Crashing across a particularly large wake thrown by an oversized,
overpowered offshore boat, you can temporarily be distracted from the usual pounding that one of
the roughest lakes in north Texas likes to dish out. It's a testimony to the doggedness of Lake
Lewisville's boaters and wakeboarders ' the skiers are the only ones who realize Saturday
afternoons are hell ' that the huge, rolling wake rocking the Cobalt SD240 you're driving also
upends a half-dozen boarders and nearly topples at least two sailboats while sending 10 or so
runabouts airborne. The Cobalt doesn't fly, nor do your kidneys turn to jelly from the pounding,
marking the SD240 as not just a pretty face and roomy layout, but a boat that can take a
heavyweight punch like nobody's business.
On a day like this, on a lake like this, the ability to take a punch is arguably more
important than acceleration, top speed, storage capacity or just about any of the other yardsticks
you'd normally use to measure a boat. What counts in this situation is the ability to handle water
that's only slightly calmer than the inside of a Maytag during the 'Super Wash' cycle. It's not
life and death on Lake Lewisville, but it's a real test of a hull and a boat's construction to try
and make it across at speeds above idle. The SD240 can not only skim through the mess at better
than 50 mph, but it can do so without a single rattle and without making anyone that's in the boat
swear off watersports for life. For most boaters, that's a big accomplishment.
It's even more huge when you consider that the SD240 does this with a hull sporting a mere
18 degrees of deadrise at the transom, a measurement that would usually point to a hull that's not
so great in the rough. During this run, at least, the hull does yeoman's work dealing with sloppy
conditions and still manages to handle as well as one could reasonably expect given the
circumstances. There does seem to be a bit more lean in hard cornering than there should be, but
without the opportunity to test in smoother waters it's impossible to say if that's the hull or
just the fact that big waves tend to roll a turning boat quite a bit.
The hull is definitely responsible for the way the SD240 rides 'high' on the water, with
loads of lift that really gets the boat on top of any trouble. The lift is extra-noticeable when it
combines a powerful 320-hp, 6.2L MerCruiser MX MPI with a Bravo III drive on the test boat,
accelerating from 0 to 30 mph in less than 6 seconds and reaching a top speed of 51.5 mph, even
with a full tank of gas and having to deal with crummy conditions for performance testing.
A boat that can perform well in rough conditions, though, is a boat that will shine like a
star when the weather's clear and the water's smooth. More importantly, it's a boat that you'll be
able to use in real life, where the lakes are often crowded and you take what you can get as far as
smooth water goes ' situations where the SD240's outstanding construction, fit and finish really
stand out.
Fit and finish are noticed when it's time for entertaining or just cruising, too. From the
bow seating area with bow access with a hidden telescoping boarding ladder and reclining seats that
even 6-footers can enjoy to the wide-open cockpit layout, the SD240 has all the classic deck
features that boaters have come to know and love. But the SD240 also has its own personal touches.
Particularly noteworthy is the enclosed head/changing room with a heavy-duty latch that not only
holds securely in the rough but is easy for even young hands to operate, as well as the hideaway
cocktail table that drops into the floor for an open layout with lots of walking-around room. Also
worthy of kudos is the huge, huge, huge storage area that can be accessed from the swim platform or
the rear L-lounge seats, a space that comes with a built-in wakeboard rack and can easily
accommodate not just a trio of wakeboards but a flotilla of inflatables and could be pressed into
service as a pretty roomy dungeon if the passengers really get out of line.
Attention to detail is a Cobalt hallmark, and it's abundant on the SD240. The passenger-side
dash not only has a rubberized decking so things won't skid around, the decking's crosscut so any
stray water or other spillage runs right off. The audio system is housed in a locking compartment
on the passenger side, with a remote at the helm for the driver, and while the Sony is a good unit,
some might rather see a Clarion unit as standard equipment. (The Sony's detachable face isn't the
most corrosion-resistant, you'll find.) Especially nifty is the dial-gauge compass at the helm.
Unlike dash-mounted units, this compass is unobtrusive and completely integrated into the helm's
design and is a touch worthy of emulation.
The helm is as well thought out as anyone familiar with Cobalt would expect. Some may find
the rocker switches for the accessories a little retro, but they're reliable and easy to work on,
so no complaints here. Everything at the helm is completely integrated into the dash's design, and
nothing appears to be an afterthought or aftermarket. Even the pickiest helmsman will have a hard
time finding anything but good things to say about the SD240's design and performance.
An unexpected bonus is the Cobalt-designed and -built Bimini top. The Bimini features a rear
stabilizer bar that all but eliminates shudder and side-to-side vibration for a quieter, better
ride with the top up so you can get some relief from the direct sun without ever having to slow
down to an idle.
Two items that aren't on the test boat that fights its way across Lake Lewisville but would
be very welcome: a wet bar and an extended swim platform. As well as the SD240 performs, as
comfortable as it is for entertaining and as good-looking as it is, it's inconceivable that you'll
be spending much time alone on this boat, and it would be nice to be able to put a freshwater sink
and wet bar to good use for the guests. And while the standard swim platform works just fine, an
extended swim platform that keeps boarding swimmers as far from the prop as possible (because even
a still prop has sharp blades that can cause injury) would be a nice addition to an otherwise
family-friendly boat.
Of course, banging back across the giant wakes and choppy waters of Lake Lewisville, one
doesn't miss the wet bar and the extended swim platform. A solid hull with a great ride and
performance that's second to none are what matter, and the SD240 has 'em. This is a boat that can
not only take the lake's best punch, but can throw it right back.