Cobalt Boats 220 1999 vs Cobalt Boats 242 2012 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Cobalt Boats 220 1999 or the Cobalt Boats 242 2012?

The Cobalt Boats 242 2012 is the longer of the two at 23,9 feet overall. The Cobalt Boats 220 1999 comes in at 22,0 feet, making it roughly 1,9 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Cobalt Boats 242 2012 is rated to a maximum of 430 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Cobalt Boats 220 1999 tops out at 220 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Cobalt Boats 220 1999 is Coast Guard rated for 6 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats 242 2012 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: How do the fuel tanks compare on the Cobalt Boats 220 1999 and Cobalt Boats 242 2012?

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 220 1999 and Cobalt Boats 242 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Cobalt Boats 220 1999 and the Cobalt Boats 242 2012 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 220 1999 vs Cobalt Boats 242 2012

Cobalt Boats

Cobalt Boats 220 1999

1999

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Cobalt Boats

Cobalt Boats 242 2012

2012

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Cobalt Boats 220 1999 vs Cobalt Boats 242 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Cobalt Boats 220 1999 vs Cobalt Boats 242 2012 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 430 hp, the Cobalt Boats 242 2012 has a 210-hp advantage over the Cobalt Boats 220 1999's 220-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. 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 242 2012 is rated for 13 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats 220 1999 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Cobalt Boats 242 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Cobalt Boats 242 2012 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 220 1999 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.

Measurements / Dimensions

Length overall - Detail22.00 ft

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

Length - Feet22

Length - Feet23.92

Length overall - Meters6.71

Length overall - Meters7.29

Length overall - Inches264

Length overall - Inches287

Beamnot available

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beam - Metersnot available

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inchesnot available

Beam - Inches102

Bridge clearance - Detailnot available

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

Bridge clearance - Metersnot available

Bridge clearance - Meters2.49

Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available

Bridge clearance - Inches98

Deadrisenot available

Deadrise21°

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

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

Draft [drive up] metersnot available

Draft [drive up] meters0.53

Draft [drive up] inchesnot available

Draft [drive up] inches21

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

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

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.94

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

Draft [max] - Inches37

Weight - Detailnot available

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

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - kg2086.52

Weight - lbs.not available

Weight - lbs.46

Length [over all with swim platform]not available

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

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Gal5

Fuel tank capacity - Liters189.27

Engine makeVolvo

Engine makenot available

Horsepower220 hp

Horsepower300 php (224 PkW)

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeinboard

Drive typeI/O

Engine/s standardnot available

Engine/s standardVolvo Penta 5.7 GiC DP

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail50 gal. (189 l)

Engine maxnot available

Engine max430 php (321 PkW)

Operational Info

Boat typePower

Boat typenot available

Water capacitynot available

Water capacity10 gal. (38 l)

Maximum capacitynot available

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

Maximum peoplenot available

Maximum people13

General Boat Info

Makenot available

MakeCobalt Boats

Modelnot available

Model242

Model Yearnot available

Model Year2012

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typenot available

Hull typeDeep Vee

Cobalt Boats 220 1999 vs Cobalt Boats 242 2012 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Cobalt Boats 220 1999 or the Cobalt Boats 242 2012?

The Cobalt Boats 242 2012 is the longer of the two at 23,9 feet overall. The Cobalt Boats 220 1999 comes in at 22,0 feet, making it roughly 1,9 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Cobalt Boats 242 2012 is rated to a maximum of 430 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Cobalt Boats 220 1999 tops out at 220 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Cobalt Boats 220 1999 is Coast Guard rated for 6 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats 242 2012 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.

How do the fuel tanks compare on the Cobalt Boats 220 1999 and Cobalt Boats 242 2012?

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 220 1999 and Cobalt Boats 242 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Cobalt Boats 220 1999 and the Cobalt Boats 242 2012 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 220 1999 full specs ← Cobalt Boats 242 2012 full specs