Tooling around Chesapeake Bay in late December might make sense if
you're drinking hot cider inside the cabin of a motoryacht ' but a 22-foot bowrider? That sounds
like the last, desperate act of a boating writer with a terminal case of cabin fever.' But no,
there's more to the story than icy fingers being pried from a rosewood tilt wheel by men in white
uniforms. Boating World is testing Cobalt's new 220 at Tradewinds Marina outside of Baltimore, and
the weather's bright and sunny and in the mid-40s, courtesy of the greenhouse effect. Not exactly
sunpad weather, but good enough to get a sense of the 220 and why you can take it out on the water,
even in winter.
There are two things you should know about this boat. The first: The 220 is the best
bowrider this writer has ever tested. Hands-down. Bar none. The quality, the ride, details, fit and
finish ' all are top-notch.' But there's a corresponding catch ' the price. It's also, bar none,
the most expensive 22-footer this writer has ever tested. The BW test boat, powered by a 280-hp,
5.7L Volvo Penta Gi with nine options, lists for $52,873.
Once you get past the sticker shock, the only question you really need
to ask yourself is whether this 22-footer is worth the price. After all, you can get two boats its
size from other bargain-brand builders. Sure, it's like comparing a Lexus to a pair of Kia's, and
maybe a fairer comparison would be another high-end brand that's still a quarter less the price.
But it's a legitimate question every buyer has to answer: Is it worth the money?' The 220 looks
like most other bowriders from the dock, with a low-riding profile and sleek wraparound windshield.
But even as you're walking down the dock, you start to notice subtle differences that turn out to
be standard features. Like a stainless-steel plate over the bow to prevent hull scuffing while the
boat's being towed; an extended swim platform at the transom; stainless-mesh ventilation hatches on
the gunwales that are more futuristic than typical plastic slats, and an open walkthrough from the
platform to the cockpit.
By the time you're stepping on board, you know this boat is going to be something different.
But you have to look for the details, they don't just knock you in the head. The 220 doesn't have
distracting gee-whiz features, but the quality touches are there, starting in the bow.' You can
tell a lot about a boat by its anchor locker, the area up front that's often ignored by runabout
builders, sometimes to the point of not even including an anchor chock. They figure most small-boat
owners spend minimal time on the hook, so why bother?
But you can see Cobalt put a lot of design time up here, as the
gas-assisted lift springs open the hatch ' almost too quickly. Instead of unfinished fiberglass,
the interior is covered with a soft plastic mat material (so the anchor won't chip away the
'glass), and has an open overboard drain to keep it bone-dry. The wiring to the bow and docking
lights (color-coded and tie-wrapped) is inside a black plastic harness. There's even a ring on the
back of the anchor chock to keep the chain secure. Even the dimension of the hatch, 12 inches by 22
inches by 12 inches, matches the shape of a fluke anchor.
OK, that's a lot of verbage about an anchor locker, but you get the idea of the attention to
detail that went into it ' and that's reflected in the rest of the boat. The 220's upholstery is
cleanly sewn and textured (Cobalt uses a non-expanded vinyl that holds its shape indefinitely, so
it won't sag over time), and the seats have large pleats, so they're comfortable.' A ride up front,
even at full speed, feels safe and snug. The bow seats are 48 inches long, so you can put your feet
up and lean back against the rear seat pads. Storage under the seats measures 11 inches by 23
inches, making it suitable for PFDs and other small items.
The two rear seat pads also lift up, giving access to the helm and companion console storage
areas. Typically, you get into these compartments from doors along the side, but this is an easier
way ' though the starboard pad has a tendency to keep dropping down. The storage openings are 16
inches by 34 inches, so you can fit a lot of big stuff in there, and it's carpeted, even along the
side walls.' A favorite feature that many people might not even notice is a spring-locked door
stopper that holds the center windshield panel open. How many windshields bang around or even slam
shut when you hit a big wave? This one is a nifty design that locks closed and pops open when you
want to shut the windshield, with the spring in the ready position.' But you can bet the windshield
stays closed when running the boat. The 220 also has a separate Lexan door that latches shut into
the cockpit floor (you can use your foot to open and close it), so basically the cockpit is
air-tight ' great for chilly weather.' The 220's a real pleasure to run, cutting through the
one-foot chop without hesitation. The Volvo Gi with the Duoprops is a good choice, delivering a top
end of 54.2 mph and a holeshot of 4.5 seconds. The 220 also comes in a range of power options from
the low-end 260-hp, 5.0L MPI MerCruiser with Alpha drive ($45,568), to the high-end 420-hp Volvo
8.1 Gxi Duoprop ($60,377).' Trying to blow it out in turns doesn't work; there is a solidity to it
that you don't feel on other boats this size. Part of it's due to the hull's extended running
surface. Basically, the hull runs all the way aft, with only a half-strake running along the
bottom. That's a big departure from multiple strakes you find on most bowriders, but boy, it works.
The boat really holds on in turns.' The other part of the boat's solidity comes from the materials
Cobalt uses in layup ' eight alternating layers of woven roving and fiberglass mat, kevlar fibers
in the chines to add strength, all-composite stringers that are chemically bonded by Plexus to the
hull, and a high-tech Nida-Core floor, which is a super-strong, honeycomb synthetic that's
lightweight. Now, you get an idea of why the boat's priced like it is.
But you see quality in the dash, too, with the metal aircraft-style gauge switches and
optional real rosewood (not plastic) console and steering wheel. Besides the usual gauges, a
depthmeter and air/water temperature meter are standard features. The helm seat's comfortable with
a bolster (in down position, it measures 18 1/2 inches by 18 1/2 inches) and armrest.' The back end
of the boat has been designed to be user-friendly, including a wakeboard storage rack in the engine
compartment, a lift-up ski tow pole (very cool), and a built-in cooler on the oversized rear swim
platform. It's probably one of the most watersport-friendly designs of any boat this size, making
it easy to get in and out of the water with equipment. The integrated swim platform is 15 1/2
inches by 79 inches, and the bolt-on platform (which can be removed) is 28 inches by 66 inches.
There's a side-mounted ladder on the second swim platform, which is far away from the drive.' There
are only three minor problems with this boat. One is the fact that the filler cushions for the aft
sunpad and back step are $412 options, rather than standard features. If you don't buy them, the
back end is useless as a sunning area, and you can't really close off the back step ' vital if you
have kids. Second, the two hideaway fender holders in front of the bow and companion consoles are a
nifty idea, but the mesh liner lets wet fenders drip into the carpeted storage areas. Before long,
Mildew City. Also, the non-skid pattern under the thick, snap-out carpet seems a little too smooth.
Most likely it's fine, but some boaters prefer a rougher, diamond pattern.' Beyond that, there's
nothing not to like about the new 220 ' except maybe the price. If value to you equals lowest
possible price, then no, it's not worth the money. But if you factor in quality, resale value and
pride of ownership, then you're probably getting your money's worth. Last year, Cobalt topped every
other runabout builder in J.D. Power's customer satisfaction survey, and this year it came out on
top again in the large runabout category. The company's been using the award in its advertising,
and basically the survey boils down to Cobalt owners reporting fewer problems than owners of other
brands; and, statistically, liking their boats better than other owners. In the hyper-competitive
world of bowriders, you get what you pay for. And that's a lot in the 220.