When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Cobalt Boats 302 2013 and the Cobalt Boats 303 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?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Cobalt Boats 302 2013 at 29,8 ft versus Cobalt Boats 303 2011 at 29,8 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Cobalt Boats 303 2011 tips the scales at 1 111 lbs — 123 lbs less than the Cobalt Boats 302 2013 at 988 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 430 hp, the Cobalt Boats 303 2011 has a 428-hp advantage over the Cobalt Boats 302 2013's 2-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 15 gal and 15 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

Both boats are rated for 9 passengers — a good fit for a family of four or five plus guests. Comfort at capacity is another matter; the longer hull typically means more seat options and better weight distribution.