This review is a bit of a miss in my view. As an owner of a 2019 R3 and a Cobalt 210 before it, I think the reviewer misses the point, spending a lot of time talking (to get some ads in) but is light on the boat review itself. The pull pin is a non issue. It has a rounded head and isn't really in the way. No one is sitting on it when you are trying to retract the flip down portion and if you want to flip it down, no one can be sitting in the space when you do so anyway. If you go with the electric setup, you still have a pull pin to override the electric if it fails. What is a problem are the metal tabs welded to the chrome rear bumper bar and attached to the swim platform. The edges are very sharp (on the R3, 5, 7 anyway) and can easily cut you (I have first hand experience with that). Not sure if this has been corrected for the R4, 6, 8. Is the complaint about the captains chair that you can't get the seat far enough back or that when you do, you can't reach the steering wheel? It's a bit odd as Cobalt has clearly made the new R series for taller people. At 5'8", on my current 2019 R3 my feet touch the deck when sitting on all of the seats. In the R6, they dangle. The seats are higher off the floor, no doubt to accommodate taller people. Not sure why the captains seat would be a problem for reach and leg space. But, in the bow, starboard side, the R6 executes a clear miss. Cobalt has removed the fold out leg cushion from the R5 and the passenger uses the foot well in front of the seat on the R6. On the R8, there is plenty of foot room. On the R6, it's a bit tight. I'm wondering why they didn't include the fold out cushion. And, you can't buy the piece separately, you need the bow filler cushion option. Too much light in the cockpit? Just turn the ones you don't want lit up to the off position. Most people complain there isn't enough light on a boat. Surf Wave - that is the big question. Reviewer speculates a lot about how Malibu's surf gate system works on the new Cobalt hull. I'd like to know as well as my next boat will likely be an R6 or R8 Surf. The forward drive boats don't produce the same kind of wave as dedicated surf boats (Centurion, Mastercraft, Nautique). A wave is more than how high it gets. How long is the wave, how much push does it have and how clean is it? All questions this review doesn't answer. When you are buying a surf boat for $300,000+ , it better produce a killer surf wave (first and foremost) because at that price, who cares if it has too much light or the driving position isn't perfect if you can't surf behind it. Of course a top quality dedicated surf boat (Nautique) costs more than a Cobalt surf boat so there is that to consider. Most people don't have the money to spend $300,000 on a bow rider. But, if you want a hybrid boat (surf/stern drive) and the best quality in the business, you have to pay for it. I've bought two in 5 years and I'll buy another one next year - despite deficiencies. Not a surf model though until I see some professional reviews of one, and not cone commissioned by Cobalt.
As for the seat I fit, it was just an issue of how far I had to be from the wheel to get my knee cap off the dash. I would love to see a telescoping steering wheel for that price tag. I’m on the same page as you on the wave. I really wish there was some better demos of the waves out there with upper level riders. I’ll have my hands on a forward drive model this summer so we will see how it goes. Have you seen the tower that was on the boat I was mentioning? It’s pretty epic.
That’s good to know on the platform. As for the wheel it was a new one at the boat show and it was just tilt. Wouldn’t it be nice if it telescoped out to you?
I’m not sure about telescoping option. It just begs the question. When the boats are so expensive when do they stop? Liked the video. Be nice if video showed the issue you were explaining. Wheel is straightforward. Not sure if everyone would understand the pin deal if they weren’t super familiar with the step setup. I’m subscribed.
While it is a beatiful nicely built boat, the wave is problematic. I surfed behind one and while a person could surf, it didn't have a very large surfing area to work with and minimal push. My old retro SAN 230 with my home built surfgate and lots of extra ballast produces a much better wave. Maybe a surfgate will help, but that prop style with the leg doesn't work that well in my view.
This review is a bit of a miss in my view. As an owner of a 2019 R3 and a Cobalt 210 before it, I think the reviewer misses the point, spending a lot of time talking (to get some ads in) but is light on the boat review itself.
The pull pin is a non issue. It has a rounded head and isn't really in the way. No one is sitting on it when you are trying to retract the flip down portion and if you want to flip it down, no one can be sitting in the space when you do so anyway. If you go with the electric setup, you still have a pull pin to override the electric if it fails. What is a problem are the metal tabs welded to the chrome rear bumper bar and attached to the swim platform. The edges are very sharp (on the R3, 5, 7 anyway) and can easily cut you (I have first hand experience with that). Not sure if this has been corrected for the R4, 6, 8.
