Cobalt Boats 255 2006 vs Cobalt Boats 262WSS 2012 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Cobalt Boats 255 2006 or the Cobalt Boats 262WSS 2012?

The Cobalt Boats 262WSS 2012 is the longer of the two at 25,6 feet overall. The Cobalt Boats 255 2006 comes in at 25,0 feet, making it roughly 0,6 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Cobalt Boats 255 2006 or the Cobalt Boats 262WSS 2012?

For trailering, the Cobalt Boats 255 2006 has the edge at 494 lbs dry weight versus 5 425 lbs for the Cobalt Boats 262WSS 2012. 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 255 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 14 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats 262WSS 2012 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 255 2006 and Cobalt Boats 262WSS 2012 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 255 2006 and Cobalt Boats 262WSS 2012?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 73 gallons and 73 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 255 2006 and Cobalt Boats 262WSS 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Cobalt Boats 255 2006 and the Cobalt Boats 262WSS 2012 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 255 2006 vs Cobalt Boats 262WSS 2012

Cobalt Boats

Cobalt Boats 255 2006

2006

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Cobalt Boats

Cobalt Boats 262WSS 2012

2012

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Cobalt Boats 255 2006 vs Cobalt Boats 262WSS 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Cobalt Boats 255 2006 vs Cobalt Boats 262WSS 2012 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 255 2006 at 25,0 ft versus Cobalt Boats 262WSS 2012 at 25,6 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Cobalt Boats 262WSS 2012 tips the scales at 5 425 lbs — 4 931 lbs less than the Cobalt Boats 255 2006 at 494 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.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 425 hp for the Cobalt Boats 255 2006 and 430 hp for the Cobalt Boats 262WSS 2012. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 73 gal and 73 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Cobalt Boats 262WSS 2012 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats 255 2006 caps at 14. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Cobalt Boats 262WSS 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Cobalt Boats 262WSS 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 15 passengers and at 25,6 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Cobalt Boats 255 2006 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 14 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeCobalt Boats

Model255

Model262WSS

Model Year2006

Model Year2012

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

Bridge clearance - Detail62 in. (1.6 m) With Ski Tower: 103 in. (2.62 m)

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

Bridge clearance - Meters2.62

Bridge clearance - Meters2.49

Bridge clearance - Inches103

Bridge clearance - Inches98

Deadrise22℃

Deadrise21°

Draft [drive up] - Detail24 in. (.61 m) (with single engine)

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

Draft [drive up] meters0.61

Draft [drive up] meters0.53

Draft [drive up] inches24

Draft [drive up] inches21

Draft [max] - Detail39 in. (.99 m) (with single engine)

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

Draft [max] - Meters0.99

Draft [max] - Meters0.94

Draft [max] - Inches39

Draft [max] - Inches37

Weight - Detail4,729 lbs. (2,145 kg) (with small block engine) 4,940 lbs. (2,241 kg) (with big block engine)

Weight - Detail5,425 lbs. (2,461 kg)

Weight - kg2240.74

Weight - kg2460.74

Weight - lbs.494

Weight - lbs.5425

Height - DetailWithout Windshield: 60-1/4 in. (1.53 m) Overall: 75-1/4 in. (1.91 m) With Arch or Tower: 111 in. (2.82 m)

Height - Detailnot available

Height - Meters2.82

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Inches111

Height - Inchesnot available

Length - Meters7.62

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Feet25

Length - Feet25.58

Length [over all with swim platform]27 ft. 0 in. (8.23 m)

Length [over all with swim platform]27 ft. 7 in. (8.41 m)

Length overall - Detail25 ft. 0 in. (7.62 m)

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

Length overall - Meters7.62

Length overall - Meters7.8

Length overall - Inches3

Length overall - Inches307

Engine and Drivetrain

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

Engine/s standardVolvo Penta 5.7 GXiC DP

Fuel tank capacity - Detail73 gal. (276 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters276.33

Fuel tank capacity - Gal73

Drive typeI/O

Engine max425 hp (317 kW)

Engine max430 php (321 PkW)

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Horsepowernot available

Horsepower300 php (224 PkW)

Operational Info

Water capacity10 gal. (37.9 l)

Water capacity10 gal. (38 l)

Maximum capacity2,050 lbs. (930 kg)

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

Maximum people14

Maximum people15

Headnot available

HeadPorta Potti

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typenot available

Hull typeDeep Vee

Cobalt Boats 255 2006 vs Cobalt Boats 262WSS 2012 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Cobalt Boats 255 2006 or the Cobalt Boats 262WSS 2012?

The Cobalt Boats 262WSS 2012 is the longer of the two at 25,6 feet overall. The Cobalt Boats 255 2006 comes in at 25,0 feet, making it roughly 0,6 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Cobalt Boats 255 2006 or the Cobalt Boats 262WSS 2012?

For trailering, the Cobalt Boats 255 2006 has the edge at 494 lbs dry weight versus 5 425 lbs for the Cobalt Boats 262WSS 2012. 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 255 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 14 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats 262WSS 2012 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 255 2006 and Cobalt Boats 262WSS 2012 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 255 2006 and Cobalt Boats 262WSS 2012?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 73 gallons and 73 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 255 2006 and Cobalt Boats 262WSS 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Cobalt Boats 255 2006 and the Cobalt Boats 262WSS 2012 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 255 2006 full specs ← Cobalt Boats 262WSS 2012 full specs