Overview

The Regal 38 Surf is unique in the boating world—a model unlike anything else on the water. So versatile is the 38 Surf that not even the title of world’s largest wakesurf boat does it full justice. It also entertains, hosts overnights and fishes. Read on to learn how.

Engines

The magic in much of the 38 Surf stems from the integration of twin Volvo Penta ­forward drives. Working closely with Volvo Penta, Regal designed the 38 Surf to make it easy to use. In surf mode, the drives work in tandem to offset each other and create a wave on either side of the 38 Surf. Simply push a button, and this boat is ready for endless-wave fun without having to worry about ever adjusting ballast tanks (there aren’t any) or micro-plate-position shifting. By adjusting the trim of the drive units, the shape and size of the wave can be customized to suit different riding styles and preferences. The pictures tell the story: This boat creates great waves. A rear-facing camera in the 38 Surf’s hardtop gives the captain a view of the action on the helm display, so monitoring when a rider falls is easy. (Still assign a spotter though!) Just note, because the 38 Surf is so much bigger than other surf boats, its waves are longer, and a normal-length wakesurf rope often isn’t long enough. ­Lengthening your rope will make it easier for riders to get into the pocket of the wave.

Interior and Accessories

With its center-helm design, the 38 Surf features steps leading to the bow area on the starboard side. Eliminating a true center-console’s walk-through on that side makes for more cabin space below. Here we found a well-appointed air-conditioned cabin with a full head and walk-in shower. Both the forward and midberth areas quickly convert from settees into a queen-size berths, providing comfortable room for four adults. There’s a skylight, and the trim and finishes are top-notch, making this Regal a more-than-comfortable overnight-capable vessel. 

Back up at the helm, the captain is treated to dual 22-inch Volvo Watersport Garmin displays. Every system is controlled from here, including the wakesurfing functions, thanks to Volvo Penta’s integrated software. Dual throttles and joystick piloting, bow thruster, trim-tab controls and a wireless phone cradle round out the dash. Helm seating takes the form of four-across captain’s chairs. This proved comfortable, and the two outside seats swivel 180 degrees to allow viewing the on-water action. Plus, all four seatbacks fold down, turning the area into extra tabletop serving space.

Aft of the helm, you’ll find the aptly dubbed “­refreshment island,” complete with all the amenities to keep everybody on board well-fed and entertained. Above the sink and grill is a separate MFD, giving the grill ­master control of nearly any system, including ­audio, lighting, the powered lounge and swim ­platform, and more.

For even more lounging and entertainment, head aft. Unlike an outboard-powered boat, Volvo Penta’s forward drive allows for a wide-open transom to swim, fish or do anything else. The large lounge bench can face forward, face aft, and convert to a sun pad. Plus, with the push of a button, it slides out over the swim platform to extend cockpit space. Can you say dance party?

Speaking of party, the lounge is also equipped with four optional JL Audio ­speakers and two JL Audio “wake subs,” which bring up the entertainment factor of the 38 Surf’s transom even more. Need shade? A PowerShade is integrated into the hardtop. And those who like to fish can opt for ­Regal’s unique rocket launchers, which also ­feature tow points for the wakesurf rope. Dual dive doors make boarding the 38 Surf easy, and ­giant insulated storage lockers to both the port and starboard add to the versatility. These can be used for general storage or as coolers. 

Captaining the 38 Surf isn’t just ­comfortable, but it’s also a lot of fun. It rides solid and handles responsively, with plenty of power. Even for captains accustomed to much-smaller wakesurf-specific V-drives, the 38 Surf is nimble in tighter spaces thanks to joystick control of the forward-drive units and the independent bow thruster. Sightlines are clear through the large windshield, and the added sunroof in the hardtop is a nice touch. 

You can’t really comparison-shop ­Regal’s 38 Surf. There isn’t anything like it on the market. Aviara’s AV28S ($298,625 with a single 430 hp MerCruiser Bravo 4S) offers ­luxury, performance and wakesurfing, but that single-engine boat won’t fish or handle overnights, and it’s 10 feet shorter. Or you might consider a center-console, such as ­Formula’s 387 Sport  ($1.22 million with ­triple 300 Mercury outboards), which can fish, entertain a crowd in luxury, and weekend a couple in comfort. But it won’t wakesurf. 

If I had to choose one word to describe the 38 Surf, it might be “unbelievable,” because if you look at all the capabilities on paper, it seems hard to believe. So, “versatile” seems to be the most apt descriptor, because this special boat is just that. You can cruise on it, fish on it, entertain on it, wakesurf behind it and, when the day is done, sleep on it. For ­big-water boaters who want to easily and comfortably do all those things, the 38 Surf is a must-see.

