Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 vs Cobalt Boats R5 2013 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 or the Cobalt Boats R5 2013?

The Cobalt Boats R5 2013 is the longer of the two at 25,7 feet overall. The Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 comes in at 21,0 feet, making it roughly 4,7 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 R5 2013?

For trailering, the Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 has the edge at 41 lbs dry weight versus 488 lbs for the Cobalt Boats R5 2013. 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: What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Cobalt Boats R5 2013 has a documented max rating of 8 hp. Engine specifications for the Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.

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 R5 2013 is certified for 2. 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 R5 2013 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 R5 2013?

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 R5 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 and the Cobalt Boats R5 2013 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 R5 2013

Cobalt Boats

Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008

2008

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Cobalt Boats

Cobalt Boats R5 2013

2013

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 vs Cobalt Boats R5 2013 — Which Deep Vee Fits Your Needs?

When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 and the Cobalt Boats R5 2013 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?

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Cobalt Boats R5 2013 measures 25,7 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 4,7 additional feet of deck space compared to the Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 at 21,0 feet (2008). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Cobalt Boats R5 2013 tips the scales at 488 lbs — 447 lbs less than the Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 at 41 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.

The Cobalt Boats R5 2013 tops out at 8 hp. Engine specs for the Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 5 gal and 5 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats R5 2013 caps at 2. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 21,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Cobalt Boats R5 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 2 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeCobalt Boats

Model212 Bowrider

ModelR5

Model Year2008

Model Year2013

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: 64 in. (1.63 m) With Bimini: 91 in. (2.31 m) With Arch or Tower: 98 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 - Detail4,880 lbs. (1,021 kg)

Weight - kg1859.73

Weight - kg2213.53

Weight - lbs.41

Weight - lbs.488

Length - Meters6.4

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Feet21

Length - Feet25.67

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. 8 in. (7.82 m)

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

Length overall - Detailnot available

Length overall - Meters6.43

Length overall - Metersnot available

Length overall - Inches253

Length overall - Inchesnot available

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeDeep Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

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

Engine/s standard300 php (224 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

Max no of enginesnot available

Max no of engines430 php (321 PkW)

Engine maxnot available

Engine maxVolvo Single V8-300C DP

Operational Info

Water capacity10 gal. (38 l)

Maximum capacity1,800 lbs. (816 kg)

Maximum capacity14

Maximum people12

Maximum people2,550 lbs. (1,021 kg)

Headnot available

HeadPorta Potti

Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 vs Cobalt Boats R5 2013 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 or the Cobalt Boats R5 2013?

The Cobalt Boats R5 2013 is the longer of the two at 25,7 feet overall. The Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 comes in at 21,0 feet, making it roughly 4,7 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 R5 2013?

For trailering, the Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 has the edge at 41 lbs dry weight versus 488 lbs for the Cobalt Boats R5 2013. 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.

What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Cobalt Boats R5 2013 has a documented max rating of 8 hp. Engine specifications for the Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats R5 2013 is certified for 2. 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 R5 2013 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 R5 2013?

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 R5 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Cobalt Boats 212 Bowrider 2008 and the Cobalt Boats R5 2013 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 R5 2013 full specs