After a three-year hiatus, the ­Regulator 25 has triumphantly returned to the company’s storied lineup with more features than ever. 

Back by popular demand, the new and improved Regulator 25 offers an increased number of rod holders. You can also add five rod holders across the aft hardtop and up to eight in the forward gunwales as part of a suite of optional fishing ­upgrades.

A new and improved Signature ­Series leaning post/tackle center boasts a seatback rocket launcher, a handrail, cup holders, and tackle storage including eight Plano trays stored below the seating. 

Standard electronics include a factory-­installed Garmin 16-inch GPSMap 1643xsv multitouch wide-screen chart plotter/sonar display, Garmin 215 VHF with dual 8-foot antennas, and Garmin chirp transducer—with the option to upgrade to twin Garmin 16-inch displays. A Fusion marine stereo feeding JL Audio premium backlit marine speakers is standard. There’s also a Yamaha Next Gen digital boat-control system to complement the standard bracket-mounted twin Yamaha F250 outboards. The hardtop integrates a three-sided, full-height and vented glass windshield. 

Reflecting Regulator’s penchant for super-tough construction, the 25 brings back its signature transom walk-through tuna door in the starboard quarter, as well as a flip-down transom bench seat. The bow area provides plush seating with optional removable backrests and a pedestal table/sun bed, plus a forward console seat with a 64-quart cooler underneath. Between the bow seats is an in-sole fish box that can also serve as locking rod storage.

New options for the Regulator 25 ­include the Yamaha EX ­Autopilot with ­Waypoint Deceleration, 18-foot outriggers, and a trolling-motor-ready package.

With the twin Yamaha F250s, the Regulator 25 offers great speed, fuel economy and range, as well as that incredibly smooth, dry and comfortable ­Regulator ride that will keep family and friends coming back for more.

High Points

• A 46-gallon transom livewell provides abundant bait capacity.
• Top speed is 55.9 mph, and optimal cruising speed of 31.8 mph results in 1.75 mpg.
• Raw- and freshwater washdown systems keep you and the deck clean.
• White aluminum powder coating on all pipework thwarts ­corrosion.
• Coaming pads encircle the interior to cushion knees and thighs.
• Optional through-stem anchor roller.
• Stainless-steel 14-by-18-inch trim tabs with indicator switch.
• Stand-up head has marine toilet and electric pump-out tank.

Pricing and Specs

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One of the most popular models in the Regulator Marine XO series, the 26XO ranks as one of the most versatile of all fishing boats. The smooth- and dry-riding hull of this center-console crossover gives anglers easy access to lakes, bays, coastal rivers and shallow waters, while also providing the capability to head out to fish the blue water when the time is right.

A new optional Half Tower with a second station for the 26XO gives anglers more navigational and fish-finding capabilities, with a height advantage when looking for fish, weed lines and flocks of birds, or steering around dangerous shoals and submerged objects.

With more than 122 square feet of deck space, seating that’s comfy and abundant, and generous storage, the 26XO excels in providing not only top-notch fishing features, but also family comfort and convenience. Integrated jumps seats fold out from the aft deck so crew can take a load off. But those same seats quickly fold away flush to transform the aft deck into a spacious casting platform for pinpoint presentations of lures and baits.

For anglers who want to carry live baits, the 26XO features a 32-gallon livewell in the Deluxe Tackle Center abaft the helm seats. For icing your catch, there’s a 70-gallon in-deck fish box ahead of the console, as well as locking rod storage beneath the bow seating.

Anglers have the option to add a versatile 72-inch bow-mount trolling motor with GPS ­autopilot, as well as dual ­10-foot Power-­Pole shallow-water anchoring systems on the transom. ­Built-in ­coolers, a stand-up head compartment, a forward sunshade option, and an optional removable watersports tow bar allow you to enjoy your time on the water any way you choose, whether fishing hard, day cruising, or relaxing and ­rafting up.

Engine options include a single ­Yamaha 300 or 450 outboard. A hydraulic jack plate is an option to enhance performance and shallow-water capabilities. With a 107-gallon fuel capacity, the 26XO can range far and wide.

