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New member from near Toronto, Canada

Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2018 9:38 am
by estoglow
Hi all,

Just wanted to introduce myself. Just purchased a Cobalt 240 last week and towed it home on the weekend. I am still working out the import and licensing paperwork for the boat and trailer with the Canadian Registry of Imported Vehicles. I should have that all cleared up by end of week.

Been looking since last August, started off looking at the Cobalt 206, but over the course of the search extended to longer models. Unfortunately, due to the length increase, my current tow vehicle will not due and that will be my next purchase.

The boat is a 2004 Cobalt 240 with Merc 496 MAG (375hp) and Bravo 3 stern drive, factory wake tower and extended swim platform. The boat has 247 run-time hours based on engine diagnostics albeit the hours gauge shows 280 hours. I guess time was spent listening to the radio with ignition on.

The boat is not perfect, but I like to say perfect for me. The dash panels have faded, a couple small tears in the upholstery, speedometer gauge not working, swim platform needs to be re-cored, and some other minor things that came out of the boat survey. However, I sort like all things to be working so I will be dealing with all of the above over time.

My wife and kids are really excited and looking forward to dropping it into the lake at our cottage up north, I mean more up north. :D

This is my first boat so I am certain that I have a lot to learn and hope that I can glean some wisdom from the forum and get advice and help as needed from the members here. It seems that many of you seem to know a lot and knowledge is king.

Looking forward to chatting with you all on this new journey with the Cobalt 240.

Cheers!
John
Terra Cotta, Ontario, Canada

PS. Some pics:
IMG_0945.JPG
6718291_0_200520181424_7.jpg
6718291_0_200520181424_3.jpg

Re: New member from near Toronto, Canada

Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2018 9:40 am
by estoglow
Not all the pics loaded, here are some more.
6718291_0_200520181424_6.jpg
6718291_0_200520181424_3.jpg
6718291_0_200520181424_7.jpg

Re: New member from near Toronto, Canada

Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2018 9:41 am
by tgrace98
Welcome from St. Louis/Table Rock lake!

Love the color combo and looks like you have yourself a couple little projects to work on. Look forward to seeing some pics of it out on the water!

Re: New member from near Toronto, Canada

Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2018 10:10 am
by Ytmsn
Welcome from Oklahoma esteglow! Glad to have you and yes, there is a lot to glean from this site.

Good intro and thanks for the pics! I used to own a 240 myself, and pretty much went completely through it.

You may find this link of my restoration an interesting read..
Again, glad to have you!
viewtopic.php?f=47&t=195

Re: New member from near Toronto, Canada

Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2018 12:42 pm
by estoglow
Thanks tgrace98 and Yt!

@Yt - I have already seen your thread on your 240 restoration - great job! -I am really interested in sourcing new dash/side panels from Technografic.

Looking forward to fixing things up!

Re: New member from near Toronto, Canada

Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2018 12:52 pm
by Big Block Power
Welcome from your not so north neighbor from Wisconsin.
Congrats on the purchase. How do you plan on using the boat?

Re: New member from near Toronto, Canada

Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2018 2:20 pm
by willyswagon
Welcome from a follow Canuck.

Good looking boat, you'll love it.

Re: New member from near Toronto, Canada

Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2018 2:45 pm
by cmattj
Welcome from California! You have a great boat for a first timer.. And a lot of folks here that have restored and improved that model.

Go through the Yt thread as is real world with sources.

When you launch a "how to or do thread " we will all be there for you. Hijacking and helping go hand in hand here!!

Re: New member from near Toronto, Canada

Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2018 2:50 pm
by ColinC
Welcome from Canada, eh? Great to have you on the forum and nice to have another Canadian aboard. Our numbers are growing.

Like you I imported my Cobalt from the U.S. In my case I had my 2007 212 shipped from Texas to Niagara Falls, USA and then managed the import process myself. The RIV piece is pretty simple.

Keep the pics coming and let us know what lake you boat on. I'm on Lake Muskoka.

Re: New member from near Toronto, Canada

Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2018 3:25 pm
by estoglow
@BBP - We have a lake front cottage with dock. Plan to cruise, wakeboard and tube with kids. I'm the only one that still skis, but the wake might be a bit big for slalom - maybe just use a longer rope ;) Keep it on the dock for the weekends, but pull it on trailer when not in use. I will also visit friends and cousins who have water access only cottages on Georgian Bay/Honey Harbour area. We also have friends with a beach front cottage on Lake Erie (USA side) to visit. Brother-in-laws are also talking about doing a multi-day cruise up north or along the Trent-Severn Waterway. They all have boats as well.

Thanks cmattj and willyswagon!

@ColinC - nice boat and lake, I'm a bit more north in Magnetawan on Lake Cecebe/Ahmic Lake. The RIV piece is relatively straight forward except neither my trailer sticker or title state empty weight of trailer and they aren't allowed to, or wont' subtract MAX GVCC from GVWR to get it.

I will post pics as things get done/upgraded/improved and hopefully not vice-versa and when I first launch :)

Re: New member from near Toronto, Canada

Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2018 4:31 pm
by ColinC
Estoglow,

The Magnetawan is a great spot -- lots of boating to be done there!

For the RIV piece, you'll need a recall clearance letter from the trailer manufacturer. I'd ask the manufacturer to state the empty trailer weight on the recall clearance letter. That might suffice. Also, RIV tends to be pretty helpful, so I'd give them a call on the trailer weight issue if you haven't already.

Colin

Re: New member from near Toronto, Canada

Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2018 5:16 pm
by Driller
A warm welcome from Texas. Glad to have you onboard. That's a beautiful blue boat!!

Re: New member from near Toronto, Canada

Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2018 5:32 pm
by estoglow
@Colin - Got the clearance and a separate weight letters from manufacturer. RIV is all good, but MTO will only accept weight letter from a dealer not manufacturer, because that is the exact wording in their licensing manual. Anyway, I didn't argue and I have a dealer lined up, should get it in the AM.

@Driller - thanks for the welcome! I see "Blue is the new Black" !! :D

Re: New member from near Toronto, Canada

Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2018 6:08 pm
by Ytmsn
Ha! Yeah, there are like 4 blue ones here. There used to be 5 but I sold mine 😁

Re: New member from near Toronto, Canada

Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2018 7:18 pm
by TinCupp
Great boat! I love the colors too.