Cobalt Boats 242 2010 vs Cobalt Boats R5 2015 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Cobalt Boats 242 2010 or the Cobalt Boats R5 2015?

The Cobalt Boats R5 2015 is the longer of the two at 26,0 feet overall. The Cobalt Boats 242 2010 comes in at 23,9 feet, making it roughly 2,1 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Cobalt Boats R5 2015 is rated to a maximum of 380 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 242 2010 is Coast Guard rated for 13 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats R5 2015 is certified for 7. 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: How do the fuel tanks compare on the Cobalt Boats 242 2010 and Cobalt Boats R5 2015?

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 242 2010 and Cobalt Boats R5 2015 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Cobalt Boats 242 2010 and the Cobalt Boats R5 2015 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 2010 vs Cobalt Boats R5 2015

Cobalt Boats

Cobalt Boats 242 2010

2010

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Cobalt Boats

Cobalt Boats R5 2015

2015

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Cobalt Boats 242 2010 vs Cobalt Boats R5 2015 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Cobalt Boats 242 2010 vs Cobalt Boats R5 2015 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.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 380 hp, the Cobalt Boats R5 2015 has a 80-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 R5 2015 caps at 7. 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 R5 2015 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeCobalt Boats

Makenot available

Model242

Modelnot available

Model Year201

Model Yearnot available

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beamnot available

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Metersnot available

Beam - Inches102

Beam - Inchesnot available

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

Bridge clearance - Detailnot available

Bridge clearance - Meters2.49

Bridge clearance - Metersnot available

Bridge clearance - Inches98

Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available

Deadrise21°

Deadrisenot available

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

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

Draft [drive up] meters0.53

Draft [drive up] metersnot available

Draft [drive up] inches21

Draft [drive up] inchesnot available

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

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.94

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Inches37

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

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

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - kg2086.52

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - lbs.46

Weight - lbs.not available

Length - Feet23.92

Length - Feet26

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

Length [over all with swim platform]not available

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

Length overall - Detail26.00 ft

Length overall - Meters7.29

Length overall - Meters7.92

Length overall - Inches287

Length overall - Inches312

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull materialnot available

Hull typeDeep Vee

Hull typenot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine/s standardVolvo 5.7 Gi DP

Engine/s standardnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail50 gal. (189 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters189.27

Fuel tank capacity - Gal5

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeI/O

Drive typeinboard

Horsepower300 php

Horsepower380 hp

Engine makenot available

Engine makeVolvo Penta

Operational Info

Water capacityFresh: 10 gal. (38 l)

Water capacity1

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

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum people13

Maximum peoplenot available

Boat typenot available

Boat typePower

Cobalt Boats 242 2010 vs Cobalt Boats R5 2015 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Cobalt Boats 242 2010 or the Cobalt Boats R5 2015?

The Cobalt Boats R5 2015 is the longer of the two at 26,0 feet overall. The Cobalt Boats 242 2010 comes in at 23,9 feet, making it roughly 2,1 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Cobalt Boats R5 2015 is rated to a maximum of 380 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 242 2010 is Coast Guard rated for 13 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats R5 2015 is certified for 7. 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.

How do the fuel tanks compare on the Cobalt Boats 242 2010 and Cobalt Boats R5 2015?

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 242 2010 and Cobalt Boats R5 2015 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Cobalt Boats 242 2010 and the Cobalt Boats R5 2015 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 2010 full specs ← Cobalt Boats R5 2015 full specs