cobra 750 anyone?

[mr_williams]

howdy,
can anyone share any experiences with cobra 750 yachts? I am looking at one at the moment but finding reviews is a bit of challenge.

Also, as a novice sailor, I am looking to learn and gain experience and qualifications with this boat before I shell out serious money for something really sweet. I guess I want to know if anyone has sailed this class of yacht to France etc.. given that it is not classed as an offshore yacht.

Cheers for any help

 

[Dipper]

Lots were made (around 500) and there have been at least 2 boat test reports. The last was in PBO in November 2004. You can download a copy (for a £3.95 fee) in pdf format from the boat report section of this web site.

The owners club has been restarted recently.

 

[FullCircle]

Thers one in Burnham that regularly bimbles to France and back.
Cheap and pretty tough, but a racer it aint.

 

[StevenJMorgan]

used to cruise in company with one on many occasion round n wales and over to ireland in some tough conditions as well. Not fast and never pointed very well but strong and seaworthy, good boat and I reckon good for first boat - likely to take more than you feel like throwing at it. Interestingly though, never liked the larger ones as they are quite pricey and IMO you can get better for that money. 750 though would be on my list for a bargain pocket cruiser. good luck

 

[seabite]

hi being the owner of a cobra 750 must say they are a first class little cruiser built most of my miles on mine for my yachtmaster. had many a good days sail on her sadly for sale thou now an instructor so dont get to sail her allways on school boats these days will truly miss her.

 

[Guest]

Classed as offshore yacht ..... remember they were built before the RCD came in - so in fact are not classed in any way. It is purely down to perceived use generally.

Cobra's have looked after many cross channel and other exploits .... not that fast - but will give reasonable account of itself against many boats.

For size - the cabin volume is a bit pinched compared to other boats similar size and age ....

 

[citycash]

Re: cobras for everyone!

Why not join the owners association or look on the site, there is loads of stuff on the old forum and the new forum is "Just waiting" to found. The webmaster is still in touch with the designer, David feltham and the 750 was his favourite boat. He claimed that due to the shape and angle of the bilge keels, when the boat was heeled over the lower keel would always be vertical, better than a fin and don't let anyone tell you that bilge keeers don't go well to windward, cos they do! My own boat is an 850 and it as a good a boat as any other 28 footer of similar ilk. I totally don't agree that the cabin on the 750 is "a bit pinched" there are loads of comprisons on the "old forum" so check it out and draw you own conclusions. I don't know what part of the country you are in but charlie walker is trying to get a few cobras together for a social in the weymouth area. You can contact him via the new forum on the cobra site. http://www.cobra-seawolf.com

 

[mr_williams]

Re: cobras

Thankyou so much everyone for the information.. I thought it would be days before i got a reply..

I did download the report and it is there that I read it is not classed as an offshore boat, which gave me some negative thoughts... my understanding is of course very limited so I will ask for a definition of what is an offshore cruiser at some stage.. The report also said that the boat is very beamy with more room then a lot of other boats of the same period.. i think the head room of 5'7'' maybe the pinch part...

I did find the owners club, and went through a few of the old forum posts... I also saw that the new forum posts where very recent, so I assumed the same.. it is just waiting to be found....

To those guys that own Cobras, is there any known issues with them that I should look at when I get to see her? As in, they all had a problem with some sort of seal or if this isnt done then you are in trouble.... I ask this as I know quite a few of these boats were built as kits and so I assume that quality can vary greatly..

Thanks again you guys, keep your information coming, I am looking forward to being able to contribute something back when I can.

 

[Dyflin]

Re: cobras

There's one tied up near my boat. We've always admired it when we passed by. It's bloody big for a 24' boat! Internal volume must be great, the freeboard is more like a 30 footer (you really step _up_ onto the deck). As I said, looks like a great boat for that length. The one by me has all the extras for serious cruising. Was thinking along the lines of a 750 for our next boat...

 

[simon_sluggett]

Re: cobras

Hi
I have a cobra 750 and had some issues initially. Check the rudder is not filled with water and the stock is not loose. Even if not loose, when waterlogged the tangs will corrode and snap off without warning. Also check the skeg for cracking at the top, its quite long and slender so can be damaged. Check the fibreglass fillets on the internal wooden fixtures in the front cabin, they can suffer with wave pounding.
Other than that they are built like brick s***houses so will last forever and I would take mine offshore anytime.Im making mine into a serious cruiser at the moment, heating, windpower, solar power,liferaft, navtex, radar, so any tips you need , just say the word.

 

[citycash]

Re: cobras for everyone!

This boat is in as good condiion as anything costing £30,000. http://www.cobra-seawolf.com/Images/WSTAR-07.JPG .I doubt if the owner would spend shedloads on it, if it was not up to the job. Yes you are right the Cobras ARE NOT OFFSHORE boats and were not designed to be but then half of the yachts at the Southampton boatshow are not Category 'A' either. Why not take this debate to the owners site forum. the guys that have got the site going will have wasted their time if it stays here. Magwitch, they are still waiting for your subscription. breaking news http://www.ybw.com/auto/newsdesk/20060721111855ymnews.html /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif