cobalt 200 190hp 5.0 merc. underpowered??

[michael-tuttiett]

I'm looking at a very nice 1994 Cobalt 200 powered by the 5.0 mercruiser. I have a concern that it will be under powered.

According to the Cobalt spec sheet, the 5.0 merc of that year put out 190 hp.

I want to be able to tow a skier/tube but also boat around the lake at a decent speed. Anyone's comments would be appreciated. Will this boat be capable of speeds above 50mph?

 

[thumpar]

Re: cobalt 200 190hp 5.0 merc. underpowered??

190hp for that engine seems low. Are you sure it is a 5.0 and not a 4.3?

 

[tazrig]

Re: cobalt 200 190hp 5.0 merc. underpowered??

A 2000 5.0 Mercruiser should put out 220 HP. Just for comparison sake a 1971 23' Formula that weigh almost 6,000 lbs. will go 45mph with a 220hp in it and easily get up a skier on one ski! I would say you should see just about 50mph if the engine still has plenty of compression left.

 

[alldodge]

Re: cobalt 200 190hp 5.0 merc. underpowered??

I'm looking at a very nice 1994 Cobalt 200 powered by the 5.0 mercruiser. I have a concern that it will be under powered.

According to the Cobalt spec sheet, the 5.0 merc of that year put out 190 hp.

I want to be able to tow a skier/tube but also boat around the lake at a decent speed. Anyone's comments would be appreciated. Will this boat be capable of speeds above 50mph?

Not for sure but if it is correct this would probably be the HP at the prop and not the engine

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: cobalt 200 190hp 5.0 merc. underpowered??

Yup, should be 220 HP. My son has the same package in a Maxum.

The Cobalt is a HEAVY boat. You can't buy a better one.

There is a lot that can be done to 5.0 to make it pump out more.

 

[jkust]

Re: cobalt 200 190hp 5.0 merc. underpowered??

Right but that was a pre vortec engine. Gonna be let php that a modern carbed 5.0.

 

[superbenk]

Re: cobalt 200 190hp 5.0 merc. underpowered??

There is a lot that can be done to 5.0 to make it pump out more.

You piqued my curiosity. What sort of things are you talking about? I assume you're talking about carb & intake?

 

[SWD]

Re: cobalt 200 190hp 5.0 merc. underpowered??

OK.....how heavy is your boat? Mine is 19ft Cuddy and weighs in at around 2800 #. Could be a tad more with a full tank. I have a 200hp Alpha One on a 5.0 V8. Goes like you know what off the shovel, even when tubing and skiing/boarding.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: cobalt 200 190hp 5.0 merc. underpowered??



To the orignal poster those laugh icon's are for myself...i am about to express a opinion...That boat should have no less than 500 hp...you know why because that is the way Gunner roll's. If i chose to do something that's the way life roll's and anybody that doesnt roll that way well there a bit short in the deck.....

NIce post huh..give's one goose bump's..but in the end it is strickly a opinion no more no less. If the styling of the boat suits you and the speed make's you smile...then boat well my freind. You see it's about you and no one else.

Yes a 5.0 in that boat is fine just fine.

 

[michael-tuttiett]

Re: cobalt 200 190hp 5.0 merc. underpowered??

Thanks everyone for the comments. IT seems the general opinion is that it will have enough go

 

[tazrig]

Re: cobalt 200 190hp 5.0 merc. underpowered??

Yes a 5.0 in that boat is fine just fine.

+1^^^

 

[jkust]

Re: cobalt 200 190hp 5.0 merc. underpowered??

I actually think the 5.0 Carb is a pretty anemic engine and there isn't a ton that can be done cheaply to it. 4bbl carb, vortec heads and intake change and that's not a ton more performance. A cam is a job...possibly stroke it? Lots of threads of people discussing modding 4.3's and 5.0's over the years. What the 5.0 does have is a much flatter torque curve than a 4.3 or at least the modern one does. I think that just because it is a 5.0, the displacement alone will be adequate albeit still anemic for a v8.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: cobalt 200 190hp 5.0 merc. underpowered??

your boat will do fine with the 5.0. intake, carb, and vortec heads are an easy update to add a bit of power. I myself would do a cam on it. then again, you could do like what I believe Tail Gunner alluded to and build a 500hp beast (most likely a 383).

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: cobalt 200 190hp 5.0 merc. underpowered??

your boat will do fine with the 5.0. intake, carb, and vortec heads are an easy update to add a bit of power. I myself would do a cam on it. then again, you could do like what I believe Tail Gunner alluded to and build a 500hp beast (most likely a 383).

Acutally that post was in jest....ive seen so many opinion's on boat's an or car's lately im getting tired of opinion's..take a test drive and stick with your gut and make the plunge.....Geezzz plz take a test drive boat's are emotional purchase's....

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: cobalt 200 190hp 5.0 merc. underpowered??

LOL. yes, they are emotional. and if the boat speaks to you buy it. if you find you need more power, build it.

 

[Walt T]

Re: cobalt 200 190hp 5.0 merc. underpowered??

It'll do what you want fine Michael. Me personally wouldn't even look at it as I'd want a 5.7. That's just me though. The 5.0 will pull skiiers all day long

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: cobalt 200 190hp 5.0 merc. underpowered??

It'll do what you want fine Michael. Me personally wouldn't even look at it as I'd want a 5.7. That's just me though. The 5.0 will pull skiiers all day long

Well said....very well said.

Actually i have a 19' boat with a high performance 4.3....speed in of excess of 65 mph. And i also have another...top speed 50..crusing about 40, living life speed about 10 mph. It's used 80% of the time.

 

[michael-tuttiett]

Re: cobalt 200 190hp 5.0 merc. underpowered??

Hi Walt T, i agree the 5.7 would be more preferable. 5.0 is the only thing about this boat i'm unsure of. It's just it's a lovely boat in every other way. I have been looking for either a Mariah Shabah or a Cobalt and they seldom come up in good condition for a reasonable price. They are both really nicely built boats but I want to make sure it has the sound and go to match.

I also want to put a nice classy set of thru-hull exhausts with captains call at some stage if the boat I buy doesn't have it already.

Any other brands of boat worth looking at that ooze class and well builtiness?

 

[thumpar]

Re: cobalt 200 190hp 5.0 merc. underpowered??

Take a look at some Crownlines. The LPX models usually come with captains call. I have the 202 BR. It is super solid. I am not sure where you are but in the upper mid west they are more common. I was lucky to find one here in the Pacific Northwest.

 

[Walt T]

Re: cobalt 200 190hp 5.0 merc. underpowered??

The Captains call won't do anything but make your boat louder. Might feel faster because of the noise but the only thing going faster is money flying out of your wallet because you'll wanna keep goosing it and pretending you're Knight Rider" while all the ladies on your boat are upset because they can't talk amongst themselves about how their ex hubbies new girlfriends all have a combined weight of 4700 lbs.
Captains call simply doesn't produce enough extra HP to make a difference. I strongly recommend you test drive it before you buy a boat so you know for sure it will do what you want. We hear it all the time from folks who bought a boat with no sea trial only to find a that rat that runs the wheel in the engine compartment has died.