Cobalt 226 vs 220 or something else..

[WIMUSKY]

Hi fellars and felletes....
The wife wants a bowrider after we rented a center console with cushy bow seats in front of the console down in Gulf Shores AL. She and friend enjoyed laying out up front.

In my neck of the northwoods there is a plethora of choices..... I'd rather have a heavier boat for a better ride than light and and fast. We're mainly going to cruise bigger inland lakes on and off plane. Also Duluth harbor of Lake Superior is fun.

I've been looking at 2001 - 2006, or so, Cobalt 226 and 220. Engine 350 Mag MPI 300hp. I've seen a 496 too. It appears they both have Bravo 3 drives. Never owned a dual prop single screw. I'm hearing about corrosion with different metal and the thrust bearing going out and tearing out the gearcase. It's been 20+ years since I had an I/O...

I did look at a very nice 226. It was stored in A/C during summer and heated storage for winter. It looks to be in excellent condition. No dock rash, 1 owner..... Gonna show the wife tomorrow....

Ideally I would like an outboard just for the ease of maintenance in the range of a 19' - 22' hull.
So what are your opinions on the 2 Cobalts?
Any other manufacturer recommendations?
Thanks!

 

[alldodge]

Anything Cobalt should be a good ride, there heavy
The B3 is real nice for docking, it bites real good.

If your going to keep it in the water and attached to shore power measure the voltage coming from the Mercathode to protect the drive. If it's a trailer boat don't worry about it

 

[WIMUSKY]

Anything Cobalt should be a good ride, there heavy
The B3 is real nice for docking, it bites real good.

If your going to keep it in the water and attached to shore power measure the voltage coming from the Mercathode to protect the drive. If it's a trailer boat don't worry about it

I've heard when hooked to shore power it's like having a giant battery in the water corroding the drive... I'll have to ask about the mercathode, I know nothing about it.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I've heard when hooked to shore power it's like having a giant battery in the water corroding the drive... I'll have to ask about the mercathode, I know nothing about it.

thats because most marinas have crappy shore power (leaks).

 

[WIMUSKY]

Just an update, we did buy the Cobalt 226 350 MPI 300hp after the wife looked at it. She was surprised on the condition. We did get a 1 month warranty on it. Only been on it once, but planning again this Sunday and next week. Next week we're gonna hit Superior providing the wind is out of the west somewhere.
I definitely have a learning curve again. Any little throttle and it wants to go with the dual prop, which is great except not at the dock. I bolied water backing out....lol
We like it alot. Only issue is whether the throttle/gear shift is a little stiff. I think it is, but who knows. Makes docking a little challenging.....

 

[Scott06]

I've heard when hooked to shore power it's like having a giant battery in the water corroding the drive... I'll have to ask about the mercathode, I know nothing about it.

my buddy with a B3 slip kept uses two mercathodes one under the transom hsg where the annode goes, another with two pucks on the transom . The newer (i think after 98) B3 have two annodes under the cav plate as well and tend to do better. Just watch it as you go along as they are a corrosion issue

 

[bajaman123]

Mercathode systems are great...when they work...which unfortunately isn't that often. It's best to combine it with a Quicksilver isolator. Does your boat have the Mercathode monitoring system?

 

[alldodge]

I definitely have a learning curve again. Any little throttle and it wants to go with the dual prop, which is great except not at the dock. I bolied water backing out....lol
We like it alot. Only issue is whether the throttle/gear shift is a little stiff. I think it is, but who knows. Makes docking a little challenging.....

You should get use to it in short order with practice. Find a place with even a buoy out by it self to try.

You can walk a boat with a Be sideways with the right technique. Say you want to go starboard. Come up along side and mostly stop. Turn helm full to port, put in Rev and when boat starts to backup, shift to Fwd, when it starts to move Fwd shift to Rev. Keep doing this and it will walk side ways

I love the B3, great drive

Oh and just a heads up, I'm getting rid of my Craparrel and getting a 270 Formula for next season.

 

[Scott06]

You should get use to it in short order with practice. Find a place with even a buoy out by it self to try.

You can walk a boat with a Be sideways with the right technique. Say you want to go starboard. Come up along side and mostly stop. Turn helm full to port, put in Rev and when boat starts to backup, shift to Fwd, when it starts to move Fwd shift to Rev. Keep doing this and it will walk side ways

I love the B3, great drive

Oh and just a heads up, I'm getting rid of my Craparrel and getting a 270 Formula for next season.

The craprrel disappointing in the end I assume?

 

[WIMUSKY]

my buddy with a B3 slip kept uses two mercathodes one under the transom hsg where the annode goes, another with two pucks on the transom . The newer (i think after 98) B3 have two annodes under the cav plate as well and tend to do better. Just watch it as you go along as they are a corrosion issue

Yup, there's a couple anodes under the cav plate, they look good.....

 

[WIMUSKY]

Mercathode systems are great...when they work...which unfortunately isn't that often. It's best to combine it with a Quicksilver isolator. Does your boat have the Mercathode monitoring system?

It does not. But our water up here is pretty clean. I've been told and I saw on the I/O we really don't have to worry about corrosion.....

 

[Pmt133]

Some of the boxes have a tension adjustment. Maybe take a peek at that fir the stiff throttle. And also, congrats on the new rig.

 

[WIMUSKY]

You should get use to it in short order with practice. Find a place with even a buoy out by it self to try.

You can walk a boat with a Be sideways with the right technique. Say you want to go starboard. Come up along side and mostly stop. Turn helm full to port, put in Rev and when boat starts to backup, shift to Fwd, when it starts to move Fwd shift to Rev. Keep doing this and it will walk side ways

I love the B3, great drive

Oh and just a heads up, I'm getting rid of my Craparrel and getting a 270 Formula for next season.

Well, been out 2 more times. Same inland lake different launch, much better for bigger boats, I boiled water again in reverse.
Yesterday we went to the big lake, Superior. Didn't boil water this time. It's still goes quick in reverse, a little slower would be nice but it is what it is. No big deal at that landing since there's a ton of room.
I'll have to try walking it especially when I can't approach at an angle which happened at Superior. They say the B3 is like a 4x4 on water. It does plane out really quick. Even with 4 of us with 2 in the bow. Had it up to 55mph. Engine sounds very solid. It can boogey....

 

[roscoe]

Never happened without pictures.

 

[alldodge]

If when shifting to REV the engine idle also speeds up this is an issue and could be the throttle control needs looked at, maybe lubed

 

[nola mike]

I love the B3, great drive

Oh and just a heads up, I'm getting rid of my Craparrel and getting a 270 Formula for next season.

That was a short boatmance... Back to I/o's or sticking with obs?

 

[alldodge]

That was a short boatmance... Back to I/o's or sticking with obs?

Single 8.2 IO and B3

 

[WIMUSKY]

If when shifting to REV the engine idle also speeds up this is an issue and could be the throttle control needs looked at, maybe lubed

I'll have to check the rpms when out on the lake. Around the docks it's all eyes and hands at the ready. I'm thinking it doesn't increase rpm. I believe it's just the dual props moving so much water. But, I'll check for sure.
Below is a landing that I back all the way out, quickly..lol

 

[WIMUSKY]

Never happened without pictures.

Sorry no water pix yet. This is where we bought it.....

 

[WIMUSKY]

Some of the boxes have a tension adjustment. Maybe take a peek at that fir the stiff throttle. And also, congrats on the new rig.

Thanks!