Just wanted to make a few rambling comments on the Cobalt line up:

I really like the new A25 - innovative body sculpting, great swim platform and an interior worthy of Cobalt. 25' is a nice sized boat.

the previous year i didn't like the interiors... starting looking like your livingroom instead of your boat. i really dislike the sloppy sofa cushion look on the 276 (?) so its good to see them come out with the A25.

i think not having a cuddy in that size of boat is a mistake.

Also, as i've been thinking that i need to solve the shortcoming of my 255, namely, a walk in head, a fridge and a windlass. Talk about a nasty jump to go from the price point of a 255 to a 303.... i think it was $270K at the boat show... Beautiful boats but come on... thats a ton of dough.

Looks like i'll be looking at an older 293 or a Formula 280 SS.

I could almost become a SeaRay guy... brand new 2009 280 Sundancer $79K. Thats a hell of a deal and enough to convert a guy.

Chaparral makes/made some upper 20' cuddies with a real head, and I think a fridge. My brother in law owns one - I'll ask him when I see him later today. He had a 293 before buying the Chap, and I think he likes the Chap better. The Crownline 255/275 also have them, although the cabin on the 255 is pretty small because of it.

The lack of a real head is the only thing I don't like about the 263. My wife is not likely to overnight on it because it lacks one and it limits day trips with adults.

I almost bought a 293 before getting the 263. Had a deal lined up, but the survey by a good surveyor turned up a not very obvious crack in the hull. His time was worth every penny the stand-up broker ending up paying for the survey once that came to light (I paid for the haul-out). I ended up getting a much better deal on the 263, so things worked out well in the end.

I liked the head on the 293, but the 263 is a lot more fun to drive. The 293 didn't quite feel like a cruiser, but it felt like a much bigger boat than the 263, and wasn't nearly as nimble. I sea trialed a 280 SS as well, and it was my least favorite of the three. It was louder, had the smallest cabin, and had the worst ride of the 3. It was a nice boat, but I didn't like it as well as either the 263 or 293.

The 303 and 323 are sweet boats, but I'll need a few years of depreciation before they're in my price range.

I was offered a new Cobalt 242 for the same money as I paid for my Chap, but the difference in the size and accessability of the head was a major reason I chose the Chap. For such premium boats Cobalt can't seem to design-in a workable-sized (IMO) head on their 24/25/26' boats. Chap does a good job in this area.

The head on my 246 is as nice as a friend's 270 SR bowrider.