Cobalt Boats 226 2006 vs Cobalt Boats A25 2011 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Cobalt Boats 226 2006 or the Cobalt Boats A25 2011?

The Cobalt Boats A25 2011 is the longer of the two at 25,5 feet overall. The Cobalt Boats 226 2006 comes in at 22,0 feet, making it roughly 3,5 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 A25 2011?

For trailering, the Cobalt Boats 226 2006 has the edge at 4 171 lbs dry weight versus 5 125 lbs for the Cobalt Boats A25 2011. 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 A25 2011 is certified for 15. 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 A25 2011 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 226 2006 and Cobalt Boats A25 2011?

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 226 2006 and Cobalt Boats A25 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Cobalt Boats 226 2006 and the Cobalt Boats A25 2011 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 A25 2011

Cobalt Boats

Cobalt Boats 226 2006

2006

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Cobalt Boats

Cobalt Boats A25 2011

2011

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Cobalt Boats 226 2006 vs Cobalt Boats A25 2011 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Cobalt Boats 226 2006 vs Cobalt Boats A25 2011 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 A25 2011 measures 25,5 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 3,5 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 A25 2011 tips the scales at 5 125 lbs — 954 lbs less than the Cobalt Boats 226 2006 at 4 171 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 A25 2011. 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. 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 A25 2011 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats 226 2006 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 A25 2011 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Cobalt Boats A25 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 15 passengers and at 25,5 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Cobalt Boats 226 2006 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

Model226

ModelA25

Model Year2006

Model Year2011

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: 8 ft. 2 in. (2.49 m)

Bridge clearance - Meters1.37

Bridge clearance - Meters2.49

Bridge clearance - Inches54

Bridge clearance - Inches98

Deadrise20℃

Deadrise21°

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

Draft [drive up] - Detail30 in. (0.76 m)

Draft [drive up] meters0.51

Draft [drive up] meters0.76

Draft [drive up] inches2

Draft [drive up] inches3

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 - Detail5,125 lbs. (2,325 kg)

Weight - kg1891.93

Weight - kg2324.66

Weight - lbs.4171

Weight - lbs.5125

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 - Feet25.5

Length - Inches8

Length - Inchesnot available

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

Length [over all with swim platform]25 ft. 6 in. (7.77 m)

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

Length overall - Detailnot available

Length overall - Meters6.91

Length overall - Metersnot available

Length overall - Inches272

Length overall - Inchesnot available

Engine and Drivetrain

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

Engine/s standardVolvo Penta 5.7 GiC DP

Fuel tank capacity - Detail50 gal. (189 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters189.27

Fuel tank capacity - Gal5

Drive typeI/O

Engine max425 hp (317 kW)

Engine max430 php (321 PkW)

Max no of enginesnot available

Max no of engines1

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Horsepowernot available

Horsepower300 php (313 PkW)

Operational Info

Water capacity10 gal. (37.9 l)

Water capacity10 gal. (38 l)

Maximum capacity1,650 lbs. (748 kg)

Maximum capacity2,065 lbs. (937 kg)

Maximum people12

Maximum people15

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typenot available

Hull typeDeep Vee

Cobalt Boats 226 2006 vs Cobalt Boats A25 2011 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Cobalt Boats 226 2006 or the Cobalt Boats A25 2011?

The Cobalt Boats A25 2011 is the longer of the two at 25,5 feet overall. The Cobalt Boats 226 2006 comes in at 22,0 feet, making it roughly 3,5 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 A25 2011?

For trailering, the Cobalt Boats 226 2006 has the edge at 4 171 lbs dry weight versus 5 125 lbs for the Cobalt Boats A25 2011. 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 A25 2011 is certified for 15. 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 A25 2011 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 226 2006 and Cobalt Boats A25 2011?

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 226 2006 and Cobalt Boats A25 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Cobalt Boats 226 2006 and the Cobalt Boats A25 2011 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 A25 2011 full specs