Help me choose a boat!

[SeaVet]

Hi everyone,

Just found this site. A reading of the posts on here makes me think I don't want to know what happened to the old Regal site...

Anyway, I'm looking to get a small runabout for day use on inland waterways in central and eastern NC. I'm pretty well sold on Regal's 20 and 22 footers. Question is, which one?

Primary users of the boat will be me, my wife, and 2 small children (1 and 5 yrs old). We may occasionally have others on the boat, but rarely if ever would we have more than 6 at one time. It will probably be me and my 5 yr-old son on most trips for the first year or 2. I will be trailering this boat behind a Suburban.

I started out eyeing the 19... then gravitated to the 20... and now am looking at the 22's. 3-footitis before I've even purchased a boat So, questions:

1. I still think the 20 w/ 5.0 would be the overall best size for my uses. The only advantages I see in the 22 are the extended sun pad (but does anyone actually use those things? It just screams melanoma to me ) and transom shower. The increase in size, for me, is likely a wash: more room, but more bulk as well. Agree/disagree?

2. In the 22' size, do y'all think the 5 liter engine suffices? I'm drawn to the 350 MAG w/ Bravo3 option in that boat, but is it a must have?

3. As mentioned, I have 2 small chilluns. For day use, should I be looking at the 22' cuddy instead? My family had a Wellcraft cuddy when I was a kid, and all we ever used the cabin for was storage. Way too cramped, hot and stuffy down there to spend any time -- at least on the Gulf Coast where I grew up. Is a cuddy in a 22' boat big enough to use as a viable shelter/nap area, or should I just stay with the bow rider?

Thanks for any and all advice!

SeaVet

 

[Canada]

Send me an email to (for some reason - most likley a block on this site my email address got scrambled - therefore, disregard the below and I will try and post the analysis on the site later tonight via photobucket).

I will respond to you with a spreadsheet of a fairly in depth review of the Regal 2000 bowrider compared to Sea Ray, Crownline and Colbalt.

It will point out a few different things that you should be looking at.

Even if you have already settled on the Regal (good choice), it does go into a few things that might push you over the edge relative to choices available and the whys.

 

[SeaVet]

Thanks Canada,

I appreciate your offer. I've actually scrutinized comparable Sea Rays and Four Winns (along with Monterey and Bryant) pretty carefully. Preferred the Regals in the end. Cobalt is a bit too fancy, and Crownline a bit too flashy, for my personal taste. Fine boats, no doubt, just not for me. One other thing that really sways me toward the Regal is our local dealer.

I'm more interested in people's impressions of the Regal 2000, 2200, and 2250, because I'll end up owning one of them within the year

 

[Jet Laggin]

I have the 2250 and love it! We have 2 children and we can spend the whole day out without a problem. The port a potty is great and extends the useful day for the girls. We tube,ski,camp,and actually entertain some CLOSE friends ocassionally. We have the Volvo 5.7 and it provides more than enough power for everything that we do. 1/2 tank with junior and myself and i saw 60 on the speedo. (Dead calm, Flat lake) If you need any other information let me know
Henry

 

[Canada]

I said I would so here it is.
Good luck with your decision.

Note: information was gathered for a friend who couldn't make the boat show (gave me something to do). Information is also about a year old and pricing is in Cdn funds.

 

[SeaVet]

Thanks,

That is a wealth of information for comparison!