Design and Construction
The 1050 measures just over 34 feet overall, with a 30-foot waterline, a 12-foot beam, and displacement of about 12,500 pounds. The hull is solid fiberglass, with lead ballast in the bilge keels.
Its displacement-to-length ratio of 207 places it among “moderate racers,” and a capsize screening value of 2.07 means it wouldn’t meet the ocean-racing threshold. Its motion comfort ratio is 22.4, with an immersion rate of about 1,255 pounds per inch.
Cobra sold the 1050 as a fitted boat or as a bare hull or kit. Interiors therefore vary, and examples completed by amateur builders may have uneven structural details or aging systems. Although the factory hull is straightforward solid glass, each boat should be treated as partly bespoke.
Rig and Handling
The masthead sloop rig uses 10.5-meter jib and genoa sheets at 12 mm, a 26.2-meter mainsheet, and 23-meter spinnaker sheets, also at 12 mm. The simple rig and documented sheet lengths should make re-rigging straightforward.
The twin bilge keels keep draft between 5.5 and 5.8 feet, depending on load, easing access to marinas and drying moorings. Theoretical hull speed is 7.3 knots, and wetted surface is about 398 square feet.
Accommodation and Systems
Because Cobra offered fitted boats, bare hulls, and kits, accommodation plans and standards of finish differ between examples. Tankage comprises 75 gallons of water and 30 gallons of diesel.
Where fitted, auxiliary power comes from a single Bukh inboard diesel. Modern support for the Bukh is sparse, reflecting the brand’s retreat.
The Verdict
The Cobra 1050 is a compact British cruiser whose Feltham-designed hull leans slightly toward the moderate-racer end of the spectrum without losing composure. It will best suit owners who value shoal-draft twin bilge keels and are prepared to assess the variable interiors and systems that come with its kit-built and bare-hull history.
Pros
- Twin bilge keels keep draft to roughly 5.5 feet, easing marina access
- Solid-GRP hull with lead ballast and a moderate-racer displacement profile
- Simple masthead rig with documented sheet dimensions for straightforward re-rigging
Cons
- Fewer than 100 were built, and the builder is defunct, limiting parts scale
- Kit and bare-hull history resulted in inconsistent interior fit-outs
- Bukh diesel support is limited by the brand’s retreat