High Points

• Capable of speeds in excess of 53 mph when powered by a single Yamaha XTO 450 outboard.
• New Half Tower option with second station offers extra elevation for finding fish.
• Looking for angling versatility? The 26XO can fish shallow water, fresh water or blue water.
• Enclosed head compartment inside the center console offers enough room to
  stand up.
• Livewell (32 gallons) holds enough bait to fish all day long.

Pricing and Specs

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Overview

The Regulator 30XO is a hybrid of sorts, for fishing both inshore and offshore. It’s overbuilt, with a noteworthy fit-and-finish and an abundance of seating.

Interior and Accessories

With its 30-foot-7-inch length and 10-foot-2-inch beam, the 30XO offers a large working platform for casting, trolling, jigging—you name it. The forward and aft raised-deck fishing platforms on the 30XO work perfectly for plugging for stripers, hitting the inshore wrecks or working the edges of flats. The 30XO also proves a home run for family fun at the sandbar. The standard features list is greater than the options list, and that says a lot about the forethought that went into this boat.

The forward deck has a molded anchor locker with a lid on the gunwale deck. My test boat had the optional 96-inch trolling motor with GPS autopilot, dedicated batteries and a 15-amp charger. Drop down to the casting platform with integral U-shaped seating with port and starboard flip-up backrest seating, and you’ll find a 187-quart storage bin on the centerline under the seat. A recessed handrail around the forward platform and an in-deck 294-quart insulated and macerated fish box finish up the forward end the boat.

The console features a forward seat lounge with plush seating, folding armrests and handholds, and a 218-quart storage bin under the lounge. My test boat had the optional half-tower with a second station, including full controls, a Garmin display, a helm seat and cup holders. This fully molded top is integral with the composite windshield supports, a clean and unobtrusive way to blend the three-sided glass ventilated windscreen with a windshield wiper.

The console’s interior compartment, accessed on the starboard side, has a full stand-up head, a holding tank and a pump-out. Large upper and lower opening door panels access the back of the helm. The 30XO has an ergonomically appointed main helm and dash. To port of the helm is an optional inductive cellphone charger and a trim-tab control switch. Slightly offset to port is an optional jack-plate control, with a binnacle to starboard. Outside that is a glove-box compartment with a light.

The dash also features a flush-mounted electronics face with two 16-inch Garmin 8616xsv wide-screen multifunction displays with GPS and sonar, with an Airmar B150 transducer, Garmin VHF and remote mic. Regulator also has a proprietary user interface called MyHelm offering easy-to-use functions on the touchscreen.

Not to be trapped by controlling everything with the onscreen functions, there are also lighted buttons to manually operate the horn, bilge pumps, lights and wiper when using the screens for navigating and fish-finding. There’s also a key fob for controlling the Power-Poles, jack plate, spreader lights, light bar and deck lights. The Yamaha gauge panel is over the helm, and the optional ­Yamaha Helm Master EX joystick control is starboard of the helm.

Two plush helm seats with fold-up bolsters and armrests grace the leaning post/tackle center. The T-top’s aft legs tie into the leaning post and offer 10 rod holders. On the starboard side of the leaning post is a pullout storage drawer and a pullout waste basket underneath. Three good-size drawers for more gear and tackle are on the port side. The back side of the leaning post has three rows of drawers and a Corian top. The top drawer has two open storage drawers and a center drop-down with a freshwater coil hose. The second row has two drawers that each hold six 3700-size ­tackle-organizer ­boxes, which are included. The bottom drawer is full-width and features a custom-made removable cutting board. The console/leaning post of the Solace 30 HCS hybrid ($445,000 suggested retail price) has similar appointments, with the same tilt toward utilizing technology where possible for the end user, along with integral windshield frames molded into the hardtop with an optional upper station. Unlike the Regulator, the Solace 30 HCS features a double stepped hull.

