9/22/2014 Cobia 344 CC: Fish-Seeking Missile - Articles - boats.com http://features.boats.com/boat-content/2014/09/cobia-344-cc-fish-seeking-missile/ Buy Boats, Sell Boats, Review Boats Cobia 344 CC: Fish-Seeking Missile Can Cobia's first "big boy" center-console hit its mark? 19th September 2014. By Gary Reich One of the most competitive areas in the U.S. boating market is the offshore center console segment, with boats between 32 and 38 feet in length. It’s a slice of the American boating pie that’s been long dominated by names such as Jupiter, Yellowfin, Scout, Regulator, Everglades, and Contender, among others. So when Cobia introduced its biggest-ever center-console boat—the 344 CC—at the Miami International Boat Show, it got me wondering: Can Cobia hit the target in this high-stakes premium powerboat segment? The Cobia 344 CC: The end is near, fishes. I got the chance to find out in late July by running the 344 CC off Stuart, FL, during a media event hosted by Maverick Boat Company, which purchased the Cobia brand in 2005. You might recognize the Maverick name from its legendary technical fishing skiffs, or its Hewes and Pathfinder fishing boat brands. The company is known not only for its expertise in lightweight composite boatbuilding techniques, but also for its advanced hull designs and innovative fishing features. On first glance, the 344 CC is imposing. It has a generous amount of freeboard and a sheer line that rises dramatically to an aggressive bow with plenty of flare. The entry is steep and sharp, but is also graceful and elegant at the same time. A twin-stepped hull improves performance and efficiency, while nearly 22 degrees of transom deadrise provides accurate tracking and a smooth ride, even in a stiff chop. At 8,600 pounds dry, the Cobia 344 CC weighs more than the amazingly light Contender 35 Tournament (6,600 pounds), but it’s not a heavyweight. For comparison, the Boston Whaler 350 Outrage weighs 11,000 pounds, while the Everglades 355cc runs 9,500 pounds.
Cobia 344 CC: Fish-Seeking MissileCan Cobia's first "big boy" center-console hit its mark?
19th September 2014.By Gary Reich
One of the most competitive areas in the U.S. boating market is the offshore center console segment, with boatsbetween 32 and 38 feet in length. It’s a slice of the American boating pie that’s been long dominated by namessuch as Jupiter, Yellowfin, Scout, Regulator, Everglades, and Contender, among others. So when Cobiaintroduced its biggest-ever center-console boat—the 344 CC—at the Miami International Boat Show, it got mewondering: Can Cobia hit the target in this high-stakes premium powerboat segment?
The Cobia 344 CC: The end is near, fishes.
I got the chance to find out in late July by running the 344 CC off Stuart, FL, during a media event hosted byMaverick Boat Company, which purchased the Cobia brand in 2005. You might recognize the Maverick namefrom its legendary technical fishing skiffs, or its Hewes and Pathfinder fishing boat brands. The company isknown not only for its expertise in lightweight composite boatbuilding techniques, but also for its advanced hulldesigns and innovative fishing features.
On first glance, the 344 CC is imposing. It has a generous amount of freeboard and a sheer line that risesdramatically to an aggressive bow with plenty of flare. The entry is steep and sharp, but is also graceful andelegant at the same time. A twin-stepped hull improves performance and efficiency, while nearly 22 degrees oftransom deadrise provides accurate tracking and a smooth ride, even in a stiff chop. At 8,600 pounds dry, theCobia 344 CC weighs more than the amazingly light Contender 35 Tournament (6,600 pounds), but it’s not aheavyweight. For comparison, the Boston Whaler 350 Outrage weighs 11,000 pounds, while the Everglades355cc runs 9,500 pounds.
The Cobia 344 CC has an aggressive stance and purposeful lines. Photo: Gary Reich
Build quality and fit and finish on the 344 CC are top-notch, from the sturdy aluminum pipework and high-quality stainless-steel deck hardware, down to the way mechanical systems are installed. Lift up any accesspanel or hatch and you’ll find electrical wires and hoses bundled and routed with an amazing attention to detail.Fiberglass and gelcoat work are also among the best I’ve seen in a production boat—even the bilges andmechanical spaces are expertly finished.
Speaking of mechanical areas, I really liked how accessible all of these areas were on the 344 CC. For example,it’s great how Cobia mounted the triple fuel filter/water separator assemblies within easy reach at the transom,instead of burying them as I’ve seen some other manufacturers do. You can access them either by opening asmall, hinged door, or by using an electric lift switch to elevate the large transom seat panel. Extending thetransom seat panel upward also reveals an opening that provides quick access to the bilge/mechanical area at thetransom.
Maverick’s obsession with detail even finds its way into the 344 CC’s twin, 42-gallon livewells, both of whichare located on the transom. Take a look under a hatch in the aft cockpit sole and you’ll find the heart of aninnovative, pressurized system that virtually eliminates all bubbles from the livewell water, even whenunderway at speed. That helps keep bait alive and swimming longer. The system is comprised of three Rulesubmersible bilge pumps that are mounted inside a sea chest outside the wells, with one pump serving as aspare.
