Cobra 7.2m

Stevie J · 19 December 2015, 10:42

Hi all,

Can I have opinions on the seaworthiness of the 2003 COBRA NAUTIQUE 7.5m rib?

I may be buying one and want to know if she is a good sea boat or just a poser.

She'd be spending her days as a dive rib on the west coast of Scotland!

Cheers Stevie

boristhebold · 19 December 2015, 21:25

Should be fine, i have a 2004 cobra 7.5 no problems handles rough better than i can and plenty sold so not an issue. Pretty dry ride.

Lee argyle · 19 December 2015, 21:38

Look great leisure boats, however not sure it's a one-off but there's a 2013/2014 ish 7.5m Cobra not too far from me on the island and the rubbing strake and grab handles are starting to peel off - it's just a year or so old!!

Poly · 20 December 2015, 10:24

Never driven one so can't comment on Sea keeping, but are the deck layouts not quite leasure oriented - which is a lot less space for bottle racks and kitting up etc. I'm not sure I'd want hairy ersed divers chucking their bottles around on fake teak floor etc...

Jeff · 20 December 2015, 14:44

From experience, a pretty dry ride and copes with most sea states well. At 7.5 this should be significantly better than my 6.0m, which was a world apart from my previous 5.5m of the same stable.
They were well made but I am not sure how you will find the Nautiquew layout suits you for dive kit. The front sundeck and rear seat arrangement do take up a lot of space. Mine is the HD version ( ie, cheaper stripped down version, no teak decking and only the two man side-by side helming seat - great dry storage and best used in the leaning post arrangement) I have a fold-down bottle rack arrangement for 4 cylinders as part of the seat frame which works well.
The things to watch out for are poor wiring (auto electrical stuff - best ripped out and start again if not already done), water in the hull from poor sealing of the ducts, and on the nautique, check under the rear seat for water not running into the sump/bilge pump working and man enough) Quite a heavy lay up in that era and needs plenty of power
All JMHO and obviously you have seen them/it and assume you are happy the layout will suit your needs. Have a good poke around and a test run

Jeff

Mollers · 20 December 2015, 14:47

Which flavour of Cobra spat it's occupants out in Padstow back along?

Jeff · 20 December 2015, 14:52

A very high powered, 8.0m one, with a later adaptation of the original hull design/ spray rails - coupled with some very unfortunate handling. A very sad day for that family

Sutty · 20 December 2015, 15:49

I have had the 7.5 and now have the super dangerous (if you believe everybody) 8m with even a bigger engine that the used in the fateful day at Padstow. I can only speak highly of them with regards to quality and sea keeping and certainly a totally different league to the various Avons that I had previously. With regard to the fateful day, how sure are the owners of various other makes that their model would have performed any better?

topspeed · 20 December 2015, 18:14

What size was the Cobra that had the horrid accident off the Needles a couple of years ago ?

Sutty · 20 December 2015, 18:43

It was a 6.5 but if you read the report the boys were lying on the front of the boat when the driver encountered large waves that unfortunately threw the boy into the water and he was run over, with the propeller doing the damage. Hardly the fault of the make of boat. Part of the problem might lie in the fact that Cobra make very attractive leisure ribs and will therefor attract more than their fair share of casual purchaser and inexperienced skippers. Both of these horrific accidents were caused by pilot error.

beamishken · 20 December 2015, 19:27

Padstow accident was also a cobra an 8.5 the maib report seemed to suggest the hull was inherently prone to hooking and alterations to the hull had been made to try and alleviate the problem.Although no suggestion that that was the cause of the accident that's what I understood they were suggesting
But that's only my interpretation maybe I picked it up wrong
Two accidents with the same make,whilst probably not due to the boats themselves it would put me off but maybe am just being superstitious

Lee argyle · 20 December 2015, 19:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sutty

It was a 6.5 but if you read the report the boys were lying on the front of the boat when the driver encountered large waves that unfortunately threw the boy into the water and he was run over, with the propeller doing the damage. Hardly the fault of the make of boat. Part of the problem might lie in the fact that Cobra make very attractive leisure ribs and will therefor attract more than their fair share of casual purchaser and inexperienced skippers. Both of these horrific accidents were caused by pilot error.

