Cobalt Boats 26SD 2012 vs Cobalt Boats 343 2006 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Cobalt Boats 26SD 2012 or the Cobalt Boats 343 2006?

The Cobalt Boats 343 2006 is the longer of the two at 35,0 feet overall. The Cobalt Boats 26SD 2012 comes in at 26,2 feet, making it roughly 8,8 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Cobalt Boats 26SD 2012 or the Cobalt Boats 343 2006?

For trailering, the Cobalt Boats 26SD 2012 has the edge at 55 lbs dry weight versus 1 175 lbs for the Cobalt Boats 343 2006. 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: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Cobalt Boats 343 2006 is rated to a maximum of 500 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Cobalt Boats 26SD 2012 tops out at 430 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 passengers can the Cobalt Boats 343 2006 carry?

The Cobalt Boats 343 2006 has an official capacity rating of 10 people. Capacity data wasn't available for the other model in this comparison — verify directly with the dealer.

Q: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Cobalt Boats 343 2006 measures 116" wide, compared to 102" for the Cobalt Boats 26SD 2012. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Cobalt Boats 26SD 2012 or the Cobalt Boats 343 2006?

The Cobalt Boats 26SD 2012 has the bigger tank at 5 gallons, versus 2 gallons on the Cobalt Boats 343 2006. That 3-gallon difference translates to roughly 9–15 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Cobalt Boats 26SD 2012 and Cobalt Boats 343 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Cobalt Boats 26SD 2012 and the Cobalt Boats 343 2006 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 26SD 2012 vs Cobalt Boats 343 2006

Cobalt Boats

Cobalt Boats 26SD 2012

2012

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Cobalt Boats

Cobalt Boats 343 2006

2006

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Cobalt Boats 26SD 2012 vs Cobalt Boats 343 2006 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Cobalt Boats 26SD 2012 vs Cobalt Boats 343 2006 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.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Cobalt Boats 343 2006 measures 35,0 feet overall (2006), giving it roughly 8,8 additional feet of deck space compared to the Cobalt Boats 26SD 2012 at 26,2 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Cobalt Boats 343 2006 tips the scales at 1 175 lbs — 1 120 lbs less than the Cobalt Boats 26SD 2012 at 55 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 500 hp, the Cobalt Boats 343 2006 has a 70-hp advantage over the Cobalt Boats 26SD 2012's 430-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 5 gal and 2 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

Bottom line: The Cobalt Boats 343 2006 at 35,0 ft is the right call if deck space, comfort, and entertaining are top of your list. The Cobalt Boats 26SD 2012 at 26,2 ft wins on trailering ease, likely lower purchase price, and simpler docking — a solid choice for a buyer who wants more boat for less money.

General Boat Info

MakeCobalt Boats

Model26SD

Model343

Model Year2012

Model Year2006

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beam9 ft. 8 in. (2.95 m)

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Meters2.95

Beam - Inches102

Beam - Inches116

Bridge clearance - DetailWithout Bimini: 4 ft. 11 in. (1.5 m)

Bridge clearance - Detail69 in. (1.75 m)

Bridge clearance - Meters1.5

Bridge clearance - Meters1.75

Bridge clearance - Inches59

Bridge clearance - Inches69

Deadrise21°

Deadrise24.5℃

Draft [drive up] - Detail27 in. (0.69 m)

Draft [drive up] - Detail28 in. (0.71 m) (with twin engines)

Draft [drive up] meters0.69

Draft [drive up] meters0.71

Draft [drive up] inches27

Draft [drive up] inches28

Draft [max] - Detail39 in. (0.99 m)

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

Draft [max] - Meters0.99

Draft [max] - Meters0.94

Draft [max] - Inches39

Draft [max] - Inches37

Weight - Detail5,500 lbs. (2,495 kg)

Weight - Detail11,750 lbs. (5,330 kg) (with twin big block engines)

Weight - kg2494.76

Weight - kg5329.71

Weight - lbs.55

Weight - lbs.1175

Length - Feet26.17

Length - Feet35

Length [over all with swim platform]26 ft. 2 in. (7.97 m)

Length [over all with swim platform]37 ft. 2-1/2 in. (11.34 m)

Height - Detailnot available

Height - DetailOverall: 87-1/2 in. (2.22 m) With arch or tower: 116-1/2 in. (2.96 m) Without windshield: 73-1/2 in. (1.87 m)

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Meters2.97

Height - Inchesnot available

Height - Inches116.5

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Meters10.78

Length - Inchesnot available

Length - Inches4

Length overall - Detailnot available

Length overall - Detail35 ft. 4 in. (10.78 m)

Length overall - Metersnot available

Length overall - Meters10.77

Length overall - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Inches424

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull materialnot available

Hull typeDeep Vee

Hull typenot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine/s standardVolvo Penta 5.7 GXiC DP

Engine/s standardMerCruiser Twin 496 Mag MPI Bravo 1 375 hp (280 kW)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail50 gal. (360 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail200 gal. (757 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters189.27

Fuel tank capacity - Liters757.08

Fuel tank capacity - Gal5

Fuel tank capacity - Gal2

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typeGas or diesel

Drive typeI/O

Horsepower320 php (239 PkW)

Horsepowernot available

Engine max430 php (321 PkW)

Engine maxTwin 500 hp

Operational Info

HeadPorta Potti

HeadElectric

Water capacity10 gal. (38 l)

Water capacity10 gal. (37.9 l)

Maximum capacityYacht certified

Maximum peopleYacht certified

Cobalt Boats 26SD 2012 vs Cobalt Boats 343 2006 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Cobalt Boats 26SD 2012 or the Cobalt Boats 343 2006?

The Cobalt Boats 343 2006 is the longer of the two at 35,0 feet overall. The Cobalt Boats 26SD 2012 comes in at 26,2 feet, making it roughly 8,8 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Cobalt Boats 26SD 2012 or the Cobalt Boats 343 2006?

For trailering, the Cobalt Boats 26SD 2012 has the edge at 55 lbs dry weight versus 1 175 lbs for the Cobalt Boats 343 2006. 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.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Cobalt Boats 343 2006 is rated to a maximum of 500 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Cobalt Boats 26SD 2012 tops out at 430 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 passengers can the Cobalt Boats 343 2006 carry?

The Cobalt Boats 343 2006 has an official capacity rating of 10 people. Capacity data wasn't available for the other model in this comparison — verify directly with the dealer.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Cobalt Boats 343 2006 measures 116" wide, compared to 102" for the Cobalt Boats 26SD 2012. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Cobalt Boats 26SD 2012 or the Cobalt Boats 343 2006?

The Cobalt Boats 26SD 2012 has the bigger tank at 5 gallons, versus 2 gallons on the Cobalt Boats 343 2006. That 3-gallon difference translates to roughly 9–15 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Cobalt Boats 26SD 2012 and Cobalt Boats 343 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Cobalt Boats 26SD 2012 and the Cobalt Boats 343 2006 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 26SD 2012 full specs ← Cobalt Boats 343 2006 full specs