Cobaltchat.com

So I'm continuing to have issues with the Sof-Trac on my R4. For each of the 3 seasons I've had my R4, The Sof-Trac is becoming brittle and shrinking in a few places. It mostly happens in the front section of the boat.

To their credit, each season Cobalt has replaced the pads under warranty but I don't understand why this is happening each year and I'm very worried about what happens eventually when the boat is out of warranty.

As reference the boat is on a lift and covered full time from May - Oct each year. Very limited amount of rain / water at that time.

Here are some pictures as reference. You can see the glue where it has shrunk back.

It's likely a result of sitting water. Only real solution is to make sure water doesn't sit in the areas where it's swelling and curling up.

jhnmdahl wrote: Wed Sep 10, 2025 12:53 pm It's a result of sitting water. Only real solution is to make sure water doesn't sit in the areas where it's swelling and curling up.

So this is happening during the season where there is very little rain other than maybe dew in the morning. But even if there is water from rain or dew...the boat is covered and the heat would dry it out quickly. So there is no way it's sitting wet for any period of time?

Apparently the top color layer on that particular mat (Sof-Trac) can also tend to separate from the black mat below it - something less common with SeaDek and similar mats. See here, for example:

https://www.cobaltchat.com/viewtopic.php?p=103619

John

What year is your boat?

WOW! What brand does cobalt use? That definitely looks like a Quality issue from the MFG.

As for the sitting water, you should never have to worry about water sitting on the floor of your boat. I self installed sea deck 7 years ago and have had 0 problems. I only clean it twice a year. Dogs, kids and yes water on it all summer. No signs of anything like you are seeing anywhere.

Any chance they would tell you the brand and switch brands?

I wonder if that happens across all their other lines like Malibu.

ikucera wrote: Thu Oct 16, 2025 9:12 am What year is your boat?

2022

Norris_Boating wrote: Fri Oct 17, 2025 7:57 am WOW! What brand does cobalt use? That definitely looks like a Quality issue from the MFG.

As for the sitting water, you should never have to worry about water sitting on the floor of your boat. I self installed sea deck 7 years ago and have had 0 problems. I only clean it twice a year. Dogs, kids and yes water on it all summer. No signs of anything like you are seeing anywhere.

Any chance they would tell you the brand and switch brands?

I wonder if that happens across all their other lines like Malibu.

I'm sure it's some aftermarket company that makes it for them. Wondering if I should change over the the seagrass. Just just sure I want to deal with this after warranty runs out...again happens every season.

I would make them replace it each year until the warranty runs out. Then decide a path forward. That is horrible though.

Norris_Boating wrote: Wed Nov 12, 2025 6:41 am I would make them replace it each year until the warranty runs out. Then decide a path forward. That is horrible though.

Yep...that's what I've been doing...

I have a new 2025 R35. In a covered marina, on a lift, with a boat cover and I have the same issue - but almost exclusively in the areas that get a lot of sun. Because of the big arch, the issues is really only in the back of the boat. It looks like it is shrinking and pulling away, just like the pics of the OP. Cobalt said they would replace it in the offseason, which we are just now getting to in Texas.

AC78746 wrote: Wed Dec 03, 2025 3:51 pm I have a new 2025 R35. In a covered marina, on a lift, with a boat cover and I have the same issue - but almost exclusively in the areas that get a lot of sun. Because of the big arch, the issues is really only in the back of the boat. It looks like it is shrinking and pulling away, just like the pics of the OP. Cobalt said they would replace it in the offseason, which we are just now getting to in Texas.

That's really interesting - I've always heard of it being primarily associated with locations that are regularly wet. Thanks for posting your experience.

AC78746 wrote: Wed Dec 03, 2025 3:51 pm I have a new 2025 R35. In a covered marina, on a lift, with a boat cover and I have the same issue - but almost exclusively in the areas that get a lot of sun. Because of the big arch, the issues is really only in the back of the boat. It looks like it is shrinking and pulling away, just like the pics of the OP. Cobalt said they would replace it in the offseason, which we are just now getting to in Texas.

Yep...I'm not on year 4 of having them replace pieces. Just not sure what happens when warranty is up and this is clearly an ongoing issue with their product.