• Welcome to the Checkmate Community Forums forums.

    You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions, articles and access to our other FREE features.
    By joining our free community you will be able to:

    » Interact with over 10,000 Checkmate Fanatics from around the world!
    » Post topics and messages
    » Post and view photos
    » Communicate privately with other members
    » Access our extensive gallery of old Checkmate brochures located in our Media Gallery
    » Browse the various pictures in our Checkmate photo gallery

    Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!

    If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact support by clicking here or by using the"contact us" link at the bottom of the page.

Back to owning 2 Boats!

JUPITER PULSARE

Well-known member
Unbelievable deals keep finding me! This 2002 Cobalt 263 has been sitting on a rack in a storage barn since 2014!! It has a Volvo Penta 8.1 Gi, 375 hp with under 300 hours! I can’t tell you what I paid because you would be in shock!! It’s going to take a lot of elbow grease to get 8+ years of fork lift soot cleaned out of the vinyl and a good high speed wheel with cutting wax to bring back the shine! It will be an incredible boat when finished!!32122815-56B8-4939-B38E-CFF8C091574A.jpeg5FF2ABD1-21A8-44FF-8313-FAE842B1D558.jpeg4F753986-DAA5-4E59-9F4A-35CD5A766340.jpeg4F753986-DAA5-4E59-9F4A-35CD5A766340.jpeg32122815-56B8-4939-B38E-CFF8C091574A.jpeg5FF2ABD1-21A8-44FF-8313-FAE842B1D558.jpeg
 

Attachments

  • 5EF30AA5-D397-40ED-83B2-28CF7F062E4B.jpeg
    5EF30AA5-D397-40ED-83B2-28CF7F062E4B.jpeg
    740.1 KB · Views: 9
  • 6CC991CF-6C07-424D-996F-AC9FFF09DB56.jpeg
    6CC991CF-6C07-424D-996F-AC9FFF09DB56.jpeg
    1,005.7 KB · Views: 8
  • EDFFFC39-FA6C-4258-9585-C7E336F59016.jpeg
    EDFFFC39-FA6C-4258-9585-C7E336F59016.jpeg
    506.8 KB · Views: 9
  • Like
Reactions: JW
My sweat equity is slowly paying off. The boat itself is coming back to life nicely and looking sharp. I’m finally getting a chance to dig into the motor and find out what it’s going to need to get running.
1663966101794.png
 
Last edited:
New motor coming for the Cobalt. I’m replacing the 2002 Volvo Penta 8.1L 496 (375 hp) with a 2012 MerCruiser 8.2L 502 (380 hp). It’s going to be interesting to see the hoops I’m going to have to jump through on this mod!
 

Attachments

  • 23872ABF-2D15-4CEA-BF86-C4C7EFF78D51.jpeg
    23872ABF-2D15-4CEA-BF86-C4C7EFF78D51.jpeg
    253.8 KB · Views: 17
  • 388CCA1A-01C3-44CD-A6D6-0494BE400B11.jpeg
    388CCA1A-01C3-44CD-A6D6-0494BE400B11.jpeg
    308.9 KB · Views: 17
  • Like
Reactions: SCT
After a lot of work and $$$, my Cobalt 263 is on the water. What a beautiful riding boat! I ultimately rebuilt the Volvo Penta 8.1L Gi and sold my MerCruiser 502 Magnum for a nice profit! I am currently breaking it in easy as I want this big 496ci motor to last a long time!
 

Attachments

  • 6A914415-0BCE-4FD9-82B9-3D53F907CD7C.jpeg
    6A914415-0BCE-4FD9-82B9-3D53F907CD7C.jpeg
    783.5 KB · Views: 17
  • 1529FFF0-9D8A-4EC7-8EDE-345BEE5A9F42.jpeg
    1529FFF0-9D8A-4EC7-8EDE-345BEE5A9F42.jpeg
    517.8 KB · Views: 16
  • 5B6AECB1-8D7C-477E-A4EB-D10513A8BB96.jpeg
    5B6AECB1-8D7C-477E-A4EB-D10513A8BB96.jpeg
    537.9 KB · Views: 16
  • 5B52FD04-8A77-431B-ADE9-6AFBB4162283.jpeg
    5B52FD04-8A77-431B-ADE9-6AFBB4162283.jpeg
    500.1 KB · Views: 17
I had a Cobalt 282 years ago-great boat, it is a tank ad built well. Nice work It is looking really nice. As I write this, I am seeing I have a problem or just go thru boats every few years...
 
What ended up being wrong with the motor, did you build it??
The original owner put the boat away wet and let it sit for 9 years before I saved it. The salt water rusted out the risers, dripped down the exhaust manifolds into the heads and seized the motor. I reused the basics off the old motor; intake manifold, oil pan, timing chain cover, pulleys, bell housing, etc. I purchased a remanufactured 8.1L long block. Everything else in brand new; fuel system, exhaust manifolds, risers, belts, alternator, starter, etc. It's basically a brand new motor.
 
Getting to enjoy the comforts of this Cobalt 263! It has a lot of cockpit space and a really nice ride with a 22 degree deadrise and extended
hull bottom at the transom. I think they're referred to as after-planes. Comes up on plane like a rocket!!COBALT 1.jpg
 
Rides high and dry doesn't it? And they do get on plane quick should move. My 282 had a 496 and rode well, wish I had the HO or your motor when I had mine. Built well, fit and finish is tops- they are crazy expensive when they are new. I sold my 282 on ebay of all places and thats when I met Pat at A/T and went to the 28 Savage- hind site the bowrider was better lol
 
Here's a photo of my freshly rebuilt Volvo Penta 496 (8.1L Gi). Standard horsepower is 375hp. With the GLM exhaust manifolds I used, I'm probably 380-385 hp.
 

Attachments

  • VP 496.jpg
    VP 496.jpg
    815.5 KB · Views: 8
Back
Top