Cobalt Boats 26 SD 2018 vs Cobalt Boats 303 2012 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Cobalt Boats 26 SD 2018 or the Cobalt Boats 303 2012?

The Cobalt Boats 303 2012 is the longer of the two at 29,8 feet overall. The Cobalt Boats 26 SD 2018 comes in at 26,0 feet, making it roughly 3,8 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Cobalt Boats 26 SD 2018 is rated to a maximum of 350 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Cobalt Boats 303 2012 tops out at 2 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 26 SD 2018 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats 303 2012 is certified for 9. 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 has the larger fuel tank — the Cobalt Boats 26 SD 2018 or the Cobalt Boats 303 2012?

The Cobalt Boats 26 SD 2018 has the bigger tank at 69 gallons, versus 15 gallons on the Cobalt Boats 303 2012. That 53-gallon difference translates to roughly 161–269 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Cobalt Boats 26 SD 2018 and Cobalt Boats 303 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Cobalt Boats 26 SD 2018 and the Cobalt Boats 303 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 26 SD 2018 vs Cobalt Boats 303 2012

Cobalt Boats

Cobalt Boats 26 SD 2018

2018

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Cobalt Boats

Cobalt Boats 303 2012

2012

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Cobalt Boats 26 SD 2018 vs Cobalt Boats 303 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Cobalt Boats 26 SD 2018 vs Cobalt Boats 303 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.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 350 hp, the Cobalt Boats 26 SD 2018 has a 348-hp advantage over the Cobalt Boats 303 2012's 2-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 26 SD 2018 carries 69 gallons versus 15 gallons in the Cobalt Boats 303 2012. 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 303 2012 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats 26 SD 2018 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 303 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Cobalt Boats 303 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 29,8 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Cobalt Boats 26 SD 2018 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.

Measurements / Dimensions

Length overall - Detail26.00 ft

Length overall - Detail29 ft. 9 in. (9.07 m)

Length - Feet26

Length - Feet29.75

Length overall - Meters7.92

Length overall - Meters9.07

Length overall - Inches312

Length overall - Inches357

Draft [max] - Detail3.25 ft

Draft [max] - Detail44 in. (1.12 m)

Draft [max] - Meters0.99

Draft [max] - Meters1.12

Draft [max] - Inches39

Draft [max] - Inches44

Draft Min3.25 ft

Draft Minnot available

Beamnot available

Beam9 ft. 11 in. (3.02 m)

Beam - Metersnot available

Beam - Meters3.02

Beam - Inchesnot available

Beam - Inches119

Bridge clearance - Detailnot available

Bridge clearance - DetailWithout Bimini: 5 ft. 9 in. (1.75 m) With Arch or Tower: 8 ft. 2 in. (2.49 m)

Bridge clearance - Metersnot available

Bridge clearance - Meters2.49

Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available

Bridge clearance - Inches98

Deadrisenot available

Deadrise22°

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

Draft [drive up] - Detail26 in. (0.66 m)

Draft [drive up] metersnot available

Draft [drive up] meters0.66

Draft [drive up] inchesnot available

Draft [drive up] inches26

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - Detail11,110 lbs. (5,039 kg)

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - kg5039.41

Weight - lbs.not available

Weight - lbs.1111

Length [over all with swim platform]not available

Length [over all with swim platform]31 ft. 6 in. (9.6 m)

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Gal68.95

Fuel tank capacity - Gal15

Fuel tank capacity - Liters261

Fuel tank capacity - Liters567.81

Engine makeVOLVO PENTA

Engine makenot available

Horsepower350 hp

Horsepower(2) 300 php (224 PkW)

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeinboard

Drive typeI/O - Twin

Engine/s standardnot available

Engine/s standardVolvo Penta twin 5.7 GiC DP

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail150 gal. (568 l)

Engine maxnot available

Engine max(2) 430 php (321 PkW)

Operational Info

Water capacity10.04

Water capacity30 gal. (114 l)

Boat typePower

Boat typenot available

Headnot available

HeadEnclosed

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum capacityYacht certified

Maximum peoplenot available

Maximum peopleYacht certified

General Boat Info

Makenot available

MakeCobalt Boats

Modelnot available

Model303

Model Yearnot available

Model Year2012

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typenot available

Hull typeDeep Vee

Cobalt Boats 26 SD 2018 vs Cobalt Boats 303 2012 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Cobalt Boats 26 SD 2018 or the Cobalt Boats 303 2012?

The Cobalt Boats 303 2012 is the longer of the two at 29,8 feet overall. The Cobalt Boats 26 SD 2018 comes in at 26,0 feet, making it roughly 3,8 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Cobalt Boats 26 SD 2018 is rated to a maximum of 350 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Cobalt Boats 303 2012 tops out at 2 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 26 SD 2018 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats 303 2012 is certified for 9. 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 has the larger fuel tank — the Cobalt Boats 26 SD 2018 or the Cobalt Boats 303 2012?

The Cobalt Boats 26 SD 2018 has the bigger tank at 69 gallons, versus 15 gallons on the Cobalt Boats 303 2012. That 53-gallon difference translates to roughly 161–269 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Cobalt Boats 26 SD 2018 and Cobalt Boats 303 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Cobalt Boats 26 SD 2018 and the Cobalt Boats 303 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 26 SD 2018 full specs ← Cobalt Boats 303 2012 full specs