Cobalt Boats 230 2011 vs Cobalt Boats 343 2006 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Cobalt Boats 230 2011 or the Cobalt Boats 343 2006?

The Cobalt Boats 343 2006 is the longer of the two at 35,0 feet overall. The Cobalt Boats 230 2011 comes in at 21,8 feet, making it roughly 13,2 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Cobalt Boats 230 2011 or the Cobalt Boats 343 2006?

For trailering, the Cobalt Boats 230 2011 has the edge at 415 lbs dry weight versus 1 175 lbs for the Cobalt Boats 343 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: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Cobalt Boats 343 2006 is rated to a maximum of 500 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Cobalt Boats 230 2011 tops out at 430 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 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats 343 2006 is certified for 10. 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: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Cobalt Boats 343 2006 measures 116" wide, compared to 102" for the Cobalt Boats 230 2011. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Cobalt Boats 230 2011 or the Cobalt Boats 343 2006?

The Cobalt Boats 230 2011 has the bigger tank at 5 gallons, versus 2 gallons on the Cobalt Boats 343 2006. That 3-gallon difference translates to roughly 9–15 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Cobalt Boats 230 2011 and Cobalt Boats 343 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Cobalt Boats 230 2011 and the Cobalt Boats 343 2006 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 2011 vs Cobalt Boats 343 2006

Cobalt Boats

Cobalt Boats 230 2011

2011

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Cobalt Boats

Cobalt Boats 343 2006

2006

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Cobalt Boats 230 2011 vs Cobalt Boats 343 2006 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Cobalt Boats 230 2011 vs Cobalt Boats 343 2006 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 343 2006 measures 35,0 feet overall (2006), giving it roughly 13,2 additional feet of deck space compared to the Cobalt Boats 230 2011 at 21,8 feet (2011). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Cobalt Boats 343 2006 tips the scales at 1 175 lbs — 760 lbs less than the Cobalt Boats 230 2011 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 500 hp, the Cobalt Boats 343 2006 has a 70-hp advantage over the Cobalt Boats 230 2011's 430-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 2 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Cobalt Boats 230 2011 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats 343 2006 caps at 10. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Cobalt Boats 230 2011 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Cobalt Boats 230 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 21,8 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Cobalt Boats 343 2006 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 10 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeCobalt Boats

Model23

Model343

Model Year2011

Model Year2006

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beam9 ft. 8 in. (2.95 m)

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Meters2.95

Beam - Inches102

Beam - Inches116

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

Bridge clearance - Detail69 in. (1.75 m)

Bridge clearance - Meters2.24

Bridge clearance - Meters1.75

Bridge clearance - Inches88

Bridge clearance - Inches69

Deadrise20°

Deadrise24.5℃

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

Draft [drive up] - Detail28 in. (0.71 m) (with twin engines)

Draft [drive up] meters0.61

Draft [drive up] meters0.71

Draft [drive up] inches24

Draft [drive up] inches28

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

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

Draft [max] - Meters0.91

Draft [max] - Meters0.94

Draft [max] - Inches36

Draft [max] - Inches37

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

Weight - Detail11,750 lbs. (5,330 kg) (with twin big block engines)

Weight - kg1882.41

Weight - kg5329.71

Weight - lbs.415

Weight - lbs.1175

Length - Feet21.83

Length - Feet35

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

Length [over all with swim platform]37 ft. 2-1/2 in. (11.34 m)

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

Length overall - Detail35 ft. 4 in. (10.78 m)

Length overall - Meters6.65

Length overall - Meters10.77

Length overall - Inches262

Length overall - Inches424

Height - Detailnot available

Height - DetailOverall: 87-1/2 in. (2.22 m) With arch or tower: 116-1/2 in. (2.96 m) Without windshield: 73-1/2 in. (1.87 m)

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Meters2.97

Height - Inchesnot available

Height - Inches116.5

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Meters10.78

Length - Inchesnot available

Length - Inches4

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull materialnot available

Hull typeDeep Vee

Hull typenot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine/s standardVolvo Penta 5.7 GiC DP

Engine/s standardMerCruiser Twin 496 Mag MPI Bravo 1 375 hp (280 kW)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail50 gal. (189 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail200 gal. (757 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters189.27

Fuel tank capacity - Liters757.08

Fuel tank capacity - Gal5

Fuel tank capacity - Gal2

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typeGas or diesel

Drive typeI/O

Horsepower300 php (224 PkW)

Horsepowernot available

Engine max430 php (321 PkW)

Engine maxTwin 500 hp

Operational Info

Water capacity10 gal. (38 l)

Water capacity10 gal. (37.9 l)

Maximum capacity1,650 lbs. (748 kg)

Maximum capacityYacht certified

Maximum people12

Maximum peopleYacht certified

Headnot available

HeadElectric

Cobalt Boats 230 2011 vs Cobalt Boats 343 2006 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Cobalt Boats 230 2011 or the Cobalt Boats 343 2006?

The Cobalt Boats 343 2006 is the longer of the two at 35,0 feet overall. The Cobalt Boats 230 2011 comes in at 21,8 feet, making it roughly 13,2 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Cobalt Boats 230 2011 or the Cobalt Boats 343 2006?

For trailering, the Cobalt Boats 230 2011 has the edge at 415 lbs dry weight versus 1 175 lbs for the Cobalt Boats 343 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.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Cobalt Boats 343 2006 is rated to a maximum of 500 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Cobalt Boats 230 2011 tops out at 430 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 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats 343 2006 is certified for 10. 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.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Cobalt Boats 343 2006 measures 116" wide, compared to 102" for the Cobalt Boats 230 2011. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Cobalt Boats 230 2011 or the Cobalt Boats 343 2006?

The Cobalt Boats 230 2011 has the bigger tank at 5 gallons, versus 2 gallons on the Cobalt Boats 343 2006. That 3-gallon difference translates to roughly 9–15 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Cobalt Boats 230 2011 and Cobalt Boats 343 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Cobalt Boats 230 2011 and the Cobalt Boats 343 2006 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 2011 full specs ← Cobalt Boats 343 2006 full specs