Sydney International Boat Show 2007

The Cobalt 212 arrives on scene in the company of its sister ship, the 222, and together these two new Cobalts have already made major splashes among the aquatically athletic and the familially young. The 212, in particular, appeals to families looking for a boat able to compress convenience, comfort, reliability, long-term retention of value and, thanks to its especially deep hull, an extra measure of safety into an affordable 21-footer. At the same time, the 212 flexes enough muscle and delivers enough stability and control for the occasionally, only mildly out-of-control wakeboard crowd. A bit of a contradiction in terms, this 212? You bet.

For owners new to Cobalt, for first-time boat-buyers of any stripe, the 212 represents an outstanding introduction to the Cobalt way of building things. Superb structural integrity, most especially in the hull and at the transom, is a Cobalt given, around which the amenities most valued by boaters begin to accumulate. And Cobalt knows the values, the needs and wishes of sophisticated boat owners everywhere, simply because we listen to them. We listen to them closely and often. For instance, Cobalt owners have recently emphasized their wish for enhancements in bowrider seating; the 212 responds with deeper, more comfortably padded seats and a new backrest thrown in for additional support exactly where it’s most needed.

As a matter of fact, strength and support are hallmarks of Cobalt construction all across the 2007 model line. Cobalt has always insisted on metal backing plates, embedded in the hardware, to solidify every piece of hardware bow to stern. At the bow, Cobalt was the first manufacturer to build into every boat a scuff plate to guard the gelcoat during trailering. Made of heavy-gauge stainless, the bow scuff plate remains a Cobalt exclusive. All Cobalt ski tows are oversized and mounted high to structural steel supports. All Cobalt canvas is fitted to stainless steel frames for matchless strength and resistance to flexing, with not a scrap of aluminum, not a plastic fitting in sight. And all engine vents on Cobalts are aluminum, strong and durable, milled from solid aluminum stock for long life, and finished in urethane for ongoing good looks.

For all of its hidden strengths, its deep-down practicality, the 212 brings along classic Cobalt elements of style, a Mediterranean profile, its lines long and free. The interior colors and textures integrate in subtle new patterns, carpet and vinyl and leather melding in strong suggestion that good looks in the marine industry result from long hours on the drawing board, months in the design studio. The furnishings of the 212 speak too of thoughtful selection, of careful shaping by engineers and designers who know what boaters want. And so here are high-back captain’s chairs, handy pockets waiting on back, redesigned with a five-degree bottom, new foams, and additional padding throughout. The L-lounge seating asks everyone to please be seated in wraparound good feelings, as ready for a 90-mile dash across a Great Lake as for a Sunday afternoon picnic in a nearby cove. A molded-in ice chest waits at arm’s length and, just aft, the 212’s sunpad means major square-footage for major relaxation, a meaningful destination for post-swim yoga. Ski storage waits below, and storage for stuff of every sort is here, there, and everywhere, under the seats, built into the gunnels, in and around the helm.

Traffic flow on the 212 is rush-hour efficient, able to shuttle a dozen friends and family members to the bow and back again through the legendary Cobalt walk-thru, its wide and easy access duplicated at the transom, starboard side. And all the while the captain maintains firm, easy control in typical Cobalt style as the standard gauges and standard black leather, tilt steering wheel can be tricked out with an optional rosewood package that brings a rich luster to the pure functionality of the helm. A Garmin global positioning system has already proven to be one of the 212’s most useful and therefore most popular options, while cruise control with Wakeboard Pro makes unmistakable appeal to the upside-down set.

Options for the interior add even more convenience, more homestyle comfort and, in the sand-colored rivulet carpet, more style for its own sake. New 212 owners may also choose boat-and-life improvements ranging among an air compressor, an engine hatch actuator, a dinette table, and adjustable seat bases – as those owners swing-dance to the 212’s optional premium sound system with a tower-speaker package and a stereo remote at the transom.

So many boats in their first outings attempt too much, try to be too many things to too many people. Not so the Cobalt 212, ready to host a brunch on Grandparents’ Day, just as hep to a high-school graduation party with the gymnastics team set to show off at 55 miles per hour. Rookie of the Year, come on down!

For more information Contact Cobalt Boats Australia on 02 9524 7472

Regrads,

Neil Solomons
JD's Boatshed Pty Ltd
27-29 Captain Cook Drive
Caringbah NSW 2229
P: +61 2 9525 3166
F: +61 2 9524 3801
M: 0418 700 656
E: neil.solomons@jdsboatshed.com.au
W: http://www.jdsboatshed.com.au/