Cobalt Boats 242 2009 vs Cobalt Boats 252 Bowrider 2008 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Cobalt Boats 242 2009 or the Cobalt Boats 252 Bowrider 2008?

The Cobalt Boats 252 Bowrider 2008 is the longer of the two at 25,0 feet overall. The Cobalt Boats 242 2009 comes in at 23,9 feet, making it roughly 1,1 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Cobalt Boats 242 2009 or the Cobalt Boats 252 Bowrider 2008?

For trailering, the Cobalt Boats 242 2009 has the edge at 46 lbs dry weight versus 5 425 lbs for the Cobalt Boats 252 Bowrider 2008. 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 242 2009 is Coast Guard rated for 13 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats 252 Bowrider 2008 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 242 2009 and Cobalt Boats 252 Bowrider 2008 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: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Cobalt Boats 242 2009 or the Cobalt Boats 252 Bowrider 2008?

The Cobalt Boats 252 Bowrider 2008 has the bigger tank at 73 gallons, versus 5 gallons on the Cobalt Boats 242 2009. That 68-gallon difference translates to roughly 204–340 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Cobalt Boats 242 2009 and Cobalt Boats 252 Bowrider 2008 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Cobalt Boats 242 2009 and the Cobalt Boats 252 Bowrider 2008 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 242 2009 vs Cobalt Boats 252 Bowrider 2008

Cobalt Boats

Cobalt Boats 242 2009

2009

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Cobalt Boats

Cobalt Boats 252 Bowrider 2008

2008

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Cobalt Boats 242 2009 vs Cobalt Boats 252 Bowrider 2008 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a deep vee Cobalt Boats 242 2009 against a modified vee Cobalt Boats 252 Bowrider 2008 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Cobalt Boats 242 2009 at 23,9 ft versus Cobalt Boats 252 Bowrider 2008 at 25,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Cobalt Boats 252 Bowrider 2008 tips the scales at 5 425 lbs — 5 379 lbs less than the Cobalt Boats 242 2009 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.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Cobalt Boats 252 Bowrider 2008 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats 242 2009 caps at 13. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Cobalt Boats 252 Bowrider 2008 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Cobalt Boats 252 Bowrider 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 15 passengers and at 25,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Cobalt Boats 242 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 13 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeCobalt Boats

Model242

Model252 Bowrider

Model Year2009

Model Year2008

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

Bridge clearance - DetailWithout Bimini: 5 ft. 3 in. (1.6 m) With Arch or Tower: 8 ft. 2 in. (2.49 m)

Bridge clearance - Detail5 ft. 3 in. (1.6 m) With arch or tower: 8 ft. 2 in. (2.49 m)

Bridge clearance - Meters2.49

Bridge clearance - Inches98

Deadrise21°

Deadrise21℃

Draft [drive up] - Detail21 in. (0.53 m)

Draft [drive up] meters0.53

Draft [drive up] inches21

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

Draft [max] - Meters0.94

Draft [max] - Inches37

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

Weight - Detail5,425 lbs. (2,460 kg)

Weight - kg2086.52

Weight - kg2460.74

Weight - lbs.46

Weight - lbs.5425

Length - Feet23.92

Length - Feet25

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

Length [over all with swim platform]27 ft. 7 in. (8.4 m)

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

Length overall - Detail25 ft. 7 in. (7.8 m)

Length overall - Meters7.29

Length overall - Meters7.8

Length overall - Inches287

Length overall - Inches307

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Meters7.8

Length - Inchesnot available

Length - Inches7

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeDeep Vee

Hull typeModified Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine/s standardVolvo Penta 5.0 GXI SX 270 php (201 PkW)

Engine/s standardVolvo Single 5.7 GI SX 280 php (209 PkW)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail50 gal. (189 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail73 gal. (276 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters189.27

Fuel tank capacity - Liters276.33

Fuel tank capacity - Gal5

Fuel tank capacity - Gal73

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeI/O

Drive typeInboard/Outboard

Operational Info

Water capacityFresh: 10 gal. (38 l)

Water capacity10 gal. (38 l)

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

Maximum capacity2,585 lbs. (1,173 kg)

Maximum people13

Maximum people15

Cobalt Boats 242 2009 vs Cobalt Boats 252 Bowrider 2008 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Cobalt Boats 242 2009 or the Cobalt Boats 252 Bowrider 2008?

The Cobalt Boats 252 Bowrider 2008 is the longer of the two at 25,0 feet overall. The Cobalt Boats 242 2009 comes in at 23,9 feet, making it roughly 1,1 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Cobalt Boats 242 2009 or the Cobalt Boats 252 Bowrider 2008?

For trailering, the Cobalt Boats 242 2009 has the edge at 46 lbs dry weight versus 5 425 lbs for the Cobalt Boats 252 Bowrider 2008. 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 242 2009 is Coast Guard rated for 13 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats 252 Bowrider 2008 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 242 2009 and Cobalt Boats 252 Bowrider 2008 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.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Cobalt Boats 242 2009 or the Cobalt Boats 252 Bowrider 2008?

The Cobalt Boats 252 Bowrider 2008 has the bigger tank at 73 gallons, versus 5 gallons on the Cobalt Boats 242 2009. That 68-gallon difference translates to roughly 204–340 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Cobalt Boats 242 2009 and Cobalt Boats 252 Bowrider 2008 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Cobalt Boats 242 2009 and the Cobalt Boats 252 Bowrider 2008 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 242 2009 full specs ← Cobalt Boats 252 Bowrider 2008 full specs