The 30XO aft deck exudes versatility with three flip-up seats. There’s also a 29-gallon livewell in the starboard transom corner, and another 29-gallon storage compartment that can be an optional livewell in the port corner. Lift up the center seat to access the bilge. I found the bilge neatly finished, and I could easily reach all components for ­maintenance.

Engines

Our test boat’s twin Yamaha F300 four-stroke engines featured power-trim jack plates. The 30XO performs well, and I found it incredibly stable while walking around its gunwales. I tested it with two people aboard and a half-load of fuel, and it easily came on plane, tracked well, turned smoothly with no sliding, and handled the boat wakes I encountered with ease. I tested the 30XO with no jack-plate trim and no tab at first. I found a sweet spot at 3,500 rpm, making 32.5 mph, burning 17.4 gph, and giving 1.87 mpg. At wide-open throttle, the boat hit 56.6 mph, burning 53.9 mph for 1.05 mpg.

Read Next: Regulator 31

How We Tested

• Engines: Twin 300 hp Yamaha F300
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Saltwater Series II 15″ x 20″ 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.75:1 Fuel Load: 102 gal. Water on Board: 20 gal. Crew Weight: 450 lb.

High Points

• Excellent fit-and-finish, with quality components and precise execution.
• Blending high-tech features, such as the proprietary MyHelm, makes it convenient for users to interface with the boat through a key fob or onscreen.
• Abundance of fishing features, with numerous comforts and conveniences. 
• The 30XO is a desirable multipurpose platform. 

Low Points

• Access to the optional upper station is a bit tough, using a molded step under the helm on the centerline of the console to ascend, followed by a large step up to the platform over the console dash. Finding the step under the helm on the way down proved awkward. 

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

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Few builders are as well-known as Regulator for boats that deliver a great ride in rough seas as well as boasting top-of-the-line fit-and-finish and construction. Here, meet the Regulator 31, the fastest boat in the Regulator fleet.

Twin 425 hp Yamaha 425 XTO Offshore outboards deliver a top speed of 64 mph, according to Regulator, a velocity that will jet you back to the weigh-in with a trophy catch, thrill your crew under the right circumstances, or simply provide the pleasure of knowing your boat can make that speed if you ever want it. Economy and range? At 3,500 rpm, figure on a 34 mph speed burning 23 gph for a net economy of 1.46 mpg. Given 300 gallons of fuel, that means over 400 miles of range, plenty enough to fish the far canyons or distant islands with safety, peace of mind and convenience.

The 31 shines at sea, as we discovered when we first tested this boat. During a fishing trip into the ocean via a nasty New Jersey inlet, our confidence built rather than waned as we hit the rough stuff. The boat cut through the waves, threw the water aside, and let us focus on getting where we were headed. Maintaining course proved easy because the bow isn’t knocked aside much, and the 31 hardly slows at all upon reentry. Instead, it maintains speed and keeps tracking straight. For 2023, the available Seakeeper 2 gyrostabilizer delivers more comfort.

The 31’s massive cockpit, oversize tackle center, fish box/livewell, and optional outrigger bases with 22-foot carbon-fiber collapsible poles deliver what anglers need. Upgrade to the 3X Deluxe Mezzanine Tackle Center for more seating, storage and dual-flanking rocket launchers. Enjoy the boarding and dive door, flip-up forward seat backrests, and optional forward and rear sunshades. A fiberglass-lined compartment with an electric head is inside the console, and the fiberglass T-top sports a vented windshield.

You get all 31 feet of boat with this Regulator—the Armstrong outboard bracket does not count toward its length. But that’s only one reason it delivers more than other boats. Sea-trial a Regulator 31 and see for yourself. 

High Points

• One of the best-riding boats you can buy, thanks to its deep-V hull shape.
• Bilge access to pumps and fittings is outstanding.
• Finished like a yacht and fitted out like a custom sport-fisher—the more you know about boats, the more this Regulator will impress you. 
• Armstrong bracket enhances performance and means this “31” is truly a 36-foot boat.
• Boarding/dive/fish door aids in docking, entertaining and landing big fish.

