Cobalt Files Lawsuit against Sea Ray

I'm going to take a guess and say it's about the drop-down swim step off the swim platform?
 
I think Cobalt has a point. If their idea was patented then there's no doubt Sea Ray knocked them off.

BTW, it's an awesome feature.
 
Likely some suttle design differences in the SR step compared to the Cobalt step that exonerates SR from any patent infringements.

Take a look at Bryant Boats "Sport Porch" option on their boats, once again similar to the Cobalt & SR swim step, but just different enough to not
be a copyright infringement.
 
I easily found the Cobalt step via a Google search but not much came up on the Sea Ray search and they sure don't feature it on their site. It will be interesting to see how this all shakes out.

MM
 
Last edited:
If the only feature that sells Cobalt boats is the swim step, their in trouble. They may have a patent on their design but how can you claim ownership of something as simple as a step. Maybe next they can sue Toll Brothers for the landing in my house!
 
SR's looks like an aftermarket platform compared to Cobalt's. Seems like they actually thought about it. Oh and the fact that SR's is motorized. Another headache waiting to happen is saltwater environments.
 
I wouldn't want that powered version under the platform but that flip down from the top manual one would be used everyday on my boat.
 
If they're going to sue they'll sue the company with the deep pockets (SR), not the little independent builder(Bryant).
 
blaster said:
If the only feature that sells Cobalt boats is the swim step, their in trouble. They may have a patent on their design but how can you claim ownership of something as simple as a step. Maybe next they can sue Toll Brothers for the landing in my house!
Click to expand...

When you own a patent you have no choice but to defend it. If you don't then you are acknowledging that it has no value and it's ok to copy it without harm. If they let every boat manufacturer copy the platform then they would have no legal defense to arbitrarily go after one brand and not another. You have to strike at the first offender to ward of the others from attempting to steal the idea. Cheaper to go after the first offender than sue them all.

The Bryant swim platform is a completely different thing. Theirs doesn't fold down. It's a long, ugly platform that steps down with no way to retract it.
 
Cobalt can’t patent the “idea” of a folding swim platform step. What they hold is a patent on the “mechanism/s” which allows the folding step to operate. Sea Ray should have changed the design of the “mechanism/s” enough to avoid patent infringement… i.e. “build a better/different mouse trap”. Cobalt (and their attorneys) must think the Sea Ray design is close enough to theirs to litigate.
 
The perfect US combination... Patents on steps and litigation...

https://www.google.com/patents/US8375880

"A retractable step for use with a boat in water comprising at least one moveable arm pivotally coupled with the boat, a step coupled with the arm such that the step is moveable between a stored position above the water surface and a deployed position below the water surface, and a lock configured to hold the moveable arm in a stationary position when the step is in its deployed position, but is releasable to accommodate movement of the step to its stored position."

Seriously?

I want to patent a staircase, where you can step up and you can step down.
 
JMHO Cobalt will lose this one. Storage location and method of deployment are totally different. End result the same. I think i'll make one myself to install on my 390. Thanks for the idea. When I get it done don't ask for pics. I can't afford a lawsuit. :grin:
 
I saw the Sea Ray step today for the first time. It was on a new 270 Sundeck being prepped. I don't know anything about Cobalt's step, but the Sea Ray step looks extremely well designed and built……... like it would hold up a hippo.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,247
Messages
1,429,263
Members
61,128
Latest member
greenworld
Back
Top