Never before have I seen a Cobalt like this. It reminds me of a new model now made by Donzi. She is 40 years old this year and we’re blessed that her owner, Craig Zimmerman of Maryland, sent us these pics and video…enjoy!
Here are a few pics and a short video clip (taken from a bridge) of my
Cobalt.Early on, Cobalt built 40 of these. You’ll see a little mention of them here and there in their literature. The boat is a blast. She’s 40 years old this year and still a great little boat. I’ve owned it for 24
years!Enjoy!
Oh, I live in Maryland.
UPDATE: 6/7/2009 – If you’re still with us and want more, this was provided by Craig Zimmerman this week:
Guess I didn’t tell you the entire story. Actually, as you mentioned they remind you of the current Donzi 16 Classic. Actually the Donzi 16 is what these “first Cobalts” were made from. They were detailed quality
copies of the little 16′ Donzi “Ski Sporter” (later called “Sweet 16” — later (and currently) called the Classic 16). They (Donzi) started making those way back in 1963 so the Donzi is both older “and” newer.It has been said that when Boston Whaler (in just the past few years) retired one of there long running designs, the Donzi 16 became literally one of the oldest molds still being made.
So the 40 that were out there (mine being one) were eventually sold. There were also 2 or 3 other Donzi’s copied by Cobalt. Among them, the Donzi 18′ Corsican (called the GT-500 Cobalt) and the Donzi 18-2+3 (called the XV-500 Cobalt). I’ve seen a handful of the GT-500’s. There were supposedly even less of those built and I believe it because, while I’ve found (over many years of looking) about 10 or 15 of the XV-200’s (like mine), I’ve only found maybe 3 or 4 of the GT-500’s so the ratio of probable boats actually built of each seems consistent.
Okay, better stop for now — I’m writing a book here! 🙂
Later,
Craig
“16SkiSporterCropped”). And finally a pic of each of 2 XV-200’s owned by the same guy. I don’t
know if he’d object to adding the pics on the site. I suspect he wouldn’t care, but if you want to, let me ask first. He is the original owner of one (not sure which one) and his neighbor was the original owner of the other and he eventually bought that one too!
Donzi put this exact “Taylor Made” (brand-name) glass on some 16’s, 18’s and even a few others (their 19′ Hornet for example). But many (perhaps most) came with no wind screen. All of the other Cobalt XV-200’s I’ve
managed to locate have the “no windshield” look. Mine is the only Cobalt I’ve seen with one, which is kind of cool, but I like the look both ways and it’s pretty easy to remove so I run it both ways. It’s nice with it off when it’s really hot, but when it’s cool out, the glass is a welcome option!I noticed a significant typo in my earlier message. I mentioned one of the Donzi’s that Cobalt copied was the 18′ “Corsican” but I spelled it Cosrican.
Just a correction here; It is a ” C o r s i c a n. ”
They were very cool little boats. There is one (a Cobalt GT-500) currently being restored on the Donzi Registry website. Many of the Donzi guys know about the old Cobalt copies, but be warned if you discuss them with those guys, you get mixed reviews. Some of them are kind of defensive about the Cobalt copies because they copied “their
beloved design.” Others seem to have no problem about it and will talk your ear of about them.The Cobalts were obviously very well made copies though the one on the Donzi site has been torn down to the stringers in an effort to do a thorough repair and discovered there was at least one lesser construction technique used in his boat, a cheaper wood for the stringer. It would be good, fine and lightweight, provided no water
could get at it and rot it, but apparently with that GT-500, some did and the stringers were compromised with regard to strength.Either way it’s an interesting story with lots of pics if you care to check it out.
Craig
Hi Craig,
Just getting aroud to checking out the site/your boat. Great pictures! Makes me want to get mine back in the water soon.
For some reason the video won’t come up – assume it is the first one in the series. Would you email it to me?
Whole family going to be up at the lake the Aug 6th-18th, maybe we’ll see you around.
Scott
Scott
Hey Scott! I haven’t checked in here for a while. It was great talking with you ! Yeah, you need to fire the ole’ girl up and bring it up to the lake. That was one sweet boat! Hope to see you again sooner than this past “long time no see!” Glad you enjoyed the pics too! Craig
Here’s the post copy and pasted from You Tube…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azaZ3NB63h4
Hi Craig,
Great boat and great story about it. I just bought an XV-200 and would like to get some input from you sometime if possible?
Thanks
Kevin T
My husband Wade has a red XV-200 we live on Grand Lake , Oklahoma our house is just up the cove from the owner of Cobalt , I believe our boat is the last XV-200 made , but not sure of hull # , it is intresting to see all the comments on this boat , our boat was also featured in Boating World magazine a couple of years back.
I guess a correction on the XV-200 it is white with red , not red with white , anyway it is all very intresting how rare these boats are.
Hi Wade (and Wade’s wife):
I saw your article (March 2005) and wrote to Lee Wangstad (who used to write those so well) with a picture and some info. about mine. To my surprise, he followed up with a similar article on mine in the “letters” section (with a nice picture included). That was very cool.
It’s funny you mentioned the stripe correction in your above posts because in the article they did of mine, they made similar typos regarding the standard striping of the boats that I conveyed. Ah well! No real harm done! I was just excited to get a picture and an article of my boat in a magazine!
Thanks for writing! I really like to keep track of these little boats as best I can.
3631890726_feaac84841_o.jpg
Here is my GT500
Lornezo,
Where are you and your boat located (if you don’t mind me asking). Also, am I suppose to be able to see pics here? I’m not seeing them.
Thanls,
Craig
I just bought a Colbalt. I was told before I went up to buy it that it was a 1970 Sweet 16. I have seen many Sweet 16s and this looks like one but when I got there and it said Cobalt on the side. Well it was a cool little boat and I needed a project so I bought it anyway. I pickup the boat and the title Friday so that should give me a little more info. 4 cylinder Merc is in it now. I have not seen any pictures with Mercs in these boats so I was wondering if that was done afterwards. The information on your website has been very very helpful.
Thankyou Mack
Hello, I have an original brochure for that boat. It sounds like an XV-200. I would think the motor has been changed because any ones that I have heard of have a V-8 in them. Are you going to keep the boat?
Thanks
Kevin T
I am going to keep the boat. The pictures I have seen of the XV- 200s have through hole exhaust. Is that right? This one does not. I am in Austin, Texas and the decal has the local dealer in town so I am excited to go in there and see what I can find out. I have the hull number so I am hoping they can tell me a little about it. I am also a little apprehensive since I know so little about it but I appreciate your input.
Hello Mack , My husband has a 1968 (titled in 1970) XV-200 Cobalt , we live at Grand Lake , OK , just up the cove from Pack Sinclair that owns Cobalt , we have a boat repair business on the lake ( http://www.rebelmarinerepair.com ) , My husband , Wade, said it is possible that your boat could have came out with a 4 cyl. Merc., if the original thru hull exhaust was originally there you should be able to see where it was glassed over . Glad to see these boats are still around . P. Silzer
Have to drag mine up to Grand Lake one of these days. I got it years ago from a guy in Ada. It came with the 351W with all the Holman-Moody hardware.
Mark Oldham
Oklahoma City
[email protected]
Regarding the GT-500; does anyone know what the original motor was and where I could find additional photos of this model?
The GT-500’s seemed to mostly have the 302 or 351 Holman Moody Marine Ford with the Holman Moody Marine (Volvo) drive. The drives are Volvos (usually AQ-250’s) with a Holman Moody plate on them. I don’t think there is anything different about the drive except the little name plate.