2014 Regal 32 Express

Boat Reviews

Boat Review by: Richard Crowder

All new for 2014, the Regal 32 Express at 32 feet LOA on a 10’4” beam and with a relatively steep 21° deadrise, rides on a deep-vee hull designed by the renowned naval architect firm of C. Raymond Hunt and promises a smooth, dry ride with excellent stability, handling, performance, and efficiency characteristics. For those of you keeping track, this new model slots in nicely between Regal’s 30 Express and the 35 Sport Coupe.

For 2014, this Orlando, Florida based builder, founded over forty years ago and still owned and managed by the Kuck family, offers a total of twenty-six models of bowriders, cuddies, deck boats, express cruisers, and sport yachts from nineteen feet to the stunning new fifty-three foot sport coupe. This new 32 Express is one of four models of Express Cruisers ranging from 28 to 38 feet.

Flexibility and versatility seem to be Regal’s intentions when designing the 32 Express. To wit, the mid-cabin berth is claimed by Regal to be the only such full-beam king size berth in its class and it readily converts to two twin berths; the forward backrest of the huge L-shaped salon lounge electrically raises to become part of the queen size forward berth; the backrest of the rear-facing double-wide cockpit seat flips to allow forward-facing seating or lounging; the backrest of the rear cockpit transom “UltraLounge” has four positions to allow forward or rear-facing seating or lounging plus sun-lounging; and this transom “Slide-Away” lounge electrically moves aft to provide more cockpit room when the swim platform is not in use.

One of the most noticeable external features of this new model is the expanse of tinted windows in the hull sides, two elongated ones on each side, designed to provide more interior natural lighting giving a more spacious feeling inside. Two of these windows provide said natural lighting at each end of that huge full-beam king-size mid-cabin berth. While we’re inside the boat, three other notable features are the standard Amtico birch flooring which can get wet without long-term damage, the standard 32-inch LED television, and an in-floor locker which is great for additional packaged food or beverage or other bulky item storage. An electric head, glass vessel sink, and a separate fixed shower wand are also standard fare. The galley features a two-burner electric stove, a 4.2 cubic foot stainless-front refrigerator, full-size microwave, and high gloss cherry cabinetry. In Regal tradition, headroom in the cabin is more than sufficient for those six-foot plus.

In the cockpit, the one-level floor from transom to helm provides easier and safer move around room and facilitates entertaining and conversation with ease. Seating for eight or ten is easily accommodated in the cockpit (should you ever want that many on board) and the double-wide helm seat facing the hand-stitched, vinyl-covered, snazzy looking but very practical dash is a plus. A teak cockpit table is standard as is a starboard side refreshment centre with available refrigerator and gas grill. Regal’s forward-facing electrically activated “Power Tower” retractable arch is standard on the 32 Express.

Available power includes a range of twin Volvo or Merc sterndrives from 270 to 380 horsepower each, all with either Duoprop or Bravo Three outdrives. The Canadian introductory model at the Toronto International Boat Show featured twin Volvo V8 300 Duoprop engines. Equipped with this power, preliminary performance data from Regal show an optimum cruising speed of 28.6 mph at 3500 RPM while achieving almost 1.5 miles per (US) gallon. Top speed is shown to be a very quick 46.2 mph at 5100 RPM. Average time to plane, and this with a reasonably loaded boat, was a quite remarkable 4.5 seconds. Twin Volvo diesel sterndrives are also available if you so choose.

Notable factory options you would probably want to consider for your 32 Express include such niceties as air conditioning/heating, an anchor windlass which neatly conceals within the foredeck anchor locker and which feeds the anchor and rode neatly and safely out through the hull as opposed to over the top of the deck, full canvas, Garmin navigation electronics, plus perhaps a generator, bow thruster, helm joystick control, a foredeck sunpad, cockpit TV, remote spotlight, extended swim platform, underwater lighting, and docking lites. You can even choose from seven hull colours, including white.

As you can see, the new Regal 32 Express most certainly offers flexibility and versatility, plus performance, to the world of mid-cabin, wide-beam express cruisers.

2014 Regal 32 Express Photo Gallery

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