Pricing and Specs

Regulator Marine – Edenton, North Carolina; 252-482-3837; regulatormarine.com

The post 2023 Regulator 31 appeared first on Boating Mag.

Regulator Marine is known for boats that are stunning and solidly built, and deliver a great ride in rough water. Now add fast to the list of attributes. The new Regulator 31 CC delivers a top speed of 64 mph ahead of optional twin Yamaha XF425s. Even when paired with thriftier twin F300s, it exceeds 52 mph at wide-open throttle.

Who wouldn’t thrill at such swiftness, with anglers eager to reach a hotspot?

With either power choice, the Yamaha Next Generation Boat Control System is standard, a proven team of controls including tilt helm digital electric steering (DES), multifunction digital electronic control (DEC), EX Autopilot with waypoint deceleration, and a CL5 multifunction touchscreen display. Optional Helm Master EX controls add a joystick, Multimode Set Point and EX Autopilot.

The Lou Codega-designed deep-V hull tames the seas. Still, Seakeeper 2 gyroscopic stabilization is installed on more new boats each season to add offshore stability and comfort. It’s available on the 31 CC, but Regulator offers another option: pre-installed rigging for adding the gyro later when tastes or budget call for it. That’s thinking ahead while getting on the water now.

Most boats, especially center-consoles, are called upon to fish at least occasionally, and the 31 CC is ready for either part-time or hardcore fishing. It has a huge cockpit, oversize tackle center, in-deck, in-seat and in-transom fish boxes, and a livewell. Outriggers are an option. Still, the boat remains uncluttered, with gear out of the way when not in use to make way for family fun.

But are you really keen on fishing? Upgrade to the optional 3X Deluxe Mezzanine Tackle Center for additional seating, storage, and optional dual flanking rocket launchers that keep your rods at hand when the bite is hot.

The family is sure to love the boat’s roominess, as well as its starboard boarding and dive door, twin plush seats forward of the console, flip-up forward bow seat backrests, and perhaps especially the stand-up, electric in-console head. Add the optional forward sunshade and cockpit SureShade for cool comfort.

High Points

• Comfort’s at hand with an optional forward sunshade and the cockpit SureShade that deploys from the hardtop automatically.
• Ready-for-Seakeeper rigging keeps all the options open for installation later.
• Lou Codega-designed deep-V hull provides a soft, comfortable ride, even in harsh sea conditions.
• Transom bracket adds performance and keeps weight low.

Pricing and Specs

Regulator Marine – Edenton, North Carolina; 252-482-3837; regulatormarine.com

The post 2022 Regulator 31 CC appeared first on Boating Mag.

Overview

Regulator’s new 37 boasts a classically beautiful hull, and it fits neatly into the niche that boat buyers have clamored for since the 1940s—a hardcore fishing platform that converts easily at day’s end to a comfortable leisure platform. With plenty of seating in an open boat, everyone gets into the action. And yes, there’s a big V-berth in the console cabin (6 feet, 11 inches of headroom), with an enclosed head and shower (7 feet, 6 inches of headroom), and a galley.

Regulator engineering considered customers’ requests for raised freeboard, plentiful storage, abundant air conditioning (with reverse-cycle heat) and a Seakeeper gyrostabilizer, all backed up by a big generator. Also, more refrigeration for food, drink, bait and fish.

Seating at the bow adapts quickly from serious fishing to lounging, sunning, cruising and eating. At the helm, we found a secure three-across helm seat and an aft-facing mezzanine bench for two. There’s a watertight starboard cockpit door and vast tackle storage, with many rod holders in strategic places. Livewells and fish boxes are all insulated, and some fish lockers are refrigerated.

