The Boating Forum - 30' Cobra questions

I am looking at buying a 1996 30' Cobra predator with twin 1999 250 Yamaha 2 strokes, anyone out there have any information about this boat or motors would be greatly appreciated. I'm told the engines have 185 hrs on them and the boat is in exellent cond.
but it is made out of kevlar instead of fiberglass, is this a posivitive or a negative? How will this boat handle rough water being a tunnel hall?

never been on one but researched them as I considered buying one. What I learned was:
-stats over hyped by fraudulent owner Peter Cassini.
-that said, the boat is very fast. Great in chop or calm seas.
-Not great in bigger seas-- hull slap, low gunnels, wet boat, simply can't go fast in bigger seas.
-end determination-- great for bay boat use where you know you have some what flat seas or bay chop, not worth it for me as an all around boat if you are in the open seas. I had an honest owner of a Cobra tell so.

I have a 2000 Cobra. Its a planning hull, like any planning hull it wont like big seas. It runs pretty good in 2 to 3 ft confused seas, 40 mph is no problem. For me, I don't want to be out in anything over 3ft so it works great for my boating needs. The nice thing is when you have 10 people on board heading to the sandbard, cruising at 50 mph and everyone comments on how smooth the ride is. With 225's your top end will be in the upper 60's, you may hit the 70's running light and your cruise will be around 40 to 45 and you will probably get around 1.5 mpg.
The boats are balsa wood cored so you need to have it surveyed and checked for rot. Another thing to be aware of is the deck drain are below the water line, not a big issue unless you plan on leaving it the water, I plan on installing shutoff's on mine
I heard before I bought mine that the gunnels were low but I dont think they are, they come up right at my lower hip and I am 6'.
As far as being a wet boat, it can be, in a wind blown beam sea or running hard in heavier seas. It takes a little practice learing how to drive it right in different situations.
My wife and kids love the boat, we had it in the keys for a week lobstering, go scalloping several times a season, take it 30 miles in the gulf regularly for bottom fishing, have trolled a couple times and if we are not doing that we are hanging at the sandbar.
If you have any specific questions you can send me a pm. Mine is the 3100 so its a little different but pretty much the same. You may also want to get some insurance quotes before you go forward, you might not mention that its a tunnel hull or "pickle fork", its a cat hull and can only go 60 mph top end ;)

I just purchased a 3100 with a pair of 250 e-tecs and was wondering if you have yours on a lift and if so how is it supported?

I replied to your post about the lift, mine is trailered. If I had to get a lift for mine I would want the bunks between the hulls, on the belly of the tunnel, just like they trailer. A lift company should be able to help.