Cobalt Boats 262 2012 vs Cobalt Boats A36 2021 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Cobalt Boats 262 2012 or the Cobalt Boats A36 2021?

The Cobalt Boats A36 2021 is the longer of the two at 36,0 feet overall. The Cobalt Boats 262 2012 comes in at 25,6 feet, making it roughly 10,4 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Cobalt Boats A36 2021 is rated to a maximum of 380 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Cobalt Boats 262 2012 tops out at 6 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 262 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 2 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats A36 2021 is certified for 10. 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 262 2012 or the Cobalt Boats A36 2021?

The Cobalt Boats A36 2021 has the bigger tank at 189 gallons, versus 73 gallons on the Cobalt Boats 262 2012. That 116-gallon difference translates to roughly 348–580 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Cobalt Boats 262 2012 and Cobalt Boats A36 2021 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Cobalt Boats 262 2012 and the Cobalt Boats A36 2021 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 262 2012 vs Cobalt Boats A36 2021

Cobalt Boats

Cobalt Boats 262 2012

2012

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Cobalt Boats

Cobalt Boats A36 2021

2021

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Cobalt Boats 262 2012 vs Cobalt Boats A36 2021 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Cobalt Boats 262 2012 vs Cobalt Boats A36 2021 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 380 hp, the Cobalt Boats A36 2021 has a 374-hp advantage over the Cobalt Boats 262 2012'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 A36 2021 carries 189 gallons versus 73 gallons in the Cobalt Boats 262 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 A36 2021 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats 262 2012 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 A36 2021 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Cobalt Boats A36 2021 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 10 passengers and at 36,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Cobalt Boats 262 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 2 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeCobalt Boats

Makenot available

Model262

Modelnot available

Model Year2012

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

Bridge clearance - Detailnot available

Bridge clearance - Meters2.49

Bridge clearance - Metersnot available

Bridge clearance - Inches98

Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available

Deadrise21°

Deadrisenot available

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

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

Draft [drive up] meters0.53

Draft [drive up] metersnot available

Draft [drive up] inches21

Draft [drive up] inchesnot available

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

Draft [max] - Detail3.50 ft

Draft [max] - Meters0.94

Draft [max] - Meters1.07

Draft [max] - Inches37

Draft [max] - Inches42

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

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - kg2460.74

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - lbs.5425

Weight - lbs.not available

Length - Feet25.58

Length - Feet36

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

Length [over all with swim platform]not available

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

Length overall - Detail36.00 ft

Length overall - Meters7.8

Length overall - Meters10.97

Length overall - Inches307

Length overall - Inches432

Draft Minnot available

Draft Min2.58 ft

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull materialnot available

Hull typeDeep Vee

Hull typenot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Max no of engines430 php (321 PkW)

Max no of enginesnot available

Engine/s standard300 php (224 PkW)

Engine/s standardnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail73 gal. (276 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters276.33

Fuel tank capacity - Liters715.44

Fuel tank capacity - Gal73

Fuel tank capacity - Gal189

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeI/O

Drive typeinboard

Engine maxVolvo Penta 5.7 GiC DP

Engine maxnot available

Engine makenot available

Engine makeVolvo

Horsepowernot available

Horsepower380 hp

Operational Info

HeadPorta Potti

Head1

Water capacity10 gal. (38 l)

Water capacity27

Maximum capacity15

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum people2,585 lbs. (1,173 kg)

Maximum peoplenot available

Sleeping capacitynot available

Sleeping capacity2

Cabinsnot available

Cabins1

Holding tank capacity - Galnot available

Holding tank capacity - Gal1

Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available

Holding tank capacity - Liters37.85

Boat typenot available

Boat typePower

Cobalt Boats 262 2012 vs Cobalt Boats A36 2021 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Cobalt Boats 262 2012 or the Cobalt Boats A36 2021?

The Cobalt Boats A36 2021 is the longer of the two at 36,0 feet overall. The Cobalt Boats 262 2012 comes in at 25,6 feet, making it roughly 10,4 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Cobalt Boats A36 2021 is rated to a maximum of 380 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Cobalt Boats 262 2012 tops out at 6 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 262 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 2 passengers, while the Cobalt Boats A36 2021 is certified for 10. 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 262 2012 or the Cobalt Boats A36 2021?

The Cobalt Boats A36 2021 has the bigger tank at 189 gallons, versus 73 gallons on the Cobalt Boats 262 2012. That 116-gallon difference translates to roughly 348–580 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Cobalt Boats 262 2012 and Cobalt Boats A36 2021 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Cobalt Boats 262 2012 and the Cobalt Boats A36 2021 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 262 2012 full specs ← Cobalt Boats A36 2021 full specs