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NEW HORIZONS
COBIA’S NEW 256 CENTER CONSOLE REPRESENTS A NEW DIRECTION FOR A VENERABLE COMPANY. BY JOHN BROWNLEE
If you haven’t looked at Cobia boats in a while, you’re missing a remarkable metamorphosis. New Cobia models appear with greater and greater frequency, and each new boat further separates the Cobia of today from the company you might remember from years past.
Ever since the Maverick Boat Company acquired Cobia, many of us suspected that a new direction was imminent, and the change is now apparent. Whereas older Cobia models lacked certain elements of style (the term “stodgy” comes to mind), this new generation of boats combines undeniable good looks with well-designed fishing features, to create a boat that both looks good and fishes well.
The 256 center console represents the latest evolutionary change for Cobia, and it’s a far cry from previous models, especially in terms of styling. This is one good-looking boat, one that will withstand comparison to any other 25-footer on the market. I got a chance to test one recently and came away impressed with the boat’s functionality, as well as its looks. Our test boat sported a single Yamaha F350 four-stroke outboard, an excellent power choice for this boat. It provided brisk acceleration, and quickly reached a cruising speed of 36 mph at 4000 rpm. When you nail the throttle at cruise, the F350 packs a surprising amount of punch at the upper rpm range, quickly accelerating to a wide-open speed of 51.3 mph at 5700 rpm.
The all-new hull on the Cobia cuts down chop with little problem, and handles very well.We had six people aboard during our test, so I got a chance to really put the boat’s stability to the test. Even with a crowd sitting on one gunwale or another, the 256 remained very stable. This hull will provide excellent service in all conditions, whether you’re offshore in sixfooters, or trying to make time speeding across a smooth bay.
As you would expect from a company dedicated to producing boats that fish well, the 256 comes packed with intelligently designed fishing features. At the transom bulkhead, for instance, there’s a 28-gallon livewell on the centerline, with a cutting board and four rod holders to starboard, along with a couple of strategically placed drink holders. A portside transom gate affords easy access to the engine platform. A flip-up seat folds down into the bulkhead when not needed for passenger seating, and the seat also conceals an access panel that lets you get into the inner hull. Everything in the inner hull can be reached through this space
.The boat’s rocket launcher/leaning post contains a wealth of storage for loose gear and tackle. A dedicated tackle station on the aft end of the unit contains both tackle trays and larger drawers, and the helm seat has a large storage space beneath it. A sturdy handrail provides a sure grip, and four rod holders welded onto the rail provide even more rod storage. And beneath each gunwale, StarBoard rod racks hold three more rods per side.
Two fish boxes sit beneath the deck on either side of the leaning post, and these drain to macerator pumps. The boat’s console features a large, wraparound acrylic windshield with the helm to port, and a considerable amount of room to starboard for flush-mounting electronics. A footrest lets you drive comfortably whether seated or standing. A sturdy T-top featured a fiberglass hard-top, with an electronics box, five rod holders mounted on the aft edge, and a couple of spreader lights. Forward, there’s a cooler beneath the front console seat, and a large in-deck storage box that also affords access to the boat’s holding and water tanks. The 256 features bow seating, with lots of dry storage beneath the seats, and a fiberglass filler piece converts the seats into a sizeable casting deck, with three conveniently located drink holders so you’re never far from a cool beverage. A low profile bow rail lets you hang on when the going gets rough.
The Cobia 256 exhibits very good fit-and-finish, it rides great, and looks great too—it would appear that the gamble Maverick took when purchasing Cobia is beginning to pay off. If they continue to turn out new boats like the 256, they will surely have a home run on their hands.