Cobalt Boats 246 2006 vs Cobalt Boats 263 2006 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Cobalt Boats 246 2006 or the Cobalt Boats 263 2006?

The Cobalt Boats 263 2006 is the longer of the two at 26,0 feet overall. The Cobalt Boats 246 2006 comes in at 24,0 feet, making it roughly 2,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Cobalt Boats 246 2006 or the Cobalt Boats 263 2006?

For trailering, the Cobalt Boats 263 2006 has the edge at 537 lbs dry weight versus 4 756 lbs for the Cobalt Boats 246 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 263 2006 is rated to a maximum of 500 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Cobalt Boats 246 2006 tops out at 425 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 246 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 15 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats 263 2006 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 246 2006 and Cobalt Boats 263 2006 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 246 2006 and Cobalt Boats 263 2006?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 7 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 246 2006 and Cobalt Boats 263 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Cobalt Boats 246 2006 and the Cobalt Boats 263 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 246 2006 vs Cobalt Boats 263 2006

Cobalt Boats

Cobalt Boats 246 2006

2006

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Cobalt Boats

Cobalt Boats 263 2006

2006

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Cobalt Boats 246 2006 vs Cobalt Boats 263 2006 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Cobalt Boats 246 2006 vs Cobalt Boats 263 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.

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Cobalt Boats 246 2006 at 24,0 ft versus Cobalt Boats 263 2006 at 26,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Cobalt Boats 246 2006 tips the scales at 4 756 lbs — 4 219 lbs more than the Cobalt Boats 263 2006 at 537 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 500 hp, the Cobalt Boats 263 2006 has a 75-hp advantage over the Cobalt Boats 246 2006's 425-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 7 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 246 2006 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats 263 2006 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 246 2006 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Cobalt Boats 246 2006 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 15 passengers and at 24,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Cobalt Boats 263 2006 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

Model246

Model263

Model Year2006

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

Bridge clearance - Detail54 in. (1.37 m)

Bridge clearance - Detail57 in. (1.45 m)

Bridge clearance - Meters1.37

Bridge clearance - Meters1.45

Bridge clearance - Inches54

Bridge clearance - Inches57

Deadrise20℃

Deadrise22℃

Draft [drive up] - Detail17 in. (.43 m) (with single engine)

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

Draft [drive up] meters0.43

Draft [drive up] meters0.56

Draft [drive up] inches17

Draft [drive up] inches22

Draft [max] - Detail34 in. (.86 m) (with single engine)

Draft [max] - Detail39 in. (0.99 m)

Draft [max] - Meters0.86

Draft [max] - Meters0.99

Draft [max] - Inches34

Draft [max] - Inches39

Weight - Detail4,430 lbs. (2,009 kg) (with small block engine) 4,756 lbs. (2,157 kg) (with big block engine)

Weight - Detail5,064 lbs. (2,297 kg) (with small block engine) 5,370 lbs. (2,436 kg) (with big block engine)

Weight - kg2157.28

Weight - kg2435.79

Weight - lbs.4756

Weight - lbs.537

Height - DetailWithout Windshield: 57-1/2 in. (1.47 m) Overall: 70-1/2 in. (1.78 m) With Arch or Tower: 108 in. (2.74 m)

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 - Meters2.74

Height - Inches108

Height - Inches107.5

Length - Meters7.4

Length - Meters8.12

Length - Feet24

Length - Feet26

Length - Inches3.25

Length - Inches8

Length [over all with swim platform]26 ft. 5-1/4 in. (8.06 m)

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

Length overall - Detail24 ft. 3.25 in. (7.40 m)

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

Length overall - Meters7.39

Length overall - Meters8.13

Length overall - Inches291.25

Length overall - Inches32

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine/s standardVolvo Penta 5.0 GXi SX 270 hp (201 kW)

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

Fuel tank capacity - Detail70 gal. (265 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters264.98

Fuel tank capacity - Gal7

Drive typeI/O

Engine max425 hp (317 kW)

Engine max500 hp (373 kW)

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Operational Info

Water capacity10 gal. (37.9 l)

Maximum capacity2,050 lbs. (930 kg)

Maximum capacityYacht certified

Maximum people15

Maximum peopleYacht certified

Cobalt Boats 246 2006 vs Cobalt Boats 263 2006 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Cobalt Boats 246 2006 or the Cobalt Boats 263 2006?

The Cobalt Boats 263 2006 is the longer of the two at 26,0 feet overall. The Cobalt Boats 246 2006 comes in at 24,0 feet, making it roughly 2,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Cobalt Boats 246 2006 or the Cobalt Boats 263 2006?

For trailering, the Cobalt Boats 263 2006 has the edge at 537 lbs dry weight versus 4 756 lbs for the Cobalt Boats 246 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 263 2006 is rated to a maximum of 500 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Cobalt Boats 246 2006 tops out at 425 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 246 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 15 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats 263 2006 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 246 2006 and Cobalt Boats 263 2006 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 246 2006 and Cobalt Boats 263 2006?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 7 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 246 2006 and Cobalt Boats 263 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Cobalt Boats 246 2006 and the Cobalt Boats 263 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 246 2006 full specs ← Cobalt Boats 263 2006 full specs