Engines

The 37′s design, construction, technology and power allow for a range of 300 miles, conservatively, at speeds of 30 to 40 mph. The two-way average top speed we achieved, with a nearly full tank of fuel and two aboard, clocked in at 56.3 mph at 6,000 rpm. Performance at 4,000 to 4,500 rpm impressed me more with the three big 425 hp XTO Offshore outboards pushing the 37 easily at 31 to 40 mph. Acceleration within that speed range proved impressive. The boat slows down to speeds in the 20s if serious seas or a nasty inlet demands it, but the 37 wants to run, and the engines balance this boat well. We also tried some tight turns, and the hull held firm at speed. Finally, we checked stability at trolling speeds and on the drift. The Seakeeper, of course, virtually eliminated any roll.

The 37, like all Regulators, runs on a Lou Codega hull design, a nonstepped 24-degree (at the transom) deep-V with carefully positioned strakes and chines. The center of gravity is right over the tanks, so as fuel burns, the boat’s balance doesn’t shift. At cruise, it rides a little bow-proud, presenting that sharp forefoot to oncoming seas. The attitude also gives this hull shape more speed with less horsepower, plus an easy, dry ride. It loves the low-rpm torque from the brawny V-8 powerheads and Yamaha XTO propellers.

Interior and Accessories

The boat has watertight bulkheads under the helm and all deck spaces. Fish boxes drain overboard, so there’s no water there, and no mold or funky smell. Rod storage in the air-conditioned cabin reduces moisture. The cabin is well-lit and vented to keep things dry. All systems are readily accessible. Details extend to parts, such as a nylon discharge valve for the holding tank that doesn’t bind with age.

A digital switching system controls all the Regulator 37′s processes, from the lights and engines to plumbing, the Seakeeper and an Onan 13.5 kW diesel generator. David Clubbs, Regulator’s engineering director, and his team worked directly with Garmin to develop the company’s customized MyHelm system. It controls everything intuitively to make operating a complex vessel simple.

COVID-19 caused slowdowns in process and tooling, but finally, over last fall and winter, the team got to build hull No. 1. They spent many hours working out the mechanical stress details and resulting designs for the Seakeeper foundations. Consider the pressures the boat must endure from three sets of powerful forces acting on it: 1,275 Yamaha horses driving 20,000 pounds forward at 30 mph; water waves that have their own agenda; and a gyro that refuses to allow waves to induce roll. The foundations are infused separately from the hull, reinforced with high-density cores and 1-inch-thick aluminum backing plates, capped on each end by another structural bulkhead that distributes loads into the other longitudinal stringers, hull bottom and hull sides.

Under the mezzanine seat is a pump room that Clubbs calls “my apartment.” It’s huge, designed to be much drier than the lazarette, a good environment for complex machinery. The apartment offers full access to all three fuel tanks, with manifolds so each engine can pull from any one of them. All valves are accessible.

“We’ve given dealers classes on the whole boat, including MyHelm,” Clubbs says. “We’ve also produced videos on multiple systems, available to dealers and owners, and the full owner’s manual is available on the boat’s Garmin screens.

“A big addition for 2022 is a tower with a full upper station,” Clubbs continues. “We engineers love to get out from behind our computers to build and run our boats, and evaluate their systems hands-on. We had a lot of fun building the first 37. It’s a super-fun boat, fast, dry, with lots of good stuff on board.”

A good comparison for shoppers is the Everglades 395cc ($887,993 with triple white Yamaha 425 XTOs and Helm Master EX, with autopilot and joystick). Note that the well-equipped Regulator price includes the test engines, a Seakeeper 5, a genset, and 12,000 Btu air conditioning.

Looking for a thoroughly modern classic? Sea-trial a Regulator 37.

How We Tested

• Engines: Triple 425 hp Yamaha XTO Offshore V-8s
• Drive/Props: Outboard/Triple Yamaha XTO Offshore 163/8″ x 21″ 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.79:1 Fuel Load: 490 gal. Water On Board: 20 gal. Crew Weight: 350 lb.

High Points

• Ingenious three-wide helm-seat module offers generous tackle storage, a slide-out grill, an on-deck refrigerator and a double mezzanine seat, with a pump room below.
• Pump room and other mechanical spaces are designed for easy maintenance.
• Fishing features allow the 37 to adapt to multiple bluewater scenarios, but the boat also adapts quickly for leisure activities.

