Hello from the Hawkeye State

[Iowariverrat]

Hey Folks,

Long time follower here, first time posting. My baby is a white with red stripes '98 220 w/ 454 Mag MPI Bravo 1. My home base is the Coralville Reservoir near Iowa City. I also run the Mississippi between Dubuque and Prairie du Chien as often as I can and the Cedar River when I need a change of pace (definitely not in the Cobalt though....).

I'm hooked on reading all of your upgrades currently....a couple things have become apparent: I've got a lot of work to do if I'm going to keep up, and I don't have nearly enough pictures. Looking forward to getting my hands dirty once I pull her out of storage here in a couple weeks. I'm thinking the Gussi steering wheel upgrade and some marine mat/seadek for the swim step would be a good start to fight the Corona blues, with a comprehensive laundry list to follow. Wild everything that's going on..

Hope all is well and everyone stay safe!

[Big Block Power]

Welcome. She looks very clean and a nice set up.

[cmattj]

Welcome from California.
Yeah nice combo.. we’re I need a performance captains report!
By the looks of your marina it’s very nice. On a hoist I imagine.
Oh your in the candied red club with the double classic stripes !

[Iowariverrat]

Thanks BBP.
For the most part she's pretty cherry, but of course there are those little things that no one notices but drive me insane and I definitely have LED/stereo envy after finishing that Upgrades thread. Been a long winter building my excel doc for things that need attention. I'll have to get some more pictures for some advice once hibernation is over. I envy guys like you that can just walk out in the garage! Though then I'd never get anything else accomplished...

Appreciate it, CMJ.
As far as performance, she's a rocket out of the hole and from pretty much anywhere in the RMP range. I don't have super specific numbers outside of top end, but with a 23p RH Mirage plus that's had some work done it runs consistently 63-64 WOT, just shy of the redline. Once when in a bit of chop by myself running on fumes trimmed to the moon with the wind and slightly turning I hit 65. Interestingly enough, without turning on captains call and running the blower I only get about 60-61.

They do a nice job at this marina, been there for a long time, actively maintain and improve their facility, and run a true relationship based family business. They don't give anything away by Iowa standards (would probably seem very reasonable in Cali!), but if you need something it's done immediately and correctly. Definitely on a hoist and 6 min from my driveway, makes life simple!

I am! No one is more surprised than me. I always loved the classic cobalt blue w/ yellow boot stripe until I saw this boat in person in the water and thought....yep that's it! I think this summer has a lot of red LEDs in store for me.

[AsLan7]

.
Hey IRR. Welcome to the Cobaltchat forum. So glad you found us!

That’s a timeless color combo that will never go out of style.

Send an engine compartment pic our way.
Any particular water sports in your future?

Great intro my friend. Thank you for doing that.

Again welcome aboard mate!

.

[akorcovelos]

I love that Cobalt offered the big blocks in the smaller boats. I bet that baby hauls the mail! I have the same setup with a B3 in my 252 and 60-61 gps is my best so far. Can't beat the red stripes, though I may be biased. Fun fact, that color option (any white hull/color stripes) was actually an upgrade option back in the '90s, base was colored hull and white stripes.

[XLI]

I love the way that top stripe transitions to the top of the deck.

[Ytmsn]

Welcome from Oklahoma! Beautiful boat and great intro!

You name would happen to be Floyd would it?

[Iowariverrat]

Appreciate it AsLan, I'm glad too. Already have picked up so much good information.

I'm embarrassed to say that's the only picture I have on my current phone...I will definitely get one up ASAP once I can get her out of storage. I'm champing at the bit for sure. The only other thing I have on my phone is a little startup video that still pic was pulled from.

Watersports will likely be minimal, mostly because I'm the one who would want to get drug around and I don't trust anyone else enough to turn over the helm. Goal of the summer is to get the lady comfortable enough operating for me to do some skiing/wakeboarding and try that wake surfing deal the kids are crazy about these days.


Akor - I agree with that! I know they've got the new small blocks dialed in now to make good power and there are several very sharp ones at our marina that folks are very proud of...but the look on their faces when they realize they can't quite keep up...priceless! That seems like pretty good numbers to me with that much boat and a B3! I'm trying to distract myself this summer with cosmetic, electronic, and functional updates because all I really want to do is start building up the engine. Patience, Padawan...

I didn't realize the red/white club was so high profile and exclusive...Might have to make t-shirts...

Also, where in Antioch are you? I lived in Trevor, WI for about a year of my 5 in the greater Chi metro (other years split between Arlington Heights and Oak Park). Might have to drag the beast out to the Chain or meet you at the River sometime, Dubuque would be about halfway.


XLI - never paid attention to that before! It does give it a very slick look.


Ytmsn - Thank you! Where do you boat in OK? We've got friends in OKC and I've considered dragging her down next time we go. Nope, name is Chris but Floyd was my Grandpa's name!

[Big Block Power]

Please don't try to wake surf behind that boat. Bad things happen to those who fall forward.
We might try to get the fibs and the Cheeseheads together on winnebago or green lake this year if they open up the launches. Pull her up. It's not too far.

[kas232ca]

Looking good!! Welcome from CA/AZ.

[Snowman73]

I’ll come to Green Lake. If they let us.

[Iowariverrat]

Ahhh, yeah good point BB. Perhaps I'll stick to what I know...

That sounds like a good place to gather, I've always wanted to boat up there. I've heard Winnebago is quite something, not familiar with Green Lake.

Thanks, Kas! That's some beautiful water you're floating in your profile pic. Outside of Okoboji, you don't see water like that around here!

[Motex2011]

Great Pic. Hello from Texas. That red stripe is awesome. Do not worry about the stuff that bugs you. There will be more. Go check out my what is this gonna cost thread. I really messed up last fall and it was all fixed perfect.

viewtopic.php?f=44&t=3315

[Iowariverrat]

Thanks, Motex! You're right. Oh my lord I just read the whole thread. Talk about a roller coaster...I would've have had a coronary.