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Hi! New vintage Cobalt owner. '74 Tri-Hull
Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2022 7:22 pm
by MoneyPit
Hello all! I recently bought a "Barn Find" 1974 Cobalt. Ok, so it was in my dad's barn so not so much a find. LOL
All the interior is original and in remarkable shape, which is why I call it a barn find. In the car world I think they would consider it a survivor.
I'm in the process of making a new cover to protect the interior, the original cover is long gone. If anyone has information on these early '70s Cobalt Tri-hulls please share. The biggest thing I'm trying to find out now is what size and pitch prop the boat came with. It's a Mercruiser 140.
Thanks!
Re: Hi! New vintage Cobalt owner. '74 Tri-Hull
Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2022 7:36 pm
by AsLan7
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So glad you found us MP.
Great intro and pics.
There may be a few owner's on the site that can help you with tri hull questions.
She looks to be in great shape for a '74.
My guess is a 15" or 17" prop with a 140. Possibly a 19" depending on length. How long is she?
And welcome aboard mate.
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Re: Hi! New vintage Cobalt owner. '74 Tri-Hull
Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2022 6:15 am
by Dudley67
Nice! I just picked up a 74 too.
Here is what I searched:
βThe 3.0 is one of the easiest outfits to prop.Your 17 footer would typically use a 17",19", or 21"prop.With a 21" prop should run around 40 mph with reasonable hole shot. May struggle a little with water sports and a heavy load. A 19 would have better hole shot and higher wot rpm might over rev with a light load.
A 17" prop is usually suggested for heavy loads with water sports and will over rev with a light load.
There are 3.0 boats that manage a 23" prop but with more limitations than the 21.
The 21" prop is like overdrive in a car, 19 more like high gear and 17 so on.
Re: Hi! New vintage Cobalt owner. '74 Tri-Hull
Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2022 7:01 am
by Big Block Power
I liked the mercury high five prop for those engines. Maybe a 19p you are going to have to experiment a bit to get the right one.
Re: Hi! New vintage Cobalt owner. '74 Tri-Hull
Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2022 11:20 am
by MoneyPit
Thanks for the help guys, Great info! AsLan7-she's a 16ft. Probably the shortest boat Cobalt ever made LOL.
I have a 17 and a 19 pitch so looks like I'm on the right track. Sounds like a trip to the lake to see which one I like best. Years ago my dad tried a 23 and it was too much, bogged down on takeoff and really worked the engine.
Re: Hi! New vintage Cobalt owner. '74 Tri-Hull
Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2022 1:00 pm
by AsLan7
MoneyPit wrote: Tue Sep 06, 2022 11:20 am
Thanks for the help guys, Great info! AsLan7-she's a 16ft. Probably the shortest boat Cobalt ever made LOL.
I have a 17 and a 19 pitch so looks like I'm on the right track. Sounds like a trip to the lake to see which one I like best. Years ago my dad tried a 23 and it was too much, bogged down on takeoff and really worked the engine.
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Sounds like a 19 would work well. The way to tell is the rpm range at wide open throttle (WOT). It should be within a certain range for your 140 HP engine. Do you have an owner's manual for the engine? Maybe an engine pic would help us out a bit.
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Re: Hi! New vintage Cobalt owner. '74 Tri-Hull
Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2022 3:42 pm
by sailor55330
That's cool. I love that they proudly call out the HP on a badge on the side at 140hp....yet today we cry at 300.....
GIves me an idea for another thread.
Re: Hi! New vintage Cobalt owner. '74 Tri-Hull
Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2022 9:33 am
by Krob1114
Welcome!
Hull looks pretty clean. I wonder how well she'll take a shine.
Re: Hi! New vintage Cobalt owner. '74 Tri-Hull
Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2022 12:42 pm
by Big Block Power
sailor55330 wrote: Tue Sep 06, 2022 3:42 pm
That's cool. I love that they proudly call out the HP on a badge on the side at 140hp....yet today we cry at 300.....
GIves me an idea for another thread.
Or 240



Re: Hi! New vintage Cobalt owner. '74 Tri-Hull
Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2022 12:38 am
by neckturtle47
Awesome
Re: Hi! New vintage Cobalt owner. '74 Tri-Hull
Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2022 8:59 am
by jhnmdahl
sailor55330 wrote: Tue Sep 06, 2022 3:42 pm
That's cool. I love that they proudly call out the HP on a badge on the side at 140hp....yet today we cry at 300.....
GIves me an idea for another thread.
Reminds me of a relative with a 25th anniversary Corvette. Looks sharp, but has a 185hp engine and doesn't keep up with a Civic or Corolla today. Of course he didn't buy it to race, and he loves it.