” In the summer we are typically on our boat both weekend days from early AM to late afternoon.“
Irish Exit, Cobia 28’
Interview with the Captain – Peter O’Connor
About the Boat
Why did you choose to buy a Cobia?
The primary reasons we chose to buy a Cobia centered around comfort and design. Having owned a Hydra Sport CC in the past and being familiar with a number of other boat manufacturers, we recognized that Cobia packed a lot of features into what we consider to be a great design. We also have two grown daughters and two dogs – Hobbs and Tug – so this boat provided us with the space needed to have fun without being on top of each other.
What other kinds of boats did you consider before buying this particular model (and how did they compare)?
We looked at a variety of other boat manufacturers – specifically Grady White and Pursuit. While Grady and Pursuit certainly build beautiful boats, our conclusion was that from a value perspective, Cobia offered many, if not more of the features as the others at a more competitive price point.
How did you come to find/locate her before purchasing (and what’s the boat’s history if you know it)?
We cast a wide net when looking for our current boat and recognizing that the Southeastern United States is viewed as a boater’s paradise, it only made sense for our search to go as far as Florida. Using a variety of online search tools such as Boat Trader, we were able to locate our boat. In terms of Hx, the boat was lightly used with only 223 hours on her. We found her in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida where she was rack stored with full canvas from bow to stern. The boat was clean as a whistle and ran perfectly during our sea trial.
What features/improvements have you added or do you plan to add?
The boat was well outfitted when we took ownership, but we did make some modifications. Being rack stored, she did not have bottom paint, so we had a barrier coat and shell white bottom paint applied. We also had a full set of custom sunbrella covers made with the help of Hood Canvas. One other modification we made soon after taking ownership was to swamp out all the spring hinges on the hatches and replace them with friction hinges by Gemlux. One final upgrade we are making this offseason is to have Hooked Up Customs make us some custom Aqua Traction decking for the behind the helm station and inside head.
What are the features you like most about your boat?
There are a bunch of features about our boat that we really like. Some examples include the front entry / full height head, the fully retractable bow table, fresh water wash down on the swim platform, the interior storage options, the super comfy LeBroc helm seats, and the overall ride and performance of the boat.
Who first introduced you to boating/sailing?
My father first introduced me to boating as a very young child. At the time, our family owned a sailboat – A 19’ Lightning sailboat named “Erin”. It was on that boat that I not only learned to sail, but also gained a love of being on the water.
Do you belong to a yacht club or other boating/sailing organizations?
We do not belong to any yacht clubs currently but have raced out both the Jubilee Yacht Club in Beverly on a Carrera 30 and the Boston Yacht Club on a C&C 38 MKII and a J130
What boats have you previously owned?
Before Irish Exit, we owned a Hydra Sports Vector CC named Emily Kate – After our two daughters.
How do you typically use your boat over the summer, and where do you go?
In the summer we are typically on our boat both weekend days from early AM to late afternoon. We have a bunch of friends who also own boats, so normally we pick a place to head based on weather and how much time we have and generally just meet up at that spot to swim, hang out and just have fun. Sometimes we will head up the Annisquam to the back side of Crane’s or Wingaersheek beach, and other times will head into Boston to grab lunch. Most often though we can be found anchored up at Sand Dollar Cove in Manchester or Brown’s Island in Marblehead with our daughters, two dogs (Hobbs and Tug) and friends.
What is the biggest challenge you have in servicing your boat?
Having been able to haul and trailer our previous (smaller) boat on my own, I’d say that the biggest challenge in servicing our current boat is being reliant on others to haul and trailer our boat when needed. That said, Anthony at Richard’s Marine has never let us down!
Do you have any notable boating resources you use?
We are second generation Richard’s Marine customers. My father used to use Richard to service our family’s whaler and now we use Richard’s son Anthony to service our Cobia.
Do you have any advice for those looking to buy a Cobia like yours?
If you are brand new to boating, take a safe boating course and have an experienced boater work with you to get comfortable behind the helm.
What’s the story behind the boat’s name?
The story behind the name is that we wanted to have a one or a kind / memorable name that had some meaning to us. With an Irish last name like “O’Connor” and seeing our boat as a kind of escape from reality on the weekends, we thought “Irish Exit” would be the perfect name. Of course, others may have different ideas about the origin, but we’ll never tell!
Click the gallery below for more photos and information about Irish Exit!
