Cobalt Boats 226 2006 vs Cobalt Boats 273 2012 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Cobalt Boats 226 2006 or the Cobalt Boats 273 2012?

The Cobalt Boats 273 2012 is the longer of the two at 27,5 feet overall. The Cobalt Boats 226 2006 comes in at 22,0 feet, making it roughly 5,5 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Cobalt Boats 226 2006 or the Cobalt Boats 273 2012?

For trailering, the Cobalt Boats 273 2012 has the edge at 58 lbs dry weight versus 4 171 lbs for the Cobalt Boats 226 2006. 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 226 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats 273 2012 is certified for 8. 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 226 2006 and Cobalt Boats 273 2012 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: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Cobalt Boats 226 2006 or the Cobalt Boats 273 2012?

The Cobalt Boats 273 2012 has the bigger tank at 95 gallons, versus 5 gallons on the Cobalt Boats 226 2006. That 90-gallon difference translates to roughly 270–450 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Cobalt Boats 226 2006 and Cobalt Boats 273 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Cobalt Boats 226 2006 and the Cobalt Boats 273 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 226 2006 vs Cobalt Boats 273 2012

Cobalt Boats

Cobalt Boats 226 2006

2006

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Cobalt Boats

Cobalt Boats 273 2012

2012

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Cobalt Boats 226 2006 vs Cobalt Boats 273 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Cobalt Boats 226 2006 vs Cobalt Boats 273 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.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Cobalt Boats 273 2012 measures 27,5 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 5,5 additional feet of deck space compared to the Cobalt Boats 226 2006 at 22,0 feet (2006). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Cobalt Boats 226 2006 tips the scales at 4 171 lbs — 4 113 lbs more than the Cobalt Boats 273 2012 at 58 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.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 425 hp for the Cobalt Boats 226 2006 and 430 hp for the Cobalt Boats 273 2012. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Cobalt Boats 273 2012 carries 95 gallons versus 5 gallons in the Cobalt Boats 226 2006. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Cobalt Boats 226 2006 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats 273 2012 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Cobalt Boats 226 2006 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Cobalt Boats 226 2006 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 22,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Cobalt Boats 273 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeCobalt Boats

Model226

Model273

Model Year2006

Model Year2012

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

Bridge clearance - Detail54 in. (1.37 m)

Bridge clearance - DetailWithout Bimini: 4 ft. 11 in. (1.5 m) With Arch or Tower: 7 ft. 7 in. (2.31 m)

Bridge clearance - Meters1.37

Bridge clearance - Meters2.31

Bridge clearance - Inches54

Bridge clearance - Inches91

Deadrise20℃

Deadrise21°

Draft [drive up] - Detail20 in. (.51 m) (with single engine)

Draft [drive up] - Detail27 in. (0.69 m)

Draft [drive up] meters0.51

Draft [drive up] meters0.69

Draft [drive up] inches2

Draft [drive up] inches27

Draft [max] - Detail37 in. (.94 m) (with single engine)

Draft [max] - Detail39 in. (0.99 m)

Draft [max] - Meters0.94

Draft [max] - Meters0.99

Draft [max] - Inches37

Draft [max] - Inches39

Weight - Detail3,865 lbs. (1,753 kg) (with small block engine) 4,171 lbs. (1,892 kg) (with big block engine)

Weight - Detail5,800 lbs. (2,631 kg)

Weight - kg1891.93

Weight - kg2630.83

Weight - lbs.4171

Weight - lbs.58

Height - DetailWithout Windshield: 55 in. (1.40 m) Overall: 68 in. (1.73 m) With Arch or Tower: 108 in. (2.74 m)

Height - Detailnot available

Height - Meters2.74

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Inches108

Height - Inchesnot available

Length - Meters6.91

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Feet22

Length - Feet27.5

Length - Inches8

Length - Inchesnot available

Length [over all with swim platform]24 ft. 10 in. (7.57 m)

Length [over all with swim platform]28 ft. 10 in. (8.79 m)

Length overall - Detail22 ft. 8 in. (6.91 m)

Length overall - Detail27 ft. 6 in. (8.38 m)

Length overall - Meters6.91

Length overall - Meters8.38

Length overall - Inches272

Length overall - Inches33

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine/s standardVolvo Penta 4.3 GXi SX 225 hp (168 kW)

Engine/s standardVolvo Penta 5.7 GXiC DP

Fuel tank capacity - Detail50 gal. (189 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail95 gal. (360 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters189.27

Fuel tank capacity - Liters359.61

Fuel tank capacity - Gal5

Fuel tank capacity - Gal95

Drive typeI/O

Engine max425 hp (317 kW)

Engine max430 php (321 PkW)

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas or Diesel

Horsepowernot available

Horsepower320 php (239 PkW)

Operational Info

Water capacity10 gal. (37.9 l)

Water capacity10 gal. (38 l)

Maximum capacity1,650 lbs. (748 kg)

Maximum capacityYacht certified

Maximum people12

Maximum peopleYacht certified

Headnot available

HeadPorta Potti

Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available

Holding tank capacity - Detail10 gal. (38 l)

Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available

Holding tank capacity - Liters37.85

Holding tank capacity - Galnot available

Holding tank capacity - Gal1

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typenot available

Hull typeDeep Vee

Cobalt Boats 226 2006 vs Cobalt Boats 273 2012 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Cobalt Boats 226 2006 or the Cobalt Boats 273 2012?

The Cobalt Boats 273 2012 is the longer of the two at 27,5 feet overall. The Cobalt Boats 226 2006 comes in at 22,0 feet, making it roughly 5,5 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Cobalt Boats 226 2006 or the Cobalt Boats 273 2012?

For trailering, the Cobalt Boats 273 2012 has the edge at 58 lbs dry weight versus 4 171 lbs for the Cobalt Boats 226 2006. 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 226 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats 273 2012 is certified for 8. 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 226 2006 and Cobalt Boats 273 2012 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.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Cobalt Boats 226 2006 or the Cobalt Boats 273 2012?

The Cobalt Boats 273 2012 has the bigger tank at 95 gallons, versus 5 gallons on the Cobalt Boats 226 2006. That 90-gallon difference translates to roughly 270–450 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Cobalt Boats 226 2006 and Cobalt Boats 273 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Cobalt Boats 226 2006 and the Cobalt Boats 273 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 226 2006 full specs ← Cobalt Boats 273 2012 full specs