When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Cobalt Boats 262 2009 and the Cobalt Boats 373 2011 are deep vee designs with fiberglass construction — the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Cobalt Boats 373 2011 measures 37,5 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 11,9 additional feet of deck space compared to the Cobalt Boats 262 2009 at 25,6 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Cobalt Boats 262 2009 tips the scales at 5 425 lbs — 3 309 lbs more than the Cobalt Boats 373 2011 at 2 116 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 425 hp, the Cobalt Boats 373 2011 has a 419-hp advantage over the Cobalt Boats 262 2009's 6-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 262 2009 carries 73 gallons versus 23 gallons in the Cobalt Boats 373 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 373 2011 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats 262 2009 caps at 2. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Cobalt Boats 373 2011 could be the deciding factor.