Low Points

• V-berths in the cabin are long but narrow.
• While the console headroom is generous, the opening door is only 19 inches wide.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

Regulator Marine – Edenton, North Carolina; 252-482-3837; regulatormarine.com

The post 2022 Regulator 37 appeared first on Boating Mag.

Regulator’s new 37 builds on their classic hull style employing a performance-enhancing transom bracket that also expands cockpit space. The 37 can be equipped for Seakeeper or come Seakeeper ready for later modifications. New leaning post and a tackle storage designs add fishability and convenience while increasing pleasure cruising seating.

For more information go to regulatormarine.com/offshore/boat-models/37.

The post Boat Test: Regulator 37 appeared first on Boating Mag.

“Go anywhere, do everything” is the mantra for Regulator’s XO crossover boats. The newest 24XO offers a graceful Carolina sheerline over a shallow-running, Lou Codega-designed, 17-degree bottom that sharpens forward into a wave-cleaving, flared bow that can accept coastal assignments on reasonable days. Even with Regulator’s robust construction, the 24XO is light enough to tow behind a compact pickup truck.

Fishing comes first, of course. With an optional Minn Kota Ulterra and iPilot system, the 24XO can masquerade as a freshwater bass boat one morning, work an eelgrass bed for speckled trout and redfish the next, drift for flounder the third, and jig an offshore wreck for stripers or black sea bass the fourth. Lockable racks port and starboard in the bow deck hold fly rods to 9 feet, 6 inches; horizontal racks under padded gunwales each hold two spinning/plug rods to 7 feet, 3 inches. There’s tackle storage in the helm’s leaning post, plus a four-rod rocket launcher. Another launcher is optional for the T-top. The stern deck holds a livewell to starboard (a portside one is optional) and has plenty of casting room.

In the afternoon, mount the 24XO’s optional watersports tow bar, or snap in the cushions, put the bow on the beach, and roll out the bow and stern sunshades that hide under the hardtop to create a shaded porch with restroom in the console. Seating includes two lounges in the bow platform, space for two in front of the console (with a cooler beneath), and another for two in the stern platform.

The 24XO will pay back handsomely to anyone willing to learn all it can do in different sea conditions. That means watching how the hull’s shape reacts to the wave it meets, then using the throttle, power trim, trim tabs and hydraulic jack plate appropriately. With Yamaha’s well-proven F300 on the jack plate, the 24XO tops out close to 50 mph, but it is happy at speeds from the low 20s to the mid-30s, a wide range for adapting to whatever conditions a day on the water brings. We were particularly impressed with the super-sweet spot at 3,700 rpm (29.8 mph, with a 9.2 gph fuel burn).

High Points

• Sophisticated hybrid hull handles both shallow water and nasty seas with confidence and control.
• Rod storage available under the gunwales, and in the T-top and leaning-post rocket launchers, plus lockable racks are under the bow casting platform that accept rods up 9 feet, 6 inches long.
• Cushioned seat with fold-down back under the stern platform, with good access to neatly arranged wiring, plumbing, and pumps under it.

Specs

LOA: 24′4″

Beam: 8′5″

Draft: 1′4″

Dry Weight: 5,250 lb. (with engine)

Seat/Weight Capacity: 8/1,979 lb.

Fuel Capacity: 86 gal.

Price: $126,995 (with test power)

How We Tested

Engine: 300 hp Yamaha

Drive/Prop: Outboard/15.25″ x 18″ Saltwater Series II 3-blade

Gear Ratio: 1.75:1

Fuel Load: 65 gal.

Crew Weight: 400 lb.

More Information

Regulator Marine – Edenton, North Carolina; 252-482-3837; regulatormarine.com

The post 2021 Regulator 24XO appeared first on Boating Mag.

