Manufacturer Provided Description
At the heart of the 343's response to a long list of owner requirements lies the hull. A stepped hull, and Cobalt was far from the first in the industry to bring such a hull into its fleet. Only when Cobalt engineers were convinced that their design could guarantee, without question, total safety and control to match the hull's obvious advantages, did the 343 come off the drawing boards. There came too longstanding Cobalt benchmarks: the matchless Cobalt extended running surface, a full-length keel pad for better tracking, reverse chines, a notched transom decreasing drag from the outdrive, and a gentle, gentle ride among all that horsepower. When Cobalt Boats unveiled the 343, a 34-footer that may very well create an entirely new segment for the industry. Riding on the first stepped hull ever designed into a Cobalt, the 343 represents a hybrid combination of creature comforts, high performance, and sleek European styling. Historically, Cobalt had avoided stepped hulls, but when management decided to build a boat that would maximize both flat-out performance and uncompromising luxury, a stepped hull seemed a logical choice. And so began the largest single engineering effort in Cobalt’s 30-plus years of boat building. Cobalt engineers spent eight months examining every stepped hull on the market and documenting the design characteristics responsible for undesirable and desirable effects, for any issues involving ultimate safety. Then computer modeling began in earnest, as another ten months passed in simulation of potential designs before the first trial hull took to the water -- at full power. Stoked by twin 500-horsepower engines, the prototype hull set out to push the envelope. Cobalt wanted to know the boat’s potential response in every worst case imaginable. Cobalt test drivers attempted to turn the boat on its gunwales; they ran it to 80-plus miles an hour, and then they made a left turn. The design that was to become the 343’s hull absolutely refused to skid. The 343-test hull could not be made to skip outside its track. From the outset the design proved user-friendly in the extreme, especially for a boat of the 343’s size and power. Throughout the 343’s development, the boat showed itself so stable, so certain of its tracking that it seemed to drive itself. Sean Callan, process improvement manager, refers to the 343’s almost eerie ability to correct itself after passing through a large wake, for example, or to respond to a half-second flip of the trim switch. Project manager Niles Schurle reports that during sea trials off Palm Beach, Florida the 343 underwent extremely hard use to determine its limits. –We were amazed at the 343’s handling under extreme conditions offshore. On those occasions when the boat was airborne, the landings were soft and controlled. We certainly don’t advocate wave jumping, but it’s good to know that the 343 will perform even under the most difficult conditions. Cobalt dealers have also been impressed early on with the 343’s ease of handling, and exceptionally smooth ride. Many dealers who would not otherwise have ordered such a large boat are now putting their names on the waiting list. Full production started early spring 2004. For all of its high-octane performance, the boat that arrived in dealer showrooms was a genuine Cobalt in terms of its fit and finish, its long list of standard amenities, some of which are industry firsts in a 34-footer: a walk-around windshield, for instance, an amidships helm station that wraps around the captain providing complete control and a performance-based, electric, double-wide captain’s seat. The center console design delivers easy access to the inviting foredeck sun pad via steps on either side. In the midst of all the innovation there’s an enduring Cobalt mystique, an insistence on the classicism of the boat’s lines, on the size and the amenities of the cockpit, on the simplicity and functionality of the cabin. With lounge seating, an ice chest, and a premium sound system, the cockpit invites guests aboard for good times all around. The cockpit is extraordinarily large for a boat in this category and gives the passengers unparalleled visibility and a feeling of safety at any speed. The Cobalt 343 is truly a gentleman's dream comes true, and at the same time gives his family and guests a true luxury ride with emphasis in on water usability. In the cabin a V-berth filler cushion slides in next to a convenient table and an enclosed head. A Raytheon global positioning system is standard, as are an invitingly large swim platform and a concealed boarding ladder. And, of course, the 343 is yacht-certified. The options list means wish-fulfillment for everyone: a television/DVD package, VHF radio, electronic throttle control with engine synthesizer, cockpit heater, air conditioning with reverse heat, a gas generator, shore power in either 110 or 220 volts, powerful engine packages, and an eye-popping radar arch with accompanying sunshade. Gelcoat colors and graphics bring along meaningful choices for every taste. "We understand at Cobalt that many owners love pure performance, that they want a boat of a size sufficient to handling today’s (challenging) water," says Cobalt president Paxson St. Clair. "We also understood that until now the only boats on the market capable of answering those demands for size and performance involve some real limitations -- small cockpits, narrow beams, difficult access to the dock or the water. From the beginning we wanted a boat that would satisfy any itch for pure speed, but that would bring along a full complement of creature comforts in a large cockpit and cabin. In the 343, I believe we’ve produced a boat with significant power behind a beautiful and comfortable interior. ‘Brute elegance,’ we call it."
