Cobalt 253 vs 255 overnighter - Europe

[AirStage]

Hi everyone,

I'm new here, i'm from Belgium and been researching online for a while and have decided to buy a Cobalt. They seem to be one of the best and most high-quality boats available. Until now, I've mainly been involved with sailboats and RIBs, but now that I have three kids, a comfortable speedboat seems like a great next step.
Unfortunately, it seems like the boats are more expensive in Europe (Belgium) than in the U.S., and the selection is more limited.
I have two boats in mind, both including trailers:

• Cobalt 253, year 1997, for $17,800 (€16,500)
  Cobalt 255 Overnighter, year 2004, for $34,000 (€30,000)

Both with a 5.7L Volvo Penta V8 engine.
May I ask for your opinion? Which one would be the better option?

THX!

[jhnmdahl]

Both will need some additional budget for regular maintenance due to their ages, but it appears that the difference in price reflects the value in the newer boat about right. The 255 looks like a more modern boat to my eye, which may or may not be worth something in your eyes.

That engine is good one and should be fine, but I'd look at both boats in person if feasible before deciding on one and having a marine survey done to make sure there aren't lingering water issues, problems with the engine, etc. with your pick.

[AirStage]

Thanks for the info jhnmdahl, much appreciated. You’re right, the 255 looks more modern and I just received the exact details. It turns out it’s actually a 2008 model, so quite a bit newer than the 253 from 1997.

Do you know if there were any significant differences in build quality or construction techniques between those years? Both boats seem very solid and well built, but maybe the newer one benefits from some improvements.

The 255 also seems to have a much larger cockpit, which would be useful with three kids. The cuddy on the 253 looks a bit more spacious in the pictures though, so that’s something to consider as well.

Both boats are around three hours away from where I live, but in opposite directions. So if I can narrow it down in advance, that would definitely help save time.

At the moment I’m leaning towards the 255. The boat looks to be in good condition, although I haven’t had the engine fully checked yet. I will definitely ask for a sea trial. The price is 30,000 euros including trailer. Does that sound like a fair deal for this model and year, assuming everything checks out?

Thanks again for the advice

[AirStage]

One more question if I may. Does anyone have experience using the Cobalt 255 with the Volvo Penta V8 and Duoprop drive in saltwater?

I’m planning to use the boat mainly on the North Sea along the Belgian coast and would like to keep it in a marina for the summer season. Are there any known issues or important precautions to take when keeping this setup in saltwater for longer periods?

I’ve mostly dealt with sailboats and RIBs until now, so any tips regarding maintenance, corrosion protection or recommendations for this type of use would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again for all the input

[Kate]

"It turns out it’s actually a 2008 model . . ."

Something's wrong here. Cobalt did not offer the 255 in 2008 (or in 2007).

[AirStage]

Thanks for pointing that out, Kate. Do you happen to know during which period the 255 model was actually produced?

It's possible the boat was only registered in 2008 here in the Netherlands. I received a photo of the Dutch registration document, which includes the following details:

Hull No: US-FGE55003K304

Brand: Cobalt

Model: 255

Color: Blue

Engine: Volvo Penta

Engine No: 4012109125

Power: 320.7 hp

First registered (NL): 01-04-2008

Could the HIN suggest it's actually a 2004 model?

[AirStage]

Here are some photos.

3.jpg

2.jpg

1.jpg

[jhnmdahl]

Yes, that's a 2004 model year, made in November of 2003.

It's really hard to judge a fair price without knowing what else is for sale in the area - the used boat market in Minnesota may not be all that relevant to what a fair price is in your region. If it seems like a decent price to you after shopping around for a bit, and you'll get value out of it, it's a good price.

[RWM250]

This may help. You can see what years each Cobalt model was built.

https://www.boatsdata.com/cobalt/models

[Kate]

"Could the HIN suggest it's actually a 2004 model?"

Yes. The last three numbers, "304," means model year March 2004.

JM: How'd you come up with the manufacture date?

[AirStage]

03K possibly means 2003, with 'K' being the 11th letter of the alphabet, so November? I'm curious about this too, really interesting info!

[AirStage]

This may help. You can see what years each Cobalt model was built.

https://www.boatsdata.com/cobalt/models

Thx!

[jhnmdahl]

As I understand it, the end of the hull ID, K304, has two parts: K3, which is a manufacture date of the 11th (K) month of 2003, and 04, which is the model year.

[jhnmdahl]

This may help. You can see what years each Cobalt model was built.

https://www.boatsdata.com/cobalt/models

The date ranges on that are inaccurate for most boats - it shows my 210 was only made from 2013 to 2014 instead of from 2009 to 2015, for example (mine's a 2015).

[AsLan7]

Thanks for pointing that out, Kate. Do you happen to know during which period the 255 model was actually produced?

It's possible the boat was only registered in 2008 here in the Netherlands. I received a photo of the Dutch registration document, which includes the following details:

Hull No: US-FGE55003K304

Brand: Cobalt

Model: 255

Color: Blue

Engine: Volvo Penta

Engine No: 4012109125

Power: 320.7 hp

First registered (NL): 01-04-2008

Could the HIN suggest it's actually a 2004 model?

.

As I understand it, the end of the hull ID, K304, has two parts: K3, which is a manufacture date of the 11th (K) month of 2003, and 04, which is the model year.

.
Jmd is correct.

And so glad you found us AS...all the way from Belgium no less.

Here is a link which may help.

And welcome aboard mate!

.