Overview

“Go anywhere, do everything” is the mantra for Regulator’s new 24XO crossover boat. The 24XO offers a graceful Carolina sheerline and a shallow-running, Lou Codega-designed 17-degree bottom that sharpens into a wave-cleaving, flared bow. It’s handy inside, plus able to accept coastal assignments. Though rock-solid in build, the 24XO is light enough to easily tow. It’s made to order for all sorts of adventure and exploring.

Interior and Accessories

Fishing comes first. With an optional Minn Kota Riptide Ulterra trolling motor and its iPilot system, the 24XO can masquerade as a bass boat in fresh water one morning, work an eelgrass bed for speckled trout the next, drift for flounder the third, and jig an oyster reef or an offshore wreck for sea bass the fourth. Lockable racks port and starboard hold fly rods up to 9 feet, 6 inches long, while horizontal racks under the padded gunwales each hold two rods up to 7 feet, 3 inches long. There’s tackle stowage in the leaning post, along with a four-rod rocket launcher. The stern holds a livewell to starboard and plenty of casting room (a second livewell is $1,695).

For a change of pace, mount the 24XO’s watersports tow bar ($1,195), or snap in the cushions, put the bow on the beach of your choice, and roll out the (also optional) bow and stern sunshades that had been hiding under the hardtop. A human-size restroom resides within the console. Two lounges with tilt-up backs live in the bow, along with seating for two more on the cushioned front of the console cooler. In the stern, a flip-up backrest makes comfortable seating for two more.

Rugged? Stringers are bonded to the hull; the liner is bonded to the stringers; the console is bonded to the liner. Movement in rough seas is nil.

Engine

With a Yamaha F300 on the hydraulic jack plate ($2,995), the 24XO topped out near 50, but proved happy at speeds from the low 20s to the mid-30s, a wide range for adapting to ever-changing conditions. We were particularly impressed with the super-sweet spot at 3,700 rpm (29.8 mph, 9.2 gph fuel burn).

How We Tested

• Engine: 300 hp Yamaha
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/15.25″ x 18″ Saltwater Series II 3-blade
• Gear Ratio: 1.75:1 Fuel Load: 65 gal. Crew Weight: 400 lb.

High Points

• Sophisticated modified-V hull can run shallow, handle chop, and deals admirably with swells.
• Loaded with fishing features, it boasts a large head, plenty of comfortable seating, and both optional shade and watersports capabilities.
• Good access to neatly arranged wiring, plumbing, and the pumps below.

Low Points

• With the bow lounge seatbacks up, legroom is a little short for tall people.
• Only head option is a portable toilet without pump-out. Why no option for a real commode?

Toughest Competitor

Pathfinder’s 2500 Hybrid ($89,600 with a Yamaha F300) is another fishing and family bay boat. It’s 5 inches longer but about 1,200 pounds lighter, with 16 degrees of transom deadrise, a lower fuel capacity (67 gallons), and a long list of options.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

Regulator Marine – Edenton, North Carolina; 252-482-3837; regulatormarine.com

The post 2020 Regulator 24XO appeared first on Boating Mag.

Overview

Crossover boats are all the rage. Regulator Marine’s answer is in its new 26XO. Are there trade-offs with such a boat?

Understand that the 26XO’s territory consists of estuaries and near-coastal waters. It’s not the boat for 70-mile canyon runs, but its Lou Codega-designed modified-V hull (17-degree transom deadrise) is more than capable of running gnarly inlets and venturing a few miles offshore. The design’s combination of sharp bow entry, flare, subtle curves, reverse chines, lifting strakes, carefully shaped running surface, and weight results in predictable performance and inspires confidence. We shook out the test rig in sharp, choppy bay waters, and it ran dry without pounding at speeds from the mid-20s to low 30s with six people aboard.

The strength that Codega engineered into the design and Regulator’s rock-solid construction make it safe and stable at rest and underway. Design details such as rounded corners on the transom for maneuverability at low speeds, a subtle crown on the sole leading any water to a gutter system that drains overboard, and secure glove boxes at the helm make the boat easy to live with. Hatches fit. Holes for all bolts that mount fittings are drilled with jigs, for precision. From hull and liner lamination to assembly and quality control, we got to see the process firsthand.

Engine

This is a long-legged boat for both fishing and exploring. Loping along easily at 27 to 32 mph (4,000 to 4,500 rpm), it boasts a range of over 200 miles. The standard Yamaha F300 outboard offers appropriate power for realistic cruising speeds and efficient operation in big waters, with plenty of pull for casual tow sports when equipped with an optional, removable tow bar. Top speed is in the mid-40s. Meanwhile, the hull’s 14-inch draft, moderate deadrise, transom hull pocket, and standard SeaStar Solutions hydraulic jack plate with a 6-inch setback make shallow-water operation easy, whether fishing or beaching at a sandbar.

Interior and Accessories

Other features appreciated by families and anglers alike include a hardtop that shades the helm and the seat forward of the console, well-placed grab handles, cup holders, and USB charging ports. The console houses a vented, lighted compartment with 60 inches of headroom and a standard portable toilet, but it can be fitted with a permanent model, holding tank and electric pump-out. Snap in the cushions for the bow’s port-and-starboard storage compartments, and tilt up their forward-facing seatbacks to create a pair of lounges. The forward console seats two in comfort, with a cooler beneath, as does the helm’s leaning post. A 32-gallon livewell is built into the tackle center behind the helm seats, with tackle storage beneath. Forward of the console’s front seat is an illuminated 70-gallon in-sole fish box.

The stern deck offers three cushioned seats side by side, plus storage and a swim platform with retractable ladder to port. A 20-gallon freshwater system serves a shower wand at the transom. A Bluetooth-capable, four-speaker marine stereo is standard, with a Polk Ultramarine package optional.

OK, it’s comfortable, but after all, Regulators are fishboats at their cores. For bluewater duties, opt for Taco Grand Slam 390 outriggers ($3,495) and T-top rocket launcher ($1,895). A 16-inch Garmin GPSMap 8616 chart plotter/sounder comes standard, with a VHF and Airmar CHIRP transducer mounted to the through-hull, but a pair of 12-inch Garmin 7612 XSV displays ($3,195) are available with the same VHF and transducer setup. You can also opt for a Garmin XO Convenience Package with autopilot and GMR 24xHD radar ($7,295).

The 26XO is also a competent inshore vessel, which we saw clearly while jigging for stripers along a channel edge. With the cushions off, the forward lounges become a casting deck, with lockable horizontal rod stowage beneath. Even more important, our test boat carried an optional 36-volt Minn Kota Riptide Ulterra trolling motor with i-Pilot, a 36-amp charger, and three deep-cycle batteries neatly stowed in a dedicated compartment under the foredeck. The three seats behind the livewell/tackle center fold down to form a huge stern casting deck.

This boat’s rigging proved immaculate, and I saw why on the assembly line, watching skilled technicians take care in their work. The 26XO should prove easy to care for. And by careful design and execution, it handles multiple missions well. It may be Regulator’s most versatile model. Shoppers will want to check out Pathfinder’s 26 TRS (about $128,000 with a Yamaha F300 and comparable equipment) or Boston Whaler’s 270 Dauntless ($136,928 with a 350 hp Mercury Verado), a well-proven hybrid of similar layout.

Don’t take my word for it. Schedule a sea trial of all three and see for yourself.

How We Tested

• Engine: 300 hp Yamaha F300
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Yamaha Saltwater Series II 15.5″ x 17″ 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.86:1 Fuel Load: 40 gal. Crew Weight: 600 lb.

High Points

• New shallow-draft hull design works on inshore and near-coastal waters.
• Graceful hardtop provides ample shade, a wraparound safety-glass windshield and handholds.
• Large casting platforms forward and aft convert to comfortable seats with abundant stowage beneath.
• Easy access to wiring, plumbing and mechanical systems.

Low Points

• Some boaters will want larger engine options.
• Make sure the vent for the hull’s transom pocket is open when running, or a vacuum will form that hurts performance.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

Regulator Marine – Edenton, North Carolina; 252-482-3837; regulatormarine.com

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