Read Next: Regal LS9 Surf

How We Tested

• Engines: Twin 380 hp Volvo Penta forward drives
• Drive/Prop: Forward drive/K4 stainless-steel propset
• Gear Ratio: 2.3:2 Fuel Load: 231 gal. Crew Weight: 360 lb.

High Points

• This innovative boat offers luxury, fishing, wakesurfing, diving and overnighting.
• The world’s largest wakesurf boat delivers waves that live up to that name, and does so without ballast or complex systems.
• Power platform below the swim platform extends, providing a convenient board step or underwater lounge seat.

Low Point

• Some wakesurfers might have reservations at wakesurfing at higher speeds (12 to 12.5 mph) due to the 38 Surf’s size, but after a set or two, you can easily adjust.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

The post Boat Test: 2024 Regal 38 Surf appeared first on Boating Mag.

Welcome aboard the Regal 38 Surf, a vessel that stands proudly as the world’s largest surf boat, embodying the perfect synthesis of luxury and versatility on the water. This extraordinary craft is designed to offer an unparalleled experience across a spectrum of activities.

Unmatched Cruising Comfort: Immerse yourself in the lap of luxury as you cruise with family and friends on the expansive deck of the Regal 38 Surf. The carefully designed layout ensures not only spaciousness but also comfort, making every journey a pleasurable outing.

Seamless Entertainment and Culinary Delights: Elevate your on-water gatherings with the Regal 38 Surf’s integrated entertainment features. From the thoughtfully designed cockpit galley, equipped with refrigerators, to the expansive seating areas, this vessel provides the perfect setting for socializing and culinary indulgence.

Exhilarating Wake Surfing Adventures: Experience the thrill of wake surfing like never before. As the world’s largest surf boat, the Regal 38 Surf delivers an exhilarating surfing experience. Feel the rush as you ride the waves, surrounded by the luxury and innovation that define this exceptional vessel.

Overnighting Excellence: Explore the Regal 38 Surf’s versatility as it effortlessly transitions from day cruising to a luxurious overnight retreat. Unwind in the spacious cabin, featuring comfortable beds that promise a restful night at sea. The boat boasts a head with a separate walk-in shower, ensuring you experience the utmost convenience and comfort during your extended adventures on the water. With the Regal 38 Surf, your overnight stays become a seamless blend of relaxation and opulence.

Step into the Regal 38 Surf experience by watching our boat test video, where you can witness firsthand the unmatched features that make this vessel a true masterpiece on the water. Join us in redefining the standard for surf boats – where size, luxury, and adventure converge in the Regal 38 Surf.

The post The New Regal 38 Surf: World’s Largest Surf Boat appeared first on Boating Mag.

The LX9 is Regal’s latest in the LX series, a 29-foot dual Yamaha outboard-powered masterpiece with joystick steering that allows anyone to dock the boat like a pro. This boat offers a dual Garmin 12 inch GPS display with digital switching for full control of your navigation systems, audio, RGBW lighting, and Power Hardtop as the driver or passenger with just a tap on your screen. Choose the SandbarSubs for an enhanced boating experience, a bass-pumping audio system perfect for days at the sandbar.

The cockpit is roomy with an electric sliding rear seat that expands either the cockpit or the swim platform. For convenience and safety, the boarding ladder is on the port side of the platform, giving ample clearance around the propellers. Aft seat backs tilt forward or aft, providing the option to sit facing the water or friends in the cockpit. Bow seating is spacious and comfortable with plenty of storage and safety grab rails.

The console reveals a large head compartment, and the Power Hardtop lowers and lifts with a tap on your screen. ReFlex flooring adds an elegant look, is easy on the feet and cleans up quickly after a day on the water. The LX9 is as sporty under power as it is beautiful alongside your favorite waterfront restaurant.

The post Presenting the All-New Regal LX9 appeared first on Boating Mag.

For most of us, spending time enjoying watersports on your family boat is a rite of passage. Most boaters at some point enjoy skiing, wakeboarding, tubing or even surfing behind the transom. Thankfully, you can enjoy these sports behind boats that aren’t specific to the task. In the last few decades, multipurpose family boats have come a long way in the towing game with multiple features that enhance watersports, such as solid tow pylons, wakeboard towers, GPS speedometers, speed control, ballast for wakeboarding and wakesurfing, ­specialized ­sterndrives, and wake-shaping devices for wakesurfing. The sterns are designed with swim platforms for ease of putting on skis or a board and making it convenient to get in and out of the water.

These features are in boats with various ­propulsion types, including outboard, jet, sterndrives, and forward-facing sterndrives that place the propeller on the front of the lower unit so you can wakesurf behind a family boat with greater safety.

Here are six great family-oriented tow boats for 2023.

