Cobra 850 Faults

[Gypsyjoss]

Hi Guys

I'm viewing a Cobra 850 Bilge Keeler tomorrow.

Any faults/problems that I should look for?

All suggestions gratefully received!

Thanks

Pete

 

[garvellachs]

We owned a 750 once. The saloon windows can be hard to keep sealed. The rudder might have osmosis, or at least be wet. The fuel tank may be buried beyond reach. The keels are made by encapsulating steel punchings in grp - fine unless the grp is breached; hence the need for sacrificial shoes on the keel bottoms. Engine will be very old unless replaced. Many were home-finished so the fit-out can vary a lot. But they are high volume (for their length) well-built boats in general I think. Is the Cobra owners website still going?

 

[Gypsyjoss]

Thanks, garvellachs, for your reply.
a. What exactly do these sacrificial shoes look like? How do they work?

b. I think the Cobra and Seawolf Owners website is now defunct.

Regards
Pete

 

[Tranona]

The bottom of the keel mouldings are prone to wearing through and letting water in which rusts the iron punchings even though the cavity is filled with resin as well. Particularly vulnerable if the boat is kept on a swinging mooring with a gravel bottom. Not unique to Cobras (my Seawych had the same problem) and it is common for a moulded shoe to be attached to the bottom which protects the moulding and can be replaced. It will be obvious if they are fitted to the boat, but not necessary if the boat is kept on a deep water mooring or in a marina and the bottom of the keels are sound.