Cobalt Boats 230 2012 vs Cobalt Boats 262 2007 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Cobalt Boats 230 2012 or the Cobalt Boats 262 2007?

The Cobalt Boats 262 2007 is the longer of the two at 26,0 feet overall. The Cobalt Boats 230 2012 comes in at 21,8 feet, making it roughly 4,2 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Cobalt Boats 230 2012 or the Cobalt Boats 262 2007?

For trailering, the Cobalt Boats 230 2012 has the edge at 415 lbs dry weight versus 514 lbs for the Cobalt Boats 262 2007. 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 262 2007 is rated to a maximum of 500 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Cobalt Boats 230 2012 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 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats 262 2007 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 230 2012 and Cobalt Boats 262 2007 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 2012 and Cobalt Boats 262 2007?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 5 gallons and 7 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 2012 and Cobalt Boats 262 2007 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Cobalt Boats 230 2012 and the Cobalt Boats 262 2007 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 2012 vs Cobalt Boats 262 2007

Cobalt Boats

Cobalt Boats 230 2012

2012

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Cobalt Boats

Cobalt Boats 262 2007

2007

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Cobalt Boats 230 2012 vs Cobalt Boats 262 2007 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Cobalt Boats 230 2012 vs Cobalt Boats 262 2007 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 262 2007 measures 26,0 feet overall (2007), giving it roughly 4,2 additional feet of deck space compared to the Cobalt Boats 230 2012 at 21,8 feet (2012). At 415 lbs and 514 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 500 hp, the Cobalt Boats 262 2007 has a 70-hp advantage over the Cobalt Boats 230 2012'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 7 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 2012 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats 262 2007 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 230 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Cobalt Boats 230 2012 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 262 2007 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

Model23

Model262

Model Year2012

Model Year2007

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 - Detail57 in. (1.45 m)

Bridge clearance - Meters2.24

Bridge clearance - Meters1.45

Bridge clearance - Inches88

Bridge clearance - Inches57

Deadrise20°

Deadrise22℃

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

Draft [drive up] - Detail22 in. (0.56 m)

Draft [drive up] meters0.61

Draft [drive up] meters0.56

Draft [drive up] inches24

Draft [drive up] inches22

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 - Detail4,834 lbs. (2,193 kg) (with small block engine) 5,140 lbs. (2,331 kg) (with big block engine)

Weight - kg1882.41

Weight - kg2331.46

Weight - lbs.415

Weight - lbs.514

Length - Feet21.83

Length - Feet26

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

Length [over all with swim platform]28 ft. 6 in. (8.68 m)

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

Length overall - Detail26 ft. 8 in. (8.12 m)

Length overall - Meters6.65

Length overall - Meters8.13

Length overall - Inches262

Length overall - Inches32

Height - Detailnot available

Height - DetailOverall: 73 in. (1.85 m) With arch or tower: 107-1/2 in. (2.73 m) Without windshield: 59-3/4 in. (1.51 m)

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Meters2.74

Height - Inchesnot available

Height - Inches107.5

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Meters8.12

Length - Inchesnot available

Length - Inches8

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull materialnot available

Hull typeDeep Vee

Hull typenot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine/s standardVolvo Penta 5.7 GXiC DP

Engine/s standardVolvo Penta 5.7 Gi SX 280 hp (209 kW)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail50 gal. (189 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail70 gal. (265 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters189.27

Fuel tank capacity - Liters264.98

Fuel tank capacity - Gal5

Fuel tank capacity - Gal7

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeI/O

Drive typeInboard/Outboard

Horsepower270 php (201 PkW)

Horsepowernot available

Engine max430 php (321 PkW)

Engine max500 hp (373 kW)

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

HeadPorta potti

Cobalt Boats 230 2012 vs Cobalt Boats 262 2007 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Cobalt Boats 230 2012 or the Cobalt Boats 262 2007?

The Cobalt Boats 262 2007 is the longer of the two at 26,0 feet overall. The Cobalt Boats 230 2012 comes in at 21,8 feet, making it roughly 4,2 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Cobalt Boats 230 2012 or the Cobalt Boats 262 2007?

For trailering, the Cobalt Boats 230 2012 has the edge at 415 lbs dry weight versus 514 lbs for the Cobalt Boats 262 2007. 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 262 2007 is rated to a maximum of 500 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Cobalt Boats 230 2012 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 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats 262 2007 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 230 2012 and Cobalt Boats 262 2007 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 2012 and Cobalt Boats 262 2007?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 5 gallons and 7 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 2012 and Cobalt Boats 262 2007 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Cobalt Boats 230 2012 and the Cobalt Boats 262 2007 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 2012 full specs ← Cobalt Boats 262 2007 full specs