Jump to:

• Regal LS2 Surf
• Four Winns H2 OB
• Chaparral 23 SSi
• Yamaha 222XD
• Scout 195 Dorado Sport
• Avalon Waketoon

Regal LS2 Surf 

The Regal LS2 Surf combines runabout performance and features with tow-sports versatility. The LS2 Surf is based on the LS2 ($95,755 with a conventional 280 hp DP drive). It features a Volvo Penta Forward Drive, which is safer for wakesurfing and great for tubing, wakeboarding, water-skiing, kneeboarding and barefoot water-skiing.

Regal includes a variety of features to enhance the tow-sports experience. The helm features two 7-inch touchscreen displays that provide information such as GPS speed and water depth. The driver can set the acceleration, desired speed and wake ­characteristics for each individual rider. Steering and ­throttle movement prove smooth and easy, providing a better tow-sports experience for the driver and the person in tow.

For wakeboarding and wakesurfing, the LS2 allows up to 1,800 pounds of ballast, strategically positioned below the deck, with two ballast bladders located at the stern and one amidships. This allows the hull to ride deeper to create a bigger wake. Surf plates mounted at the transom adjust electronically from the helm to shape the perfect surf wave.

The higher tow point of the LS2 wakeboard tower gives boarders more air time but makes starting on a ski or board easier for beginners. A second tow point with a pop-up pylon at the stern will work well for towing tubers.

Because the engine is located below the deck, passengers have easy access to the swim platform and the water. The soft synthetic material on the platform is ideal ­because it keeps the bottom of a board or a ski from scratching while offering a comfortable, secure ­surface for wet feet.

Add a tow-sports mirror and you have an excellent boat for wakesurfing and other various tow sports.

Four Winns H2 OB

The Four Winns H2 OB accommodates tubing, water-skiing, wakeboarding, kneeboarding and barefoot water-skiing. If you want to wakesurf, Four Winns also offers the H2 Surf model with a ballast system,  powered by a Volvo Penta Forward Drive (starting at $121,130).

Four Winns provides options for the tow point, including a removable ­pylon that raises the towline above the outboard. Two wakeboard tower options are also offered. The base tower folds by gas ­assist, and the upgrade folds electronically.

The backrest of the port helm seat adjusts to face aft for the designated tow-sports spotter. Many outboard swim platforms offer limited use. However, Four Winns cleverly designed a swim platform that extends farther aft to provide plenty of space to put on a ski or a board. The swim platform offers an optional synthetic material on the platform, also ideal for putting on your ski or board.

Power comes from either a Mercury outboard from 200 to 250 hp or a Yamaha from 150 to 200 hp for ample acceleration and top-end speed. Trimmed down, it creates a small, smooth wake ideal for ­slalom-skiing and barefoot water-skiing. The H2 OB comes with fly-by-wire throttle and ­hydraulic steering to make throttle and steering smooth and easy for the driver. These features help the driver provide a smoother, consistent pull for the skier or rider behind the boat. The dash sports a touchscreen that provides information such as GPS speed and water depth. To design a perfect outboard-powered tow-sports boat, just add an ­aftermarket mirror to give the driver visual awareness of the person in tow.

Chaparral 23 SSi

Powered with either a Volvo Penta or a MerCruiser sterndrive, this 23-foot boat includes a variety of tow-sports features as standard or optional. Chaparral includes a tow eye mounted on the transom, with an optional wakeboard tower with a swivel tow point. The swivel tow point helps keep the line from fraying. Board racks are available for the tower also.

Sterndrive power allows for a spacious swim platform on the 23 SSi; however, Chaparral smartly includes an add-on section to extend the swim platform aft by an additional 25 inches as an option. An ­optional synthetic surface along with the ample space make putting on a wakeboard or a ski easy.

The helm features a touchscreen that provides GPS, water depth and other features. The digital throttle control and optional power steering both enhance the tow-sports driving experience for the driver and the person in tow.

Chaparral also offers the 23 Surf, which features a Volvo Penta or a MerCruiser forward-facing sterndrive ($93,895 nationally advertised price). The Malibu Surf Gate system is a paddlelike device located at the transom of the 23 Surf that converts the wake into a wave for wakesurfing by redirecting water flow past the stern of the boat. The Surf Gate is controlled electronically from the helm, allowing the surfer to transfer from one side of the wake to the other without stopping the boat.

The 23 Surf also features a ballast bladder that stows in the midship ski locker to increase the size of the wake for wakeboarding and wakesurfing.

The 23 SSi and the 23 Surf are perfect choices for those who want more from their boat than just cruising.

Yamaha 222XD

The 2023 Yamaha 222XD is ideal for families who love the handling characteristics of a sport jet boat but also want to have fun behind the boat. Yamaha designed the 222XD with multiple tow-sports features, including a wakeboard tower with board racks. The solid, raised tow point makes starts on a ski or a wakeboard easier and allows wakeboard riders to get more air time.

