Cobra sent me their new CJIC 250 Jump Starter Power Pack to test out, and this thing is a real winner! There are plenty of similar products out there and I’ve tried several of them, but the Cobra is actually the best I’ve seen yet. (Seriously – I’m not just saying that!) It offers a heck of a lot more features then most, and just as importantly, it’s not a pain in the butt to lug around.


A key feature: the Powerpack weighs 10.5 pounds. The last one of these I tested weighed about 50 percent more, and stretched my arm every time I carried it from the truck to the boat. It puts out 80 watts of continuous AC or 5 minutes at 100 watts, and can surge up to 400 watts. DC capability is 1,200 starting watts. Now, for features… are you ready for this? The Cobra includes: an 8 amp DC power socket; a 260 psi air compressor with multiple nozzles; LED emergency lighting; a 5v USB power port for charging personal electronics; built-in jumper cables; low battery, high voltage, overload and overheat auto shut-downs; battery level and charging indicators;a 120V AC socket; a 12V DC socket; and an AC recharger. Whether you have a flat on the trailer, a dead battery in the boat, a dead iPod/cell phone/PDA, or a need to plug in a 120V AC accessory on a boat without a genset or inverter, this thing is perfect!


This thing can solve so many potential problems it’s a trip-saver, for sure. I hate to sound like a commercial (and I hope I don’t!) but it’s hard not to be overly-enthused; I guess I should feel lucky that there is one thing to complain about: the jumper cables are only a couple feet long, and you won’t be able to stretch them into hard-to-access battery compartments that require a long reach. And at $100 it’s not the cheapest power pack out there, though I think that in this case, you’re getting what you pay for.  So if you want the king of powerpack/jump starters, check it out at www.cobra.com.


cobra powerpack jump starter cjic 250 air compressor

The Cobra Power Pack Jump Starter CJIC 250 is a surprisingly comprehensive trip-saver!


Written by: Lenny Rudow
With over two decades of experience in marine journalism, Lenny Rudow has contributed to publications including YachtWorld, boats.com, Boating Magazine, Marlin Magazine, Boating World, Saltwater Sportsman, Texas Fish & Game, and many others. Lenny is a graduate of the Westlawn School of Yacht Design, and he has won numerous BWI and OWAA writing awards.