Finally getting around to posting some pics & a quick review of our new 2023 R4 Outboard. First off, want to thank posters for all the wealth of information on here as it really helped me when researching!
Background: Grew up on boats, starting with an old Wellcraft 19' cuddy, then a Maxum 24' cuddy, then a 28' Regal Commodore, then finally a Cobalt 262 bowrider. Now that my boys are older I figured it was the right time to introduce them to boating & get one for the family. I started looking almost 2 years ago but with the COVID insanity of low inventory/overpriced boats I decided to wait it out until this past spring.
Long story short, came close on a few used boats but ultimately got a really good deal (>25% off) on a brand new R4 outboard.
We primarily boat along Sanibel Island (SW FL) and the surrounding areas, so the size & power of this boat suited us well for our 1st family boat.
Power:
Yamaha F250 XCB w/ digital controls. Was a little hesitant to go with the 250 vs. a 300 but after testing it out it performed well enough, just lacks the top end which I'm not concerned about since we do all our boating inshore or right along the beach. Midrange is strong for a 250 IMO, planes quickly and cruises at 4k RPM / 30mph at just under 11gph. Tops out around 47mph. Only gripe is the smaller fuel tank size at 50 gallons, but given our relatively close range of boating it's not an issue.
Exterior & Handling:
Great boat, quality is on par for the most part compared to our old 262 other than a few minor quality control issues that Cobalt quickly took care of without any questions asked (2 minor gelcoat cracks at transom near cleats, steering wheel center leather separated most likely due to extreme heat last year in SWFL). Handles the rough water well for a boat this size, deadrise feels a tad lower than our old one but not to the point where she pounds and doesn't handle waves well. Turns and handles very nicely, and overall has a solid and secure feel.
The electronic steering with the Yamaha is light but responsive, definitely took a little getting used to vs. the old hydraulic units.
She turns heads every time we take her out, and looks great in and out of the water IMO. Very clean lines and still has a classic Cobalt profile even with the changes they've made to the hull for the outboard series.
Highly recommend ceramic coating, I spent last weekend doing a quick polish & 2-layer coating by G-Techniq Marine (Base & Top Coat) and the gelcoat looks incredible and beads water like crazy.
Interior:
Very nice, with high quality surfaces throughout as you'd expect from Cobalt. The seats are very comfortable and definitely a step above say a Regal LS in this class (which we looked at). Storage is plentiful, with tons of cupholders and under-seat stowage areas. The transom lift-up hatch reveals a huge storage area with pull-out heavy-duty plastic bins, hiding all your cabling/batteries/equipment underneath them. We've had 8 people on the boat (4 adults, 4 kids) comfortably but that's the max I'd put on here without bumping into each other constantly. The seating layout is nice with the L-shaped seating in the aft cockpit area, and the extra wide passenger seat is great for my wife & 1 of our boys while underway.
Electronics:
Once we knew we were going Cobalt, I was dead set with finding one with the upgraded Garmin 8610's vs. the smaller 7 series and I'm so glad I did. The IPS displays are super clear & legible even in the brightest sunlight, and perform very well with no real lag or slowdowns. The ActiveCaptain app is great and connects when I get on the boat to the boat's WiFi, then automatically updates the charts & data. You can set tracks/waypoints/etc. on your phone then have it auto upload to the boat which I find easier vs. trying to do that on the boat itself. The Yamaha gauge screen is my go-to for the right display, showing all the relevant info you'd want and is customizable.
This one didn't have the upgraded Premium audio which was a bummer as I'm a bit of an audiophile, but the base JL speakers are decent enough for now. The Fusion headunit is the newer series (non-touch screen which I prefer) and came with the transom remote. After researching, I found out that you can connect an Ethernet cable from the headunit to one of the Garmin's, I now have full Airplay functionality which is WAY better than Bluetooth connectivity. You must remove the Ethernet/power cable from the transom remote as there's only 1 Ethernet out on the back of the headunit unfortunately, but Airplay is more important to me than transom controls for now. I could probably add an Ethernet splitter and gain both.
I may upgrade to the M6 series speakers & a 6 channel amp or even just adding a sub (currently lacks bass) and amp in the near future if we don't plan on upgrading within a year or two, but for now it's fine for family time out with smaller kids.
Conclusion:
I'd highly recommend taking a look at these R series outboards if you're on the fence. I was a little leery about buying a Cobalt post-Malibu acquisition, but I haven't noticed any real decline in quality here.
I never stop looking around, and now have an R8 with twin Verado's in the back of my mind when we're ready for the next step
Hope people find this quick review helpful! Please feel free to reach out with any specific questions and I'll do my best to answer them.
Sal
Denon 4700H, Klipsch RP-280F's, RP in-walls and in ceiling, SVS SB-2000 Pro. You're right, just debating whether to invest the money now or wait until an R8 OB in a few years then get into it.
