Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2011 vs Cobalt Boats 323 2006 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2011 or the Cobalt Boats 323 2006?

The Cobalt Boats 323 2006 is the longer of the two at 32,0 feet overall. The Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2011 comes in at 23,9 feet, making it roughly 8,1 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2011 or the Cobalt Boats 323 2006?

For trailering, the Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2011 has the edge at 46 lbs dry weight versus 123 lbs for the Cobalt Boats 323 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 242WSS 2011 is rated to a maximum of 430 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Cobalt Boats 323 2006 tops out at 375 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 242WSS 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 13 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats 323 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 323 2006 measures 126" wide, compared to 102" for the Cobalt Boats 242WSS 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 242WSS 2011 or the Cobalt Boats 323 2006?

The Cobalt Boats 323 2006 has the bigger tank at 174 gallons, versus 5 gallons on the Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2011. That 169-gallon difference translates to roughly 507–845 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2011 and Cobalt Boats 323 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2011 and the Cobalt Boats 323 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 242WSS 2011 vs Cobalt Boats 323 2006

Cobalt Boats

Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2011

2011

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Cobalt Boats

Cobalt Boats 323 2006

2006

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2011 vs Cobalt Boats 323 2006 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2011 vs Cobalt Boats 323 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 323 2006 measures 32,0 feet overall (2006), giving it roughly 8,1 additional feet of deck space compared to the Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2011 at 23,9 feet (2011). At 46 lbs and 123 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 430 hp, the Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2011 has a 55-hp advantage over the Cobalt Boats 323 2006's 375-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Cobalt Boats 323 2006 carries 174 gallons versus 5 gallons in the Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2011. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2011 is rated for 13 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats 323 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 242WSS 2011 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2011 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 323 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

Model242WSS

Model323

Model Year2011

Model Year2006

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beam10 ft. 6 in. (3.23 m)

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Meters3.2

Beam - Inches102

Beam - Inches126

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

Bridge clearance - Detail77 in. (1.96 m) With ski tower: 106 in. (2.69 m)

Bridge clearance - Meters2.49

Bridge clearance - Meters2.69

Bridge clearance - Inches98

Bridge clearance - Inches106

Deadrise21°

Deadrise22℃

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

Draft [drive up] - Detail24 in. (.61 m) (with twin engines)

Draft [drive up] meters0.53

Draft [drive up] meters0.61

Draft [drive up] inches21

Draft [drive up] inches24

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

Draft [max] - Detail35 in. (.90 m) (with twin engines)

Draft [max] - Meters0.94

Draft [max] - Meters0.89

Draft [max] - Inches37

Draft [max] - Inches35

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

Weight - Detail12,300 lbs. (5,579.19 kg) (with twin big block engines)

Weight - kg2086.52

Weight - kg5579.18

Weight - lbs.46

Weight - lbs.123

Length - Feet23.92

Length - Feet32

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

Length [over all with swim platform]34 ft. 9 in. (10.59 m)

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

Length overall - Detail32 ft. 11 in. (10.03 m)

Length overall - Meters7.29

Length overall - Meters10.03

Length overall - Inches287

Length overall - Inches395

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Meters10.03

Length - Inchesnot available

Length - Inches11

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 350 Mag MPI Bravo 1 300 hp (224 kW)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail50 gal. (189 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail174 gal. (658 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters189.27

Fuel tank capacity - Liters658.66

Fuel tank capacity - Gal5

Fuel tank capacity - Gal174

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typeGas or diesel

Drive typeI/O

Horsepower300 php (224 PkW)

Horsepowernot available

Engine max430 php (321 PkW)

Engine maxTwin 375 hp (280 kW)

Operational Info

Water capacity10 gal. (38 l)

Water capacity35 gal. (132 l)

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

Maximum capacityYacht certified

Maximum people13

Maximum peoplenot available

Headnot available

HeadVacuFlush

Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2011 vs Cobalt Boats 323 2006 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2011 or the Cobalt Boats 323 2006?

The Cobalt Boats 323 2006 is the longer of the two at 32,0 feet overall. The Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2011 comes in at 23,9 feet, making it roughly 8,1 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2011 or the Cobalt Boats 323 2006?

For trailering, the Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2011 has the edge at 46 lbs dry weight versus 123 lbs for the Cobalt Boats 323 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 242WSS 2011 is rated to a maximum of 430 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Cobalt Boats 323 2006 tops out at 375 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 242WSS 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 13 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats 323 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 323 2006 measures 126" wide, compared to 102" for the Cobalt Boats 242WSS 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 242WSS 2011 or the Cobalt Boats 323 2006?

The Cobalt Boats 323 2006 has the bigger tank at 174 gallons, versus 5 gallons on the Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2011. That 169-gallon difference translates to roughly 507–845 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2011 and Cobalt Boats 323 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2011 and the Cobalt Boats 323 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 242WSS 2011 full specs ← Cobalt Boats 323 2006 full specs