Maybe, maybe not
MAIB criticises Cobra RIBs after hull design dispute - Motor Boat & Yachting

boristhebold · 21 December 2015, 08:47

The Padstow incident was caused by user error in the main, however the 8.5M Cobra was found to have a tendancy for the lean angle to dramaticly increase in a very tight turn which then caused a hook which ejected the occupants.

Their are some differences in the hulls between ages and models.

The 2003 Cobra which is what this post was about may have a different layout to the modern ones and was probably built in wales by Dave Picton from the time it was Picton Cobra.

Jeff · 21 December 2015, 10:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by boristhebold

The Padstow incident was caused by user error in the main, however the 8.5M Cobra was found to have a tendancy for the lean angle to dramaticly increase in a very tight turn which then caused a hook which ejected the occupants.

Their are some differences in the hulls between ages and models.

The 2003 Cobra which is what this post was about may have a different layout to the modern ones and was probably built in wales by Dave Picton from the time it was Picton Cobra.

Yep ,,, the second set of chines were added to the original Picton design by the new owners. Aside from some minor changes to the helm seat and console, A frame etc the layout of the Nautique remains pretty much the same I believe.
The one in this post would definitely have been built in Bridgend by Dave Picton into late 2006

Stevie J · 21 December 2015, 10:49

Hi guys,

Thanks for the replies.

Appreciate that the terrible accident in this make of rib is still fresh in people's minds but the situation here is very different...

Kill cord(s) at all times, Twin 90s set up, different hull than the one the MAIB made comment on, different skipper/different day.

The comments on wasted deck space and on whether this is a bit too plastic to become a dive rib are the ones that most interest me...

Can the forward and rear seating be removed without destroying the finish of the boat?

Seems that its sea worthiness is ok but will it survive as a robust dive rib!

S

Mollers · 21 December 2015, 11:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevie J

Can the forward and rear seating be removed without destroying the finish of the boat?

Seems that its sea worthiness is ok but will it survive as a robust dive rib!

S

No and probably not.
It would appear that you're trying to convince yourself that the wrong boat is right for you.

Dive rigs are usually better value than a leisure set-up, why not just buy one?

Stevie J · 21 December 2015, 11:23

I am blinded by the lovely, low hours twin 90 4 strokes on its derriere! Perhaps you're right. There are plenty ready to go dive ribs out there I'm sure.

I am looking at a ribcraft 585 with twin 60s that is also very desireable. Ready to go! Just a bit pricey! But the seller has gone silent!

Anyone got a view on the sea handling of a 6m Avon Searider hull? There is an old one of those out there that is a bit of a project. Wondering if its as wet as the smaller searider hulls are?

boristhebold · 21 December 2015, 14:59

I would say its plenty sea worthy, if your seats are similar to my 2004/5 cobra 7.5m then the front ones in bows cant come out as they are more padded lockers, you could cut them out but probably not a good idea, the rear bench seat arrangement the bottom part is probably a grp open box that yes will come out by undoing few screws but then you have the seat back also to sort out and you would need to build something.

So im kind of agreeing with another on here that your trying to convince yourself of one boat you've seen that looks nice will work as a dive rib, I have never seen any other cobra 7.5M as a dive rib, they are more sports / leisure, plenty capable sea boats but the fittings etc are more for sports leisure.

Perhaps look for a different rib, something with a more open deck layout, good hull but older so you can put in what you need for the diving.

Pikey Dave · 21 December 2015, 18:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevie J

I am blinded by the lovely, low hours twin 90 4 strokes on its derriere! Perhaps you're right. There are plenty ready to go dive ribs out there I'm sure.

I am looking at a ribcraft 585 with twin 60s that is also very desireable. Ready to go! Just a bit pricey! But the seller has gone silent!

Anyone got a view on the sea handling of a 6m Avon Searider hull? There is an old one of those out there that is a bit of a project. Wondering if its as wet as the smaller searider hulls are?

Ahem! If you're looking for a nice dive rig......
http://www.rib.net/forum/showpost.php?p=651017

Stevie J · 21 December 2015, 22:29

Pikey Dave - nice rib!

But I'm looking for something with 2 seats! Sorry!

S :o)