Cobalt 200 vs 226

The Cobalt 226 asks $4,000 more at the median ($19,000 against $15,000), measured across 45 listings we track. Below is every difference we can evidence, and the ones we cannot.

Side by side

Cobalt 200 Cobalt 226
Median asking priceLower is cheaper to buy, not necessarily better value. $15,000 $19,000
Typical low (25th pct) $11,000 $16,500
Typical high (75th pct) $22,000 $23,000
Length (median listed) 20.3 ft 22.0 ft
Listings we trackMore listings means an easier boat to find and to resell. 23 22
States with listings 11 12
Engines we see most MerCruiser sterndrive (gas, 4.5L–6.2L), Volvo Penta sterndrive (gas, DPS/Duoprop) MerCruiser sterndrive (gas, 4.5L–6.2L)
Known problems on file 0 0
Federal recall campaigns (builder) 10 10
Model years traded 1990–2015 1999–2005
45 distinct boats across both models Updated August 19, 2026

Method: Both columns come from the same pipeline on the same day, so the comparison is like-for-like. Asking prices, de-duplicated, quartiles rounded to $500.

Sources: BoatVerdict market observations · USCG / CPSC recall records

Which one suits which buyer

Take the Cobalt 200 if…

  • Budget is the binding constraint: it asks $4,000 less at the median.
  • You want choice: we track 23 of these against 22, so you can afford to walk away from a bad one.

Take the Cobalt 226 if…

  • You want the bigger boat: 22.0 ft against 20.3 ft.
  • You would rather not travel: listings in 12 states against 11.

Every line above is derived from a number in the table, not from an opinion about the brands. What we cannot tell you from listing data is how they ride, how they are built, or which dealer network is better near you — so we do not pretend to.

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