Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 vs Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2009 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 or the Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2009?

The Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2009 is the longer of the two at 23,9 feet overall. The Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 comes in at 21,0 feet, making it roughly 2,9 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 or the Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2009?

For trailering, the Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 has the edge at 41 lbs dry weight versus 46 lbs for the Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2009. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2009 is certified for 13. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 and Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2009 share an 8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m) beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

Q: How do the fuel tanks compare on the Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 and Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2009?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 5 gallons and 5 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Q: Are the Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 and Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 and the Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2009 are built by Cobalt Boats. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 vs Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2009

Cobalt Boats

Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008

2008

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Cobalt Boats

Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2009

2009

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 vs Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2009 — A Close Look at Two Deep Vees

When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 and the Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2009 are deep vee designs with fiberglass construction — the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 at 21,0 ft versus Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2009 at 23,9 ft. At 41 lbs and 46 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2009 is rated for 13 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 caps at 12. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2009 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 13 passengers and at 23,9 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 12 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeCobalt Boats

Model212 Bowrider

Model242WSS

Model Year2008

Model Year2009

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

Bridge clearance - Detail4 ft. 9 in. (1.45 m) With arch or tower: 7 ft. 6 in. (2.29 m)

Bridge clearance - DetailWithout Bimini: 5 ft. 3 in. (1.6 m) With Arch or Tower: 8 ft. 2 in. (2.49 m)

Bridge clearance - Meters2.29

Bridge clearance - Meters2.49

Bridge clearance - Inches9

Bridge clearance - Inches98

Deadrise21℃

Deadrise21°

Draft [drive up] - Detail26-5/8 in. (0.68 m)

Draft [drive up] - Detail21 in. (0.53 m)

Draft [drive up] meters0.69

Draft [drive up] meters0.53

Draft [drive up] inches26.625

Draft [drive up] inches21

Draft [max] - Detail36-3/8 in. (0.92 m)

Draft [max] - Detail37 in. (0.94 m)

Draft [max] - Meters9.14

Draft [max] - Meters0.94

Draft [max] - Inches360.375

Draft [max] - Inches37

Weight - Detail4,100 lbs. (1,860 kg)

Weight - Detail4,600 lbs. (2,087 kg)

Weight - kg1859.73

Weight - kg2086.52

Weight - lbs.41

Weight - lbs.46

Length - Meters6.4

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Feet21

Length - Feet23.92

Length - Inches1

Length - Inchesnot available

Length [over all with swim platform]23 ft. 4 in. (7.12 m)

Length [over all with swim platform]25 ft. 11 in. (7.9 m)

Length overall - Detail21 ft. 1 in. (6.40 m)

Length overall - Detail23 ft. 11 in. (7.29 m)

Length overall - Meters6.43

Length overall - Meters7.29

Length overall - Inches253

Length overall - Inches287

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeDeep Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine/s standardVolvo Single 4.3 GXI SX 225 php (168 PkW)

Engine/s standardVolvo Penta 5.0 GXI SX 270 php (201 PkW)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail50 gal. (189 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters189.27

Fuel tank capacity - Gal5

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeInboard/Outboard

Drive typeI/O

Operational Info

Water capacity10 gal. (38 l)

Water capacityFresh: 10 gal. (38 l)

Maximum capacity1,800 lbs. (816 kg)

Maximum capacity2,250 lbs. (1,021 kg)

Maximum people12

Maximum people13

Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 vs Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2009 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 or the Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2009?

The Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2009 is the longer of the two at 23,9 feet overall. The Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 comes in at 21,0 feet, making it roughly 2,9 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 or the Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2009?

For trailering, the Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 has the edge at 41 lbs dry weight versus 46 lbs for the Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2009. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2009 is certified for 13. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 and Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2009 share an 8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m) beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

How do the fuel tanks compare on the Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 and Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2009?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 5 gallons and 5 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Are the Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 and Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 and the Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2009 are built by Cobalt Boats. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 full specs ← Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2009 full specs