Cobia’s clever pressurized livewell system, which is designed to keep your bait alive and kickinglonger. Note the attention to detail in the way hoses and electrical wires are run.
As long as we’re discussing fishing features, I should mention the Cobia 344 CC’s two 62-gallon fish boxeswith macerated overboard discharge drains, copious under-gunwale rod stowage, deck-mounted rod holders,and an amazing rigging station with cutting area, sink, and five stowage drawers. I’ve seen 50-foot sportfishyachts with smaller rigging stations. There’s more rod stowage under the center console and a plethora ofadditional places to stow a fishing stick via rocket launchers that are welded into the hardtop pipework.
Cobia included heavy bolstering around the gunwale, which is nice when you have to bend into a big fish.Lastly, there’s an opening topside/tuna door on the aft starboard quarter that provides an easy way to get bigfish aboard; it will also make hopping aboard easier when docked side-to. I found the door’s latchingmechanisms and two-piece construction a little awkward to use in a rush, but the whole setup is solid-feeling.
A table that raises and lowers electrically means the bow area on the 344 CC can be used forfishing, sun bathing, or dining. The only downside is that the mechanism works very slowly. Photo:Gary Reich
But this boat isn’t entirely about fishing—there are also a ton of comfort features, for when casual fun withfamily and friends takes precedence. The bow features a highly modular seating area that can be used as a sunpad, casting platform, or six-person dinette, thanks to a table that raises and lowers with the flick of a switch.It’s a clever and slick setup, but the electric table mechanism is awfully slow. While it may sound like a first-world problem, I guarantee you’ll start tapping your toes or some other appendage as you wait for the table toget into position.
Ahead of the center console unit is a long, padded seating area that has two separate cooler compartments andjust enough space for two people to stretch out or lie down. Additional seating is available at the stern via afold-down bench that can accommodate three. So there are plenty of places to catch a snooze or relax with acold one.
The Cobia 344 CC’s dash has plenty of room for, well, everything. Check out all of those stowagedrawers.
The center-console unit on the 344 CC is huge in just about every way. The dash has enough room to swallowup double multifunction displays, an autopilot, trim tab switches, engine controls, Yamaha Command Linksystem, stereo, electric switch panel, and more. Underneath the dash are four stowage areas with closeablefronts and a wide footrest that runs the width of the console. Behind the center console are twin fixed seats thatcan be converted quickly to a leaning post setup. I really liked the console between the seats, which had roomfor wallets, cell phone, keys, etc.
forward for Bohemian overnighting, and a clever rod stowage area underneath can swallow up and protect sixrods. Two opening ports provide light and good ventilation.
Our test boat was equipped with three, 300-horsepower Yamaha F300 outboards. You can also opt for twinF300s or two of Yamaha’s beefy, 350-horsepower F350 outboards. Performance on the Cobia 344 CC wasspirited and exhilarating, as you’d expect from a boat with 900-horsepower strapped to its stern.
What’s most impressive, however, is how well the boat handles with all of this power, especially at high speed.I’ve been on plenty of fishing boats of this type tipped with lots of horsepower, and not all of them behavenicely at high speeds. In fact, some of them were downright scary.
The tip of the spear. These three Yamaha F300 outboards can propel the Cobia 344 CC beyond 70mph. Photo: Gary Reich
Not so with the Cobia 344 CC. Even at close to 70 mph with a light chop, the boat never once felt even slightlyout of control. There was no chine walk or loss of steering feedback, or any of the other undesirable handlingmaladies that can befall boats at such speeds.
In fact the only thing that’s scary about the 344 CC at this speed is the force with which the wind can rip offjackets, sunglasses, or anything else not firmly strapped down. I can attest to this firsthand.
At lower, more typical speeds out through the St. Lucie Inlet and into the ocean, the 344 CC behavedadmirably, splitting waves with authority, with almost no pounding.
The area beneath the center console is accessed through a door on the port side. Underneath you’ll find not only a head and sink, but also access to battery control switches, a breaker panel, two pullout stowage drawers, and a panel that flips down behind the dash to allow easy access to electronics at the helm. There’s a padded berth up
Despite having three thirsty outboards, fuel efficiency and range on the Cobia 344 CC are quite impressive.Cruise speeds settle in around 31 mph, where the three F300s consume about 21 gallons per hour. That providesa theoretical range of 479 miles with the 320-gallon fuel tank—plenty to blast out to the canyons and back withlots of fuel to spare. Bump the speed up to around 45 mph and that range dips only slightly, to just under 400miles. Open the 344 CC all the way up and in the right conditions you’ll blow past 70 mph—while suckingdown 78 gallons per hour, or more, along the way.
Besides the quirky latching mechanism for the starboard topside door and the slow speed with which theforward electric table raises and lowers, I found it difficult to be critical of much on the 344 CC. In fact, Imentioned to a colleague at the media event that when I complain about an electric table and door latchingmechanism, the rest of the boat must be awfully good. Cobia’s big boy center console has definitelyhit its target in the premium powerboat segment.
