Boating — December 2018

SPEED EFFICIENCY OPERATIONnaut. stat. n. mi. s. mi. sound

rpm knots mph gph mpg mpg range range angle level

1000 5.65 6.50 2.50 2.26 2.60 445 512 0 62

1500 5.82 6.70 4.40 1.32 1.52 261 300 0 64

2000 8.60 9.90 8.00 1.08 1.24 212 244 1 65

2500 10.73 12.35 11.70 0.92 1.06 181 208 2 73

3000 17.12 19.70 14.00 1.22 1.41 241 277 4 74

3500 29.98 34.50 18.50 1.62 1.86 319 368 3 78

4000 35.71 41.10 24.20 1.48 1.70 291 335 3 79

4500 40.49 46.60 32.10 1.26 1.45 249 286 3 81

5000 45.71 52.60 40.80 1.12 1.29 221 254 3 82

5500 50.31 57.90 50.30 1.00 1.15 197 227 2 83

5800 52.40 60.30 52.50 1.00 1.15 197 226 2 84

MOST ECONOMICAL CRUISING SPEED

High Points

XThe more sea time you have, the

more you’ll appreciate this boat’s

ride in rough water.

XAccess to the bilge for service

and maintenance of pumps and

equipment is unparalleled.

XFull transom ensures you get all

the length overall implied by the

model designation.

Specs

· LOA: 32'6" (with bracket and engines)

· BEAM: 9'5" · DRY WEIGHT: 8,260 lb.

· SEATING/WEIGHT CAPACITY: Yacht

Certifi ed · FUEL CAPACITY: 219 gal.

How We Tested

ENGINES: Twin 300 hp Yamaha F300

DRIVE/PROP: Outboard/15" x 21" 3-blade

stainless steel

GEAR RATIO: 1.75:1

FUEL LOAD: 105 gal.

CREW WEIGHT: 355 lb.

Price

$206,995 (with test power)

REGULATOR

28

tackle you can catch or carry, in addition

to safety gear and cruising supplies such as

deck chairs, an infl atable tow toy or stand-

up paddleboard. Inside the console is a

fi berglass-lined head with electric com-

mode. We liked that a porthole provides

natural light. The wide variety of seating

choices range from the standard transom

bench, to several standard and optional

leaning-post choices, to backrests for the

forward lounge.

Proven during our test to possess rug-

ged fi shability, Regulator’s 28 also delivers

the fl exibility to serve as a family day boat.

Courtesy of stout construction and a deep-V

hull designed by Lou Codega, the Regulator

28 lived up to its reputation. During our

test, the ocean inlet waters rose in wind-

against-tide 3- to 4 -foot seas. Yet at 25 mph,

the Regulator 28 carved through with nary

a bang, thud or drenching spray. Abeam to

the seas, the Regulator 28 exhibited a roll

moment that proved very short but with

gentle transitions. Down-sea while over-

taking waves, the bow held enough buoy-

ancy to lift up and over without shearing in

either direction; the water the bow pushed

curled nicely back down toward the sea.

Besides the ride, confi dence comes from

the full transom. As opposed to the inte-

grated transom platform of other builders,

the Regulator’s full transom means that

it is truly 28 feet long — before measuring

the outboard bracket. Of course, SeaStar

Solutions’ Optimus electronic power steer-

ing helped provide precision control too.

While collecting data in fl at water, with

twin 300 hp Yamaha outboards installed,

the Regulator 28 rocketed to 60 mph and

delivered nearly 2 mpg at 34 mph.

Regulator’s best-selling model, the

28 boasts new upgrades for 2018, some of

which were announced just prior to our

going to press. These include an optional

SureShade ATF automated cockpit boat

shade that extends with the touch of a but-

ton or with a wireless fob ($9,395), and

an available removable watersports tow

bar ($995). A variety of new seating and

new outrigger options are also available.

Factory-installed electronics now include

all-black fl ush-mounted facings.

A tuna door provides transom access to

the water as much as a way to land big fi sh.

From the transom livewell to the stowage

in the bow, this boat packs enough insulat-

ed stowage to swallow all the bait, fi sh and

PHOTOS: COURTESY REGULATOR MARINE INC.

REGULATOR MARINE INC.

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

C

BOAT BUYERS GUIDE FISHING

CERTIFIED

TEST

RESULTS

BOAT BUYERS GUIDE 2018 | 133 | BOATINGMAG.COM

PHOTO: