O/T Regal Cruisers
 

I am seriously considering trading my cruiser for a 38' Regal. It is a sweet boat. I'm not very familiar with Regal though. Anyone have any experience with them or know anything about them? Thanks in advance for the help.

Dean

I currently have a 1996 27' Regal 8.3 SC Ventura. It's a cuddy cabbin not a cruiser. As far as the boat goes I have owned it for 2 years and never had any type of problem with it. Other than regular maintenance the only thing I had to do is replace the gear cable because it seemed a little worn. I'm going to trade it in on a 33' Outlaw. If I wasn't making the switch to a perfomance boat I would keep it for a few more years.

Mike

I am a good friend with a guy that works at the biggest Regal dealer in Quebec, Canada. We see a lot of them here on Lake Champlain in Vermont.

388 I can forward you his number if you need to talk to him.

Those boats are manufactured in Canada about two hours North of the border here in Vermont.

I am not at all familiar with theire products but I know he is.

Regal makes a nice boat. You might try over at www.boatus.com (forums) and www.boatered.com - lots of cruiser folks over at those sites.

One thing I'd check for sure on any cruiser - is the hull solid glass, or cored? I'd *never* buy a boat that is cored below the waterline. Too much of a chance for water to get in there, saturate the core material, then you've got big f'ing problems. Not worth the risk for a boat that sits in the water all the time. Searay had a big problem with wet cores on some of their boats - details are hard to come by, but I've heard rumors of buybacks, lawsuits, etc - that ain't chump change on a 35+ cruiser!

You might also look at Formula's 37 PC and Cruisers Yachts - heard good things about their new models. Hard to be Rinker for bang for the buck as well. Good luck!

why is this off topic? You aren't talking about a 1938 Buick Regal :D Just kidding carry on.

Roby

Thanks for the info guys.

GLH - I don't really need to call him. We have a dealer here in Louisville. I was just hoping to get some opinions from you guys.

Roby - I just put the O/T on there because it isn't a performance boat and I didn't want to hear anybody crying about it....

:D :D

Dean

I had one from 1990 through 1998, Ambassador 233 Xl, actually 26.5 ft. The pad that was glassed into the hull was flakeboard. Other than that, It was the best designed boat (most room) and speed I have ever seen in a small cruiser. No other cruiser ever made could have survived the punishment I put that poor boat through. Big Power and ran the snot out of it in Lake Erie. Spent more time in the air than in the water.

Like Dockrocker said, Mine was not cored, I dont know what year you are looking at but I also wouldnt buy a cored hull cruiser. I think Rinker may be the only one right now that is not coring hulls.

A good friend of mine has a new 35" Regal. It is a very well built boat and looks great. He used it in the Ozarks during the 2003 summer without any issues with the boat. Regal and Kelly's port have been very good to work with. The 38' is the same boat on a hefty dose of steriods, it is a sweet cruiser.

Thanks again for more info.
I'm looking into buying a brand new.

Dean

The only issues I know of with the balsa coring in the Sea Ray had to do with the decks. On some boats a few years ago the hatch holes were cut into the coring material which left some of the material exposed. This is not an issue anymore. Sea Ray uses a material called "coremat" in the hull. Resin impregnates this material so water cannot get in unlike Balsa.

Check out my 46 Sea Ray


http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...threadid=68765

Dean, I see a few of them here in the Detroit area. I looked at a 40" a while back but I couldn't get past the tile in the head area. My concern was there would be to much flexing in the hull causing problems with the tile. I've spent a lot of time on big water and have seen first hand what it can to even to the best of boats. Just as an FYI I have a 1998 3870 Cruisers for sale. Give me a shout if you want to chat.

Slamin

I've seen a whole bunch of ceramic tile in cruisers. It's usually in an area where the glass is suported underneath by foamed in place sub-liners, and the tile itself is on a mastic base with lots of latex additive in the grout. One I know of inparticular is on a real party boat and I've seen no problems with the tile cracking or coming loose.

As far as Regals, they are a quality boat and I like the 38. Get it in diesel, though.

Regal's world headquarters is here in Orlando.

Personally, I would stick with Formula or Sea Ray.

Thanks to everyone for the input. I like Formula and Sea Ray, but I don't like the price tags on them...

Anybody heard of any issues with Regal? Rinker started making a 38 this year. I would probably prefer to wait for the bugs (if any) to be worked out.

Dean

There are probably 6 38' and 42' Regals around here. I am unaware of any significant issues with any of them.

Been all over them and I think they (Regal) have done a good job with the layout and stuff. The canvas package is thin and uses flimsy plastic in the windows. Maybe coming from a cold weather manufacturer, they stay away from thick Sunbrella and Strataglas, but I prefer the thicker stuff - less flapping noise and windows don't get wavy. Clamshell opening engine room access is a mixed blessing. I know the 42 has a regular hatch to get in as an option to opening the entire back of the boat, but I think the 38 does not have the additional hatch..

Also think the cockpit icemaker is uncovered (no cover door for it). Those things fade and the door seal goes bad fast if exposed to continuous sun.

overall, a good boat.
Formula and Sea Ray are and have always been my preference, though.

Cruisers offers a good value, but the interior fit is more houseboat-ish. Their 38 foot boats are priced nice.

Not the larger ones, though.
Was nuts over the 5340 Cruisers until I spent an hour on one. If it had been priced significantly less than Sea Ray, Neptunus, and Sunseeker, it wouldhav been a different story but it was priced right there with the best.

I had a 14' Regal jet boat, Does that count????

Just Joking, I think it was built with the scraps from the cruisers, It was well built though, beat the heck out of that little thing. I spoke with their customer service people on the phone once, about getting a manual for an out of production boat, they were very nice, dug one out of the archives, and sent it to me for free.

Thanks again for the feedback. I really appreciate the help. I've spoken with several people and Regal seems to make a decent boat.

Dean

I have had a 36 ft (41 FT LOA) Regal Commadore for the last 6 years. I use it to cruise from Block Island to Cape May and in between. The Regal is very well built and seems to have much more room than other cruisers. It is also a heavy boat. I have been in 10-12 ft seas with it and felt comfortable with the Regal's handling of the waves. I don't think you can go wrong with the Regal or a Sea Ray.

I think Regals are manufactured in Orlando, FLorida.

I have owned two Regals in the past several years and they were both great boats. One was a cruiser and the other was a 23 foot bowrider. Both were excellent products and I would buy another Regal again in a second. The market is saturated with Sea Rays. Great boats but your boat will not get a second look from passerbys. Have you looked at Tiara? I was impressed. It's a get what you pay for type of deal.

Mike

Tiaras are the top notch of the top notch.
A bit square-edged, and a bit traditional on the interior design, but definitely top notch (and the price shows it).

And yeah, their website indicates the plant is in Florida. Also reads like that is their only plant, so I guess they aren't in Canada. This gives them no cold weather excuse on their "too thin" canvas and isinglas packages. I am friends with the local dealer and after he got finished arguing with me over whether it was thin or not, he told me that a couple of the buyers had upgraded to a thicker package with some mfr trade-in credit for it..

Thanks again you guys. I haven't found anyone with any problems with Regal. I personally like the 38' Regal better than Sea Ray. Sea Ray is a great boat, I just like the layout of the Regal a little better. I really like the privacy and extra head for the aft cabin on the Regal.

Dean