Cobalt Boats 230WSS 2012 vs Cobalt Boats 242 2010 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Cobalt Boats 230WSS 2012 or the Cobalt Boats 242 2010?

The Cobalt Boats 242 2010 is the longer of the two at 23,9 feet overall. The Cobalt Boats 230WSS 2012 comes in at 21,8 feet, making it roughly 2,1 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Cobalt Boats 230WSS 2012 or the Cobalt Boats 242 2010?

For trailering, the Cobalt Boats 242 2010 has the edge at 46 lbs dry weight versus 415 lbs for the Cobalt Boats 230WSS 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 230WSS 2012 is rated to a maximum of 430 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Cobalt Boats 242 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 230WSS 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats 242 2010 is certified for 13. 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 230WSS 2012 and Cobalt Boats 242 2010 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 230WSS 2012 and Cobalt Boats 242 2010?

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 230WSS 2012 and Cobalt Boats 242 2010 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Cobalt Boats 230WSS 2012 and the Cobalt Boats 242 2010 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 230WSS 2012 vs Cobalt Boats 242 2010

Cobalt Boats

Cobalt Boats 230WSS 2012

2012

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Cobalt Boats

Cobalt Boats 242 2010

2010

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Cobalt Boats 230WSS 2012 vs Cobalt Boats 242 2010 — A Close Look at Two Deep Vees

When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Cobalt Boats 230WSS 2012 and the Cobalt Boats 242 2010 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?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Cobalt Boats 230WSS 2012 at 21,8 ft versus Cobalt Boats 242 2010 at 23,9 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Cobalt Boats 230WSS 2012 tips the scales at 415 lbs — 369 lbs more than the Cobalt Boats 242 2010 at 46 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 230WSS 2012 has a 130-hp advantage over the Cobalt Boats 242 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 242 2010 is rated for 13 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats 230WSS 2012 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 242 2010 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Cobalt Boats 242 2010 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 13 passengers and at 23,9 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Cobalt Boats 230WSS 2012 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

Model230WSS

Model242

Model Year2012

Model Year201

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: 5 ft. 3 in. (1.6 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] - Detail21 in. (0.53 m)

Draft [drive up] meters0.61

Draft [drive up] meters0.53

Draft [drive up] inches24

Draft [drive up] inches21

Draft [max] - Detail36 in. (0.92 m)

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

Draft [max] - Meters0.91

Draft [max] - Meters0.94

Draft [max] - Inches36

Draft [max] - Inches37

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

Weight - Detail4,600 lbs. (2,087 m)

Weight - kg1882.41

Weight - kg2086.52

Weight - lbs.415

Weight - lbs.46

Length - Feet21.83

Length - Feet23.92

Length [over all with swim platform]24 ft. (7.32 m)

Length [over all with swim platform]25 ft. 11 in. (7.9 m)

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

Length overall - Detail23 ft. 11 in. (7.29 m)

Length overall - Meters6.65

Length overall - Meters7.29

Length overall - Inches262

Length overall - Inches287

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeDeep Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine/s standardVolvo Penta 5.0 GXiC DP

Engine/s standardVolvo 5.7 Gi DP

Fuel tank capacity - Detail50 gal. (189 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters189.27

Fuel tank capacity - Gal5

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeI/O

Horsepower270 php (201 PkW)

Horsepower300 php

Engine max430 php (321 PkW)

Engine maxnot available

Operational Info

Water capacity10 gal. (38 gal.)

Water capacityFresh: 10 gal. (38 l)

Maximum capacity1,650 lbs. (748 kg)

Maximum capacity2,250 lbs. (1,021 kg)

Maximum people12

Maximum people13

Cobalt Boats 230WSS 2012 vs Cobalt Boats 242 2010 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Cobalt Boats 230WSS 2012 or the Cobalt Boats 242 2010?

The Cobalt Boats 242 2010 is the longer of the two at 23,9 feet overall. The Cobalt Boats 230WSS 2012 comes in at 21,8 feet, making it roughly 2,1 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Cobalt Boats 230WSS 2012 or the Cobalt Boats 242 2010?

For trailering, the Cobalt Boats 242 2010 has the edge at 46 lbs dry weight versus 415 lbs for the Cobalt Boats 230WSS 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 230WSS 2012 is rated to a maximum of 430 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Cobalt Boats 242 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 230WSS 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats 242 2010 is certified for 13. 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 230WSS 2012 and Cobalt Boats 242 2010 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 230WSS 2012 and Cobalt Boats 242 2010?

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 230WSS 2012 and Cobalt Boats 242 2010 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Cobalt Boats 230WSS 2012 and the Cobalt Boats 242 2010 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 230WSS 2012 full specs ← Cobalt Boats 242 2010 full specs