Is the complaint about the captains chair that you can't get the seat far enough back or that when you do, you can't reach the steering wheel? It's a bit odd as Cobalt has clearly made the new R series for taller people. At 5'8", on my current 2019 R3 my feet touch the deck when sitting on all of the seats. In the R6, they dangle. The seats are higher off the floor, no doubt to accommodate taller people. Not sure why the captains seat would be a problem for reach and leg space. But, in the bow, starboard side, the R6 executes a clear miss. Cobalt has removed the fold out leg cushion from the R5 and the passenger uses the foot well in front of the seat on the R6. On the R8, there is plenty of foot room. On the R6, it's a bit tight. I'm wondering why they didn't include the fold out cushion. And, you can't buy the piece separately, you need the bow filler cushion option.
Too much light in the cockpit? Just turn the ones you don't want lit up to the off position. Most people complain there isn't enough light on a boat.
Surf Wave - that is the big question. Reviewer speculates a lot about how Malibu's surf gate system works on the new Cobalt hull. I'd like to know as well as my next boat will likely be an R6 or R8 Surf. The forward drive boats don't produce the same kind of wave as dedicated surf boats (Centurion, Mastercraft, Nautique). A wave is more than how high it gets. How long is the wave, how much push does it have and how clean is it? All questions this review doesn't answer. When you are buying a surf boat for $300,000+ , it better produce a killer surf wave (first and foremost) because at that price, who cares if it has too much light or the driving position isn't perfect if you can't surf behind it. Of course a top quality dedicated surf boat (Nautique) costs more than a Cobalt surf boat so there is that to consider.
Most people don't have the money to spend $300,000 on a bow rider. But, if you want a hybrid boat (surf/stern drive) and the best quality in the business, you have to pay for it. I've bought two in 5 years and I'll buy another one next year - despite deficiencies. Not a surf model though until I see some professional reviews of one, and not cone commissioned by Cobalt.
As for the seat I fit, it was just an issue of how far I had to be from the wheel to get my knee cap off the dash. I would love to see a telescoping steering wheel for that price tag.
I’m on the same page as you on the wave. I really wish there was some better demos of the waves out there with upper level riders. I’ll have my hands on a forward drive model this summer so we will see how it goes.
Have you seen the tower that was on the boat I was mentioning? It’s pretty epic.
How is your wave? The only videos I’ve seen the wave isn’t clean at all. Lots of factors, just curious to know from someone who has one
The pin issue is resolved by going with the electric swim platform. I also verified the wheel is a tilt style or at least on the one I looked at.
That’s good to know on the platform. As for the wheel it was a new one at the boat show and it was just tilt. Wouldn’t it be nice if it telescoped out to you?
I’m not sure about telescoping option. It just begs the question. When the boats are so expensive when do they stop? Liked the video. Be nice if video showed the issue you were explaining. Wheel is straightforward. Not sure if everyone would understand the pin deal if they weren’t super familiar with the step setup. I’m subscribed.
You’re right I should have filmed that when I was at the boat show. Thanks for the follow. Love the feedback
No it’s not. There is still a pin…
Does it seem to be an issue or not in the way with kids getting in and out?
Chaparral 28 Surf..... Would you deem this a more viable option for similar quality ?
The finish on the cobalt was much higher end feeling than the chaparrals I walked through at the boat show.
While it is a beatiful nicely built boat, the wave is problematic. I surfed behind one and while a person could surf, it didn't have a very large surfing area to work with and minimal push. My old retro SAN 230 with my home built surfgate and lots of extra ballast produces a much better wave. Maybe a surfgate will help, but that prop style with the leg doesn't work that well in my view.
Beautiful boat but compared to what’s offered in the market it’s tough to justify the enormous mark up.
Houses, cars, boats - it's all the same. Quality and design cost more. Every new boat floats - what about the rest of it??
Find a dealer that actually takes something off the MSRP…like my local dealer that is taking 23% off for me on my newly ordered R6 Surf.
That’s huge. Are you getting that in this market or before the shortages
@@KbandsTraining Right now.
@@KbandsTraining I just sealed the deal about a week ago.