Look as hard as you want, you won't find many pontoon boats that are built of fiberglass from the waterline up—but the new for 2015 Cobalt Marker One is just that. Does that sound a bit strange? Well, take a gander for yourself.


As reviewer Brett Becker points out, this is really a one-of-a-kind pontoon boat. Somehow, Cobalt managed to take the styling and fine detail work they're known for, and apply it to an aluminum pontoon hull. That head compartment is a neat trick, too, and we're betting it's a lot more comfortable to use than the pop-up compartments made of aluminum frame and canvas found on most party barges.

Cobalt isn't alone in trying to tap into the pontoon boat market—one of the strongest in the boating industry, these days—while pushing the bounds of what we think of as pontoons. In fact, there are new genres of speed boats built on pontoon platforms (watch Performance Pontoon Boats: The Need for Speed to check out some that go 40, 50, and even 60 MPH). There are also plenty of high-end pontoons built for high society (see what we mean in Luxury Pontoons Boats: Maximum Relaxation).

Cobalt Marker One pontoon boat first look videoWhat's behind this pontoon boat craze? This design maximizes useable space, lets builders add gobs of features and perks, and is relatively economical to build. But some boaters will always prefer to have fiberglass underfoot. And few pontoon hulls can handle the seas as well as a more traditional hull. That's why we've also seen a number of builders roll out pontoon look-alikes; the Bayliner Element XR7 is a perfect example. Although this is an all-glass model, its deck is laid out very much like a pontoon boat.

Cobalt is following a similar path with the Marker One, but with the tubular hull pontooners have become accustomed to.

To learn more about this interesting hybrid boat, read The Marker One: Cobalt Enters the Pontoon Boat Market. Or see what the builder has to say about this model on Cobalt's Marker One website.

Want to take a look at one? Visit these Cobalt Marker One listings, to find a hull near your home.

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.