I first heard scuttlebutt about Cobia’s latest addition to their growing center console family back at the October 2014 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, where I had the chance to talk with Cobia’s marketing manager Charlie Johnson. According to Charlie, Cobia’s new 277CC was the “perfect size” for anglers who felt that a 25 was too small for their coastal sport fishing needs and that a 30-footer was too large. With four-stroke outboard power getting lighter, stronger and more fuel efficient with each passing season, the Cobia 277CC is the ultimate manifestation of this evolution, especially when mated with a pair of Yamaha’s new 4-cylinder F200s. This hull and engine combo netted an incredible 2.3 mpg during recent sea trials, numbers that many 24-footers would envy, but more on that later. Let’s take a closer look at this 27-footer and see what she brings to the party.
CLASSIC LAYOUT
The Cobia engineering team approached the 277CC project with the ultimate consumer-driven approach. They didn’t try to reinvent the wheel with this new center console, but simply delivered a classic layout with the focus on fishability, crew comfort and safety. They also succeeded in putting all of the right things in all the right places, while delivering quality construction and excellent consumer value at an attractive price point – the MSRP of this turn-key sportfisher is less than $115K.
Serious anglers will appreciate the single level cockpit layout, twin 47-gallon insulated fish boxes with macerator pump-outs and the deluxe leaning post tackle station that will keep all of your inshore and offshore hardware neatly organized and close at hand. Live bait fans will definitely put the roomy 42-gallon recirculating livewell to good use. The 277CC doesn’t skimp on the creature comforts either and comes standard with a hideaway electrically lifted bow table; forward entry, step-down head area under the console with a freshwater sink and a china bowl MSD with electric macerator; deluxe bolstered convertible helm seats that provide welcome lumbar support underway whether standing or seated; cushioned coaming bolsters; and fold-down rear bench seating. A flush hatch in the aft cockpit allows for easy maintenance access for plumbing, batteries and electrical systems.
ENVIABLE PERFORMANCE
Recent sea trials have indicated that Cobia’s new 277CC delivers enviable performance stats, with a top speed of 52 mph with two crew onboard, an assortment of gear and a half tank (about 95 gallons) of fuel, powered by a pair of Yamaha’s relatively new F200 four-cylinder lightweight four-strokes. Fuel economy across the cruising speed band was outstanding, getting 2.3 mpg at 3,500 rpm/25 mph; 2.3 mpg at 4,000 rpm/37 mpg and 2.2 mpg at 4,500 rpm/42 mph. If you need to dial it back due to rough seas, she’ll stay on plane at a modest 3-grand, hitting 18.9 mph on the GPS and still netting over 2 mpg in the process. Loading her up with a crew of four with the factory hardtop, a quartet of batteries and 90 gallons of fuel, she still hita a top speed of over 50 mph, with optimum cruise occurring at 3,500 revs, where the 277CC scooted along at 26 mph while drinking 11.2 gph, for a net of 2.32 mpg. Test results don’t get any more “real world” than that. As a four-decade canyon jockey, I would suggest upping the 277CC’s fuel capacity to 200 gallons from the standard 189-gallon tank, but Yamaha’s F200s will still provide over 390 miles of range at optimum cruising speeds using 90 percent of the internal tankage.
The quality and fit and finish on the new wave of Cobias is top shelf. Ever since the Maverick Boat Company purchased Cobia Boats a few years back, the MBC engineers have upped Cobia’s game and brought it to the next level, making no compromises for quality. The hull warranty is 10 years, which is transferable to future owners for the first five years.
Other notable standard features on the Cobia 277CC include both raw and freshwater washdown systems; electric trim tabs; an insulated 62-quartt beverage cooler in the forward console; eight stainless steel flush-mount gunwale rodholders, with horizontal rod racks down under; a roomy anchor locker in the forepeak; plus myriad hull color options. The new Cobia 277CC just may be the right sized boat for your sport fishing needs and it’s definitely priced right.
