Dating a Cobra 750

[waysu]

Hi,
I'm new to the forum so please be gentle . Hope I'm posting in the right place and all that!

I'm looking at maybe buying my first boat and I'm about to view a Cobra 750, the main problem is that the current owner doesn't know how old it is except that the previous owner told him it was built in 1974. This appears to be wrong as according to the Cobra & Seawolf Owners Association they were in production from 1977.

I was wondering if there are any features etc I can look for when viewing it in order to date it. I think I read something somewhere about the toerail but it was a bit vague.

Lastly perhaps you more experienced guys could suggest anything else I should look out for when I go for the viewing, especially any problems specific to the 750. The current owner has already pointed out that there's a little gelcoat crazing on the side and on the deck.

Cheers
Scott

 

[chewi]

Aging a 750:
Many were built with BUKH engines, and BUKH at Poole have the serial nos. sold to Cobra, so if you can get the BUKH engine serial no they may be able to date it. Engines have never been cheap so Cobra are unlikely to hold them in stock long before build.

On the other hand many were home built..

BUKH also told me that the hull no was a dymo label attached to the mould at the base of the transom, thus producing a reversed indented number, but mine has long since been faired in so I haven't seen it.

As for the 750 generally:
I've had mine for 11yrs now and I was cofounder of the Cobra-Seawolf owners group, so I'm biased, but they are a very reassuring seaboat, They don't slam in heavy weather, and sail well for a bilge keeler. They are a bit undercanvassed for light airs.
The cockpit can be cramped for more than three. They are balanced so don't suffer the helm problems the 850 owners write about.
As with many boats of this age not just Cobras, check the solidity of the rudder shaft to the rudder, losts of 70's80's boats had tangs welded to the shaft around which the rudder is formed, the tanks brak and leave a shaft able to move within the rudder, or wiggling the remaining tangs. But the surveyor should find that.

Check the condition of the bronze fitting clamped onto the top of the rudder shaft that provides the horizontal hinge for the tiller. Mine dezincified and the tiller fell off , thankfully at the mooring. I had one fabricated for £150 in stainless.

pm me if you want to look over another example (not for sale though), I'm in Poole.

 

[Lakesailor]

Dating a Cobra.
Will she go down on you first time out?



With regard to your query. The age is really only of superficial interest. Boats that are becoming senior should be judged on condition. That's what will cost you and worry you, should you choose badly.

 

[waysu]

Cobra 750 vs MacWester Rowan Crown

Tangs for the advice Chewi.

(Sorry couldn't resist )

The engine is the dreaded (according to some forumites) Petter Mini Twin so that might possibly suggest a homebuilt.

Thanks also for the offer to take a look at your boat, I would but for the 4 hour car journey. I was down in Portsmouth recently for the day after a drop off at Heathrow but I'm now back in the sunny midlands, about as far away from the sea as you can get

Hope not Lakesailor , I totally agree with you about the condition being important not the age but was just a bit concerned when it comes to insurance companies. They all want to know the age of the boat and none of them I've found give instant web quotes for anything over 40. I know any Cobra's will be well within this but I'm not sure what their position will be without a date.

Some of the other boats I've considered were 35-40 years old, do the main insurance companies still insure boats over the age of 40 or do you have to go to specialist insurers?

I'll definitely be getting a survey whatever I buy and will be taking recommendations on here on who's a good surveyor in the area.

Lastly the only boat I've viewed so far was a triple-keel MacWester Rowan Crown. I've heard these were an improvement on the earlier Rowan and the other earlier triple or bilge-keel MacWesters. Does anyone have any views on this and the relative advantages of either the MacWester or Cobra over the other?

 

[chewi]

Macwesters have fat shallow keels and have no grip, so they sail sideways.

If you want a floating caravan then fine but don't buy one to sail...

The Cobra is much better to sail.

 

[Straggly Dan]

Cobra 750 Fan

The Cobra 750 is a superb boat and some lucky person will benefit from a beautifully kept example, complete with recent survey when I put mine up for sale at the end of this season. The only drawback will be that it is in Northumberland and a long way from anybody.
Straggly Dan.

 

[areid12]

yeh my cobra 750 was built in 1980 (ive had her for 10yrs), she has an encapsulated fin keel and was factory completed.

the original engine got eaten by sea water, she has a fresh water cooled volvo now, so check out to see if shes sea water cooled or fresh water.

the rudder is another point to watch fibre glass foam filled ones can become water logged, so check this as well.

all in all cobras are excelent (imho), there like a tardis, there quite roomy for there size.

my boats in burnham on crouch, essex if you want to have a look.

 

[waysu]

Thanks Guys for all your help, advice and offers for viewings etc. Thanks to Straggly Dan I'm now the proud second owner of a 1980 bilge keel Cobra 750 plus a nice original painting of her leaving the harbour. I'm sure I'll be asking lots more questions over the coming months/years!

 

[boatsRus]

I have also just acquired a Cobra 750. More accurately, she has been gifted to the Sea Cadet Unit which I Chair. She is a 1979 model, bilge keel, with some almost new sails. The interior needs some work (and a good clean up), but overall she is a good, solid boat. The plan is to tidy her up a bit then put her on the market to raise much needed funds for the Cadets. I expect to advertise her in the New Year, but if anyone out there would like to express an interest at this early stage, please PM me and I will let you have a sneak preview. She will be on the Hamble in a few days time (weather permitting).