1996 Viper Cobra ?

[SteveTX]

Looking for a used bass boat for a friend and came across this 1996 Viper Cobra. Not a beauty queen but not trashed. Appears to never had any damage other than normal wear and tear. With my lack of dealing with many brands and styles of boats I was wondering if there was anything on this particular boat that I should be looking out for other than the normal stuff.

[Mike Cork]

I had a 99 Cobra for several years. Great boat, cornered well, and at the time was one of the faster ones with a 200 on it.

I can't think of one thing I didn't like about it.

[Lipripper]

Stave sounds like it might be a good boat and you know what needs to be check a the top of the list would be the motor.

[D.W. Verts]

I sold them for a few years. Very solid boat- like Mike says, they TURN (which mean they handle all things well). I'd own another one in a minute...

Side story- the Cobra came from the "Hawk", and were designed by John Storie, a real screw-loose dude who was a genius with bass boat design. Ever heard of Champion???

[SteveTX]

Oh great now I get to tell him the boat was designed by a guy with a screw loose. He will find that amusing.

On a serious note I had heard good things but just wanted to check with you guys. Mike it is a 200 horse 2 stroke Johnson. Of course I would check the compression etc before hand. I am a little concerned because the ad says

Has 200hp Johnson two stroke with approximately 100 hours total. Motor recently major tune-up in February 2017, new fuel pump

Not sure what "major" in a tuneup refers to just yet but I plan to ask.                                       

[fishandkamp]

I got to meet  that "dude with a screw loose".  We toured the Viper factory, in fact we almost purchased one.  He is the most demanding guy you will ever meet when it came to perfection and quality of workmanship.  It was funny, we finished our tour with the sales director. Up walks this old man that did not look like he had two nickels to rub together, dressed in bib overalls. In fact he was quite wealthy at the time.  He walks up to the latest boat off the line and wanders around it for a few minutes. In that  few minutes he picked out 5 things he wanted corrected and that boat went directly to a special area to be redone before it could go out to a dealer. That was how we first met John Storie. We then got to sit down and talk to him about the boat we were considering ordering. He is an amazing individual.  Those Viper boats handled so well.  That was Johns expertise, he could design a hull!