After the full 2026 lineup tables and the sterndrive vs Surf vs Coastal chooser, the next email I get is almost always: “what length should I buy?”
Here is the club version, by LOA bands, using Cobalt’s current 24-model book on cobaltboats.com/models. Specs are from Cobalt’s public pages (August 2026). I am not inventing horsepower or MSRPs.
Under ~24′ — easy trailer, day crew
These are the boats most people can tow with a sensible truck and still fill with friends for a lake day. No enclosed head on the current book in this band.
- CS22 — 22′ 5″, 8′ 6″ beam, 52 gal, 12 persons
- CS23 / CS23 Surf — 23′ 5″, 8′ 6″, 60 gal, 12 persons
- R4 / R4 Surf / R4 Coastal — 24′ 3″, 8′ 6″, 50–70 gal, 13 persons
Pick this band if: storage, tow vehicle, and marina slips matter more than a head. Surf twin exists on CS23 and R4; Coastal twin on R4 only.
~25–28′ — the “most weekends” sweet spot
This is where a lot of club owners live. You get a head on every current Cobalt in this band, still an 8′ 6″ beam on the mid-20s boats, and enough boat for all-day water.
- R6 Coastal — 25′ 5″, 8′ 6″, 80 gal, 14 persons (the remaining R6 name; no sterndrive / Surf R6 anymore)
- R26 / R26 Surf — 26′ 5″, 8′ 6″, 68 gal, 14 persons — NEW for 2026, replaces the old R6 sterndrive / Surf slots. No Coastal twin yet.
- R8 / R8 Surf / R8 Coastal — 27′ 10″, 8′ 6″, 80–125 gal, Yacht Certified
Pick this band if: you want a real Cobalt day boat with a head, trailerable beam, and room to grow into. Start with R26 / R26 Surf if you want the newest hull; R8 family if you want the bigger midsize with all three classes.
~29–33′ — bigger water, Yacht Certified
Beam steps up. These are less “toss on the trailer every Saturday” and more “this is the family boat.”
- A29 — 29′ 0″, 9′ 0″, 121 gal, Yacht Certified (A Series; sterndrive only)
- R31 / R31 Surf — 31′ 5″, 9′ 10″, 160 gal; R31 Coastal lists 32′ 8″ LOA
- R33 / R33 Surf / R33 Coastal — 33′ 4″, 10′ 6″, 150–225 gal
Pick this band if: longer days, more guests, or you need the Coastal fuel / salt package. R33 Surf / R35 Surf do not use hard ballast tanks — Cobalt’s published note, not mine.
~35′ — flagship open and coupe
All sit at 35′ 4″ LOA (w/ swim platform), 10′ 10″ beam, Yacht Certified. Sterndrive / Surf fuel 165 gal; Coastal twins jump to 250 gal. Coupe if you want the enclosed helm weather protection.
Pick this band if: you are done compromising on length and want the top of the current book.
Quick length chooser
| You mostly need… | Start around |
|---|---|
| Easy tow, no head required | CS22 / CS23 / R4 family (~22–24′) |
| Head + 8′ 6″ beam + newest hull | R26 / R26 Surf (~26′) |
| Midsize with sterndrive, Surf, and Coastal twins | R8 family (~28′) |
| Bigger water / Yacht Certified / more beam | A29, R31, R33 (~29–33′) |
| Flagship open or coupe | R35 family (~35′) |
Still stuck between two lengths? Email me at editor@mycobalt.net with how you boat (lake vs salt, crew size, tow vehicle) and I will talk it through. Already own one? Send owner photos the same way. Trading up or out? List your used Cobalt on MyCobalt for $25 (or $50 premium) at mycobalt.net/advertise.
Photo credit: Cobalt Boats (factory R8). Length / beam / fuel / capacity from cobaltboats.com product and class pages, August 2026. Full side-by-side tables: 2026 lineup comparison.
){kind=link}