Cobalt Boats 246 2006 vs Cobalt Boats CS3 2017 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Cobalt Boats 246 2006 or the Cobalt Boats CS3 2017?

The Cobalt Boats CS3 2017 is the longer of the two at 24,0 feet overall. The Cobalt Boats 246 2006 comes in at 24,0 feet, making it roughly 0,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Cobalt Boats 246 2006 has a documented max rating of 425 hp. Engine specifications for the Cobalt Boats CS3 2017 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Cobalt Boats 246 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 15 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats CS3 2017 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 246 2006 and Cobalt Boats CS3 2017?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 7 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 246 2006 and Cobalt Boats CS3 2017 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Cobalt Boats 246 2006 and the Cobalt Boats CS3 2017 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 CS3 2017

Cobalt Boats

Cobalt Boats 246 2006

2006

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Cobalt Boats

Cobalt Boats CS3 2017

2017

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Cobalt Boats 246 2006 vs Cobalt Boats CS3 2017 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Cobalt Boats 246 2006 vs Cobalt Boats CS3 2017 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 Cobalt Boats 246 2006 carries a rated maximum of 425 hp. Engine data for the Cobalt Boats CS3 2017 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 7 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 246 2006 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats CS3 2017 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 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 CS3 2017 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

Model246

Modelnot available

Model Year2006

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 - Detail54 in. (1.37 m)

Bridge clearance - Detailnot available

Bridge clearance - Meters1.37

Bridge clearance - Metersnot available

Bridge clearance - Inches54

Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available

Deadrise20℃

Deadrisenot available

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

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

Draft [drive up] meters0.43

Draft [drive up] metersnot available

Draft [drive up] inches17

Draft [drive up] inchesnot available

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

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.86

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Inches34

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

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

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - kg2157.28

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - lbs.4756

Weight - lbs.not available

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 - Detailnot available

Height - Meters2.74

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Inches108

Height - Inchesnot available

Length - Meters7.4

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Feet24

Length - Inches3.25

Length - Inchesnot available

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

Length [over all with swim platform]not available

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

Length overall - Detail24.00 ft

Length overall - Meters7.39

Length overall - Meters7.32

Length overall - Inches291.25

Length overall - Inches288

Engine and Drivetrain

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

Engine/s standardnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail70 gal. (265 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters264.98

Fuel tank capacity - Liters189.27

Fuel tank capacity - Gal7

Fuel tank capacity - Gal5

Drive typeI/O

Drive typenot available

Engine max425 hp (317 kW)

Engine maxnot available

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Operational Info

Water capacity10 gal. (37.9 l)

Water capacitynot available

Maximum capacity2,050 lbs. (930 kg)

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum people15

Maximum peoplenot available

Boat typenot available

Boat typePower

Cobalt Boats 246 2006 vs Cobalt Boats CS3 2017 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Cobalt Boats 246 2006 or the Cobalt Boats CS3 2017?

The Cobalt Boats CS3 2017 is the longer of the two at 24,0 feet overall. The Cobalt Boats 246 2006 comes in at 24,0 feet, making it roughly 0,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Cobalt Boats 246 2006 has a documented max rating of 425 hp. Engine specifications for the Cobalt Boats CS3 2017 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Cobalt Boats 246 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 15 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats CS3 2017 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 246 2006 and Cobalt Boats CS3 2017?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 7 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 246 2006 and Cobalt Boats CS3 2017 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Cobalt Boats 246 2006 and the Cobalt Boats CS3 2017 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 CS3 2017 full specs