Cobalt Boats 230 2010 vs Cobalt Boats A25 2012 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Cobalt Boats 230 2010 or the Cobalt Boats A25 2012?

The Cobalt Boats A25 2012 is the longer of the two at 25,5 feet overall. The Cobalt Boats 230 2010 comes in at 21,8 feet, making it roughly 3,7 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Cobalt Boats 230 2010 or the Cobalt Boats A25 2012?

For trailering, the Cobalt Boats 230 2010 has the edge at 415 lbs dry weight versus 5 125 lbs for the Cobalt Boats A25 2012. 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: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Cobalt Boats A25 2012 is rated to a maximum of 430 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Cobalt Boats 230 2010 tops out at 300 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 230 2010 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats A25 2012 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 230 2010 and Cobalt Boats A25 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: How do the fuel tanks compare on the Cobalt Boats 230 2010 and Cobalt Boats A25 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 230 2010 and Cobalt Boats A25 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Cobalt Boats 230 2010 and the Cobalt Boats A25 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 230 2010 vs Cobalt Boats A25 2012

Cobalt Boats

Cobalt Boats 230 2010

2010

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Cobalt Boats

Cobalt Boats A25 2012

2012

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Cobalt Boats 230 2010 vs Cobalt Boats A25 2012 — Which Deep Vee Fits Your Needs?

When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Cobalt Boats 230 2010 and the Cobalt Boats A25 2012 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 A25 2012 measures 25,5 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 3,7 additional feet of deck space compared to the Cobalt Boats 230 2010 at 21,8 feet (2010). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Cobalt Boats A25 2012 tips the scales at 5 125 lbs — 4 710 lbs less than the Cobalt Boats 230 2010 at 415 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 power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 430 hp, the Cobalt Boats A25 2012 has a 130-hp advantage over the Cobalt Boats 230 2010's 300-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 A25 2012 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats 230 2010 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 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Cobalt Boats A25 2012 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 230 2010 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

Model23

ModelA25

Model Year201

Model Year2012

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

Bridge clearance - DetailWithout Bimini: 4 ft. 3 in. (1.3 m) With Arch or Tower: 7 ft. 4 in. (2.24 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 - Meters2.24

Bridge clearance - Meters2.49

Bridge clearance - Inches88

Bridge clearance - Inches98

Deadrise20°

Deadrise21°

Draft [drive up] - Detail24 in. (0.61 m)

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

Draft [drive up] meters0.61

Draft [drive up] meters0.76

Draft [drive up] inches24

Draft [drive up] inches3

Draft [max] - Detail36 in. (0.91 m)

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

Draft [max] - Meters0.91

Draft [max] - Meters0.99

Draft [max] - Inches36

Draft [max] - Inches39

Weight - Detail4,150 lbs. (1,882 kg)

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

Weight - kg1882.41

Weight - kg2324.66

Weight - lbs.415

Weight - lbs.5125

Length - Feet21.83

Length - Feet25.5

Length [over all with swim platform]24 ft. (7.31 m)

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

Length overall - Detail21 ft. 10 in. (6.65 m)

Length overall - Detailnot available

Length overall - Meters6.65

Length overall - Metersnot available

Length overall - Inches262

Length overall - Inchesnot available

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeDeep Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine/s standardVolvo Penta 5.7 Gi DP

Engine/s standardVolvo Penta 5.7 GiC DP

Fuel tank capacity - Detail50 gal. (189 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters189.27

Fuel tank capacity - Gal5

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeI/O

Horsepower300 php

Horsepower300 php (313 PkW)

Engine maxnot available

Engine max430 php (321 PkW)

Operational Info

Water capacityFresh: 10 gal. (38 l)

Water capacity10 gal. (38 l)

Maximum capacity1,650 lbs. (748 kg)

Maximum capacity2,065 lbs. (937 kg)

Maximum people12

Maximum people15

Cobalt Boats 230 2010 vs Cobalt Boats A25 2012 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Cobalt Boats 230 2010 or the Cobalt Boats A25 2012?

The Cobalt Boats A25 2012 is the longer of the two at 25,5 feet overall. The Cobalt Boats 230 2010 comes in at 21,8 feet, making it roughly 3,7 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Cobalt Boats 230 2010 or the Cobalt Boats A25 2012?

For trailering, the Cobalt Boats 230 2010 has the edge at 415 lbs dry weight versus 5 125 lbs for the Cobalt Boats A25 2012. 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.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Cobalt Boats A25 2012 is rated to a maximum of 430 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Cobalt Boats 230 2010 tops out at 300 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 230 2010 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats A25 2012 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 230 2010 and Cobalt Boats A25 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.

How do the fuel tanks compare on the Cobalt Boats 230 2010 and Cobalt Boats A25 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 230 2010 and Cobalt Boats A25 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Cobalt Boats 230 2010 and the Cobalt Boats A25 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 230 2010 full specs ← Cobalt Boats A25 2012 full specs