Blue stripes... If i was choosing I would go all white... entirely. looks clean. cleans clean. All white Cobalts are sharp.

[Skiingstrongman]

I have nothing against a lightly used boat. I have been looking. I have yet to see a 430 listed anywhere. If there was my dream boat 2-3 years old with less than 150 hours on it I would take it in a second I just haven't see it yet. I have been looking though. The marina actually has an R5 listed that is really close but has a few things missing I would like and I don't want to do after market. Repower would be way too expensive to justify it also.

This just reminded me of another feature, anybody have satellite radio on the boat? Is it better reception than AM/FM? I had it when I first got my car but never renewed. The lakes we go to are all up in the hills so reception is garbage on the lake. Is it worth it? Or should I just get a small MP3 player and dedicate it for boat usage? Even the crappiest, cheapest MP3 players these days can hold a few hundred to thousands of songs.

[Big Block Power]

Yes I would get satellite radio for sure. Also make sure it's Bluetooth also. Most Bluetooth ones are satellite ready. I have to change mine out soon. Are you getting a trailer with it anyways? It's nice just to have one in the price right away rather than do it in a few years of you decide to go to other lakes.

[Skiingstrongman]

I was going to hold off on the trailer. I was planning on waiting a couple years to tow it at first. My first mate has minimal experience so I want her to be really comfortable maneuvering around before throwing launching at her. Do you think it makes a big difference price wise buying it at once? My main issue is we have a condo so I can't store it at the house. If we could keep it on the property it would be a whole other story and I wouldn't even think about wet slipping it. I also wanted to recoup a bit before picking up a tow vehicle.

[Big Block Power]

Hard to say a package deal is always cheaper.but then you have to add in storage for a few years so? If your financing any of this I would throw it in the loan that's me. Plus you know it will match and fit properly. Tuff one. We trailer and store in my garage so it's a easy call for me.

[Skiingstrongman]

If we had the space to store it here I wouldn't even think of putting it in the wet slip. I know that out of cobalt they usually use Eagle so I was making the assumption I could just contact eagle and ask for the trailer that they make for Cobalt for whatever year and model.

Ton's of decisions haha that's why I'm here for the help. Appreciate all the feedback so far guys I do.

Ended up going down to the marina today actually to look some things over. Unfortunately halfway up it started down pouring so we didn't get to go out to the docks to check out the boats just what was in the show room. Definitely leaning towards the A25 now we think. The head on the R5 was a little tight and it seems like the space would be better utilized in other ways. Plus the styling of the A25 really catches the eye.

Got to see a gray boot stripe/navy side color scheme today on a different boat. Really sharp.

[Big Block Power]

Yes eagle trailers are real nice.I have a heritage and so far love it. It hasn't loaded crooked yet. It's been really windy the last couple of days and I was worried it would not be fun loading it but I'm getting it down to where I get the bunks in at the correct depth. I drive it on and it stays in place. I just back the trailer in and then the wife jumps in the driver's seat and I go get the boat drive it on the trailer and winch it on the last six inches or so and she pulls us out of the water. I never get wet just stand on the trailer. Pretty quick.I would also look at load master trailer good trailer good price.my dealer buddy here uses them allot. Really the trailer choice comes from what the dealers like too.

[jhnmdahl]

The Cobalt dealer up here uses EZ Loader custom trailers for the Cobalt boats they sell, and I think it's great. Plenty of high quality options to choose from whenever you decide to shop around.

[Skiingstrongman]

John I saw in the pictures thread you have one of the folding biminis is yours electric or manual? I haven't operated one yet how do they work?

[Jsmithcds]

Do not rule out the grey with black boot. It is a great choice. Hydro swim platform is worth it's price. Sea grass is the way to go on the interior vs carpet. No need for satellite if you load up the I phone with play lists. Get the upgraded sound system. I skipped the sea deck on the platform for now. I always hate the crud that builds up around the edges. Also it gets hot on the feet if you get a darker teak color. One can always have it installed later. I was in between the r7 and the a28. Went the A28 route and love it.

[Big Block Power]

Very sharp. I wouldn't have thought of that combo.

[Jsmithcds]

Keep an eye out for it on Winnebago. She sits in a boat house in the Fond du lac Harbor. Frequent visits up your way although mostly up the river in Oshkosh and the Cove. Always looking for a good spot to eat up that direction via boat.......

[Skiingstrongman]

That is actually a combination I thought of. I was thinking gray bimini might be a little more forgiving with the sun and gray mooring cover the same. That is a beautiful boat, I'm not ordering tomorrow and I don't mind hand me downs.

[Big Block Power]

My blue binimi and every cover I've has was dark and never had any issues with them.
Jsmith I boat mostly butte des morts. Run up the Fox to Omro or run to winneconnie. My old 220 is at lake side park. Or eat in the channel in oshkosh. We will run to Stockbridge quite a bit. If you don't like crowds like stretchs we go across from skipper buds called sunset point by the weed beds. It's three feet deep and all sand. We will watch the eaa just before stretches. Just look for the name on the back of my boat. I'll watch for you too. Welcome to the forum.

[jhnmdahl]

John I saw in the pictures thread you have one of the folding biminis is yours electric or manual? I haven't operated one yet how do they work?

Mine is manual - I couldn't see paying extra for a motor to tip it up and down. In a nutshell, unscrew a big knob on each side of the arch, and it tips easily forward by hand until it's just above the windshield. We've done it to get under bridges before, and will likely use it in the future to fit in a garage if we move in the future (we store offsite now). I think it's great, and wouldn't change it. It makes a nice, sturdy support for the bimini that it comes with as well.

John