Cobia (Maverick Boat Group) Cobia 262 CC
A well-built, dry-riding, trailerable 26-foot center console that fishes big for its size, held back mainly by a modest single livewell and an upcharge-heavy options list.
Best for: Inshore-to-nearshore saltwater anglers who want one versatile, trailerable boat that can run shallow flats and still handle a moderate chop offshore.
The good
- Dry, comfortable ride in a moderate chop with a proud, well-flared bow that knocks down spray (Saltwater Sportsman, Sport Fishing Mag)
- Genuinely shallow 17-inch draft plus easy trailering and storage, giving real inshore access for a 26-footer (Sport Fishing Mag, Saltwater Sportsman)
- Responsive, agile handling and strong performance: 0-30 mph in under 9 seconds and 53+ mph top end on twin Yamaha F200s (Boating Mag)
- Fishable layout with a roomy 83.5 sq ft cockpit, extensive rod storage (12 flush-mounts plus optional racks), and improved console walk-around vs. the older 261 (Sport Fishing Mag, Boating Mag)
The bad
- Single 29-gallon livewell is 'a bit limiting, particularly for offshore fishing' (Boating Mag review)
- Fiberglass hardtop is optional, not standard, so weather/sun protection is a meaningful added cost (Boating Mag review)
- It's explicitly 'not a bay boat' - despite the shallow draft, reviewers caution against treating it as a true skinny-water flats boat (Sport Fishing Mag)
- Owners on The Hull Truth report Cobia skimping on hardware - undersized cleats, transom door latches, and rusting screws - with one calling the boat 'OK, not awesome' (The Hull Truth quality thread); gelcoat cracking is a recurring Cobia-brand complaint owners raise
The 262 CC is a legitimately good all-rounder: it rides dry, runs fast, fishes big, and trailers easily, which is why the magazines like it and most owners are happy. But the honest caveats are real - the single 29-gallon livewell is light for serious offshore bait-fishing, the hardtop and nicer dash are upcharges that push the price well past the headline number, and across the Cobia brand owners consistently flag penny-pinched deck hardware (small cleats, cheap latches, rusting screws) and occasional gelcoat cracking. None of that is a dealbreaker, but it keeps this from being a 5-star boat versus pricier rivals like Grady-White.