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Random Quote: Ever got lost at sea? No but I've been blown ashore a few times.
I'm asking this question on behalf of my neighbor. He already owns one of these boats. It's a 2001 model that he bought about 1 year ago. I'd really love to hear from owners of this exact boat or other Cobia Walkarounds like maybe the 230. The question is about the ride of a large walkaround.
He and I feel like the ride of this boat is not all that great in even moderate seas. So here are some of the questions I'd like to ask.
All owners of a Cobia Walkaround ... how would you rate the ride in moderate to rough seas?
Have you made any adjustments that improved the ride? Here's what I mean. I find that my friend has not pushed the boat much. It's got a single Yami 250 EFI (OX66). He stays under 4000 RPMS almost always. I'm thinking if he got up to maybe 4200-4500, he might get some kind of rhythum going on top of or across the waves.
Did Trim Tabs improve the ride? He added trim tabs in hopes of improving the ride. He got Lenco's without any kind of meter to say what position the tabs are in, so we're not so sure that the tabs are doing their thing. I can't really offer him any assistance because this is a much larger boat than either of us has ever piloted.
Last question ... Is it possible that WA's, in general, ride poorly due to all the extra weight of the cabin and hard top being so far forward. I've read many threads on this board and the only WA I can really remember drawing rave reviews for it's ride is the Hydra-Sports 2500 Vector of late-80's early 90's Vintage. Maybe Carolina Classic & Albemarle 25 expresses, but those are not really comparable to this boat.
So tell me ... what's up with the Cobia Walkaround and all the other walkarounds. How do they ride?
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Fishin-Fanatic
Get In! Sit Down! Shut Up! Hold On!
Our Grady-White Islander 270 is a big walkaround. I also have a single 250HP Yammi, even though the boat is rated at 500HP, and often configured with (big) twins.
The ride is excellent. I can cruise at 4600-4800RPM at 28-32 MPH in flat water to a small chop. As the seas build, I need to put more of the deep V at the bow down into the water, so it cuts the waves, instead of slamming down on to them.
We have run 35-nm into 4-5 foot seas with 30kts of wind just off the bow. Used tabs and engine trim to get bow further down, ran at 4200RPM, at 15-17MPH.
Having said all that, I do not have experience on equivalently sized CC boats, to compare the ride. Or on express hulls, or....
In rough water, the tabs make a
world of difference.
I throttle back and tab down
per the conditions.
Haveing that 138 gallon tank
at 1/2 or better at mid ship also helps.
This my 5th boat (including searay and pursuit),
I'm overall very satisfied with boats
performance, layout and value.
While my Cobia is a 224 Center Console model I think all Cobias respond to the addition of trim tabs positively. It is my opinion that a lot of Walkarounds will ride rougher than Center Consoles simple because you are further forward. My .02
Hi F-F, I have a 240 Cobia which is the same as the 250WA only different year. Trim tabs and engine trim will help ride in a rough sea. I use my boat for scuba diving so I really don't go far off-shore and not if it's too rough to dive. I have no compliants with the boat so far. I bought it new Oct 2000, (model year left over) @ Boston Boat Show, only 60 hours on it. The boat now is used only Key Largo. E-mail if need more info.[email]rsanturri@aol.com
OK I can see the general theme here ... learn how to work those trim tabs.
Do you guys have a LED meter to see where you tabs are? Is that useful or is just a matter of getting a feel for them and learning to feel the sweet spot no matter what the sea conditions. Does a meter help?
Also, I never really considered how much further forward you are in a WA. You're probably in the "front 1/3" of the boat. In a CC, you're almost always in the "back 1/2" maybe even the "back 1/3".
Thanks
-------------------------------------
Fishin-Fanatic
Get In! Sit Down! Shut Up! Hold On!
I don't have the tab meters.
After using them a bit, ...you just know...
In terms of the tabs, mine are only 9x12, and and they have tremdous influence. Only a slight touch tunes it in at times.
Factory installed and please note, they did not locate them maximum outward. They are a-typical in that are about 40% of the way in from the chine.
Another note on the 240 with the yam 250,
no rocket, but with the yam 17" pitch prop supplied, a bit of tab down, and the motor trimmed in, that boat pops on plane surprisingly well.
I've got a 1998 Cobia 220 walkaround which is the same exact boat as the 230 now. My biggest complaint since I've owned the boat was the pounding you took with seas that were anything more than 2 feet. Mine did not have trim tabs. After talking to quite a few people, I installed some Bennet M-120 tabs about a month ago and can't wait to get it out on the water in a couple of weeks to see the improvement. Everyone I spoke with said the difference would be substantial. Timing - How many inches from the outside hull to the outside edge of the tab did you go on your boat? Just curious. Shel
Been there-- tried a lot of things--I have I/O v-8 with honda kicker plus swim platform with cooler. Moved batteries to where Jon was didn't help much--then put over size Lenco tabs 12x18 these helped but still have to use brains when running Lake Erie 3ft about 18-20 mph-- faster yes !! fillings out of teeth-- Maybe a cat in the future??
Cracker,
I got those bad boys on alright, just haven't had a chance to get on the water to try them out. Everything went well except running the wires up to the helm, never could get them up there by going under the floor thru that access tube. Too cluttered I guess. Finally drilled 2 small holes thru the side wall in the battery compartment and ran them thru and under the gunnel and then back out and up to the helm. The coaming pad hides the wires and they're covered with vinyl tubing and taped and tacked up close to the top out of the way. Actually went well, tabs are about 7.5" from the outside of the hull and best part is everything works. Thanks again for your input. Shel
Cobia 250 Walkaround 
I can see the general theme here ... learn how to work those trim tabs.
