The quality yardstick of the class. Everything is heavier, quieter and better made.
The Cobalt R6 is what happens when a builder refuses to compromise on the parts nobody sees. At 24 ft 3 in (7.39 m) it is a big trailerable bowrider, and every centimetre of it feels engineered rather than assembled.
Start with the hardware: stainless fittings are cast rather than stamped, hinges are through-bolted, and the hull-to-deck joint is bonded and mechanically fastened. Cobalt's hull design prioritises a soft, dry entry, and owners consistently report that the R6 crosses a wind chop with far less banging than boats a full size larger.
The layout is unusually flexible. The bow lounges are long enough for adults to lie flat, the port cockpit lounge converts to a chaise, and the transom seating flips to face aft over the extended swim platform. Filler cushions turn the whole cockpit into one continuous sun bed, and a removable table drops into sockets fore or aft.
Power is a Volvo Penta V8 of 350-380 hp on a Duoprop drive, which delivers the R6's party trick: forward-and-back manoeuvring precision that makes docking a large boat feel small. Joystick control is available and transforms tight marina work for less experienced skippers.
The R6 is expensive new and it depreciates slowly, which means a used one is rarely a bargain but almost always a good boat. Inspect the drive anodes, the Duoprop condition and the bilge for any sign of standing water, then check that every hatch strut still holds. A well-kept R6 at ten years old will still feel tighter than many rivals at three.
The world's best-selling bowrider size, in its most accessible form: light, simple and easy to tow.
US$38,000 - US$52,000 new
The refined mainstream benchmark: quiet, dry, and beautifully finished for the money.
US$72,000 - US$95,000 new
Premium feel at mainstream money, with a hull that holds plane at ski-tow speeds.
US$68,000 - US$88,000 new