For the wakeboarder and surfer, Yamaha includes ballast bladders in belowdecks storage compartments to increase the size of the wake. The Wakebooster is a Yamaha feature that attaches quickly and easily to the transom of the boat to redirect the flow of water past the stern of the boat to convert the wake into a wave for wakesurfers.

Yamaha features a synthetic deck surface that covers the swim platform. This provides added traction when walking with wet feet, and the soft surface protects the bottom of the board or ski from scratches when putting on bindings. The swim platform rides low to the water, making getting in and out easier.

The 222XD includes multiple high-end features to enhance driving for tow sports. The boat boasts a wide-angle PTM mirror on the windshield, giving the driver improved visual awareness around the boat.

The 12.3-inch Connext touchscreen offers a menu of critical information, such as water depth and GPS speed. With a touch of the Connext screen, the driver can program acceleration, target speed and wake shape to accommodate various levels of rider or surfer experience. These settings can be saved for each individual.

The 222XD features fly-by-wire throttle for easy shifting, ensuring the person in tow a smooth pull-out when starting. Steering is designed to be easy and precise. Controls on the steering wheel allow the driver to maneuver the boat at slow speeds without relying on the throttle.

The new Yamaha 222XD is an excellent choice for families who love tow sports and the agility of a sport jet. 

Scout 195 Sport Dorado

The Scout 195 Sport Dorado is ideal for ­towing tubers, water-skiers, wakeboarders and barefoot water-skiers. The smaller size (19 1/2 feet in length) makes it maneuverable when pulling someone up or getting back to a fallen skier or rider. A swim step on the portside transom eases getting in and out of the water, and the co-pilot seat swivels aft to ensure a seat for spotting.

Known for quality design and construction, Scout doesn’t skimp on the Sport D­orado’s powder-coated tow point. As an option, it features a sturdy ski tow that arches over the outboard and attaches to the transom and deck at four points.

The 195 comes standard with a Yamaha 115 hp outboard, with an optional 150 hp offered ($54,121). However, the extra power of the 150 hp outboard makes sense for tow-sports use, especially to provide better acceleration for adults getting up on a slalom ski.

Fly-by-wire throttle and hydraulic steering provide a smooth experience for the driver and person in tow. The 195 Sport ­Dorado is equipped with a 9-inch Garmin display showing GPS speed and water depth, important information for the tow-sports captain.

The moderate 19-degree deadrise, combined with trimming the outboard down, results in a small, easy-to-cross wake for slalom-skiers and barefooters. Just add an aftermarket tow-sports mirror to have a fun family tow-sports boat.

Avalon Waketoon

Avalon has proven you can combine ­pontoon and wakesurfing in the same sentence with its Waketoon, a pontoon designed specifically for wakesurfing and tow sports. The first pontoon with a specialized sterndrive, this 23-foot tri-toon comes standard with a 350 hp MerCruiser 6.2L Bravo Four S forward-facing sterndrive, enabling safer wakesurfing. 

The Waketoon’s 4,200 pounds of dry weight creates a wake sufficient to allow two to surf simultaneously, one on each side of the wake. Two hydraulic wake plates at the transom adjust electronically from the helm to fine-tune the wake or convert from wake to wave when wakesurfing.

Avalon includes a wakeboard tower with a Bimini top and optional wakeboard racks. The large in-floor ski locker accommodates skis and boards easily.

In addition to the high tow point for wakeboarding, Avalon offers an optional stern pylon for towing tubers. The roomy swim platform features a soft ­synthetic surface, making it an ideal space for ­putting on a board or a ski. 

The Waketoon features a plush, comfortable helm seat. The digital throttle-and-shift provides precise acceleration. The dash features a sophisticated design that includes GPS speed and a touchscreen information center. A rearview camera lets the driver monitor the action behind the boat. Where required, simply add an aftermarket tow-sports mirror specifically designed for pontoons and you have an awesome tow-sports machine.

Avalon intelligently redesigned the pontoon by combining features for wakesurfing and tow sports with a modern aesthetic. The Waketoon is clearly not your grandparents’ pontoon.

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At 29 feet length overall, the LS9 Surf is the largest model in Regal’s Surf series of watersports boats. Its displacement, a Yacht Certified passenger rating, and a 2,500-pound water ballast system alone virtually guarantee a sizable wave. Trim up the LS9 Surf’s Volvo Penta Forward Drive and you’ll mimic an additional 1,100 pounds of wave-making ballast. Switch that swell side to side using twin Surf Tabs installed at the transom. These also double as your trim tabs. Those latter two features also improve the everyday ride, with trim increasing top-end speed or compensating for load or conditions and Surf Tabs doubling as traditional trim tabs. 

Surf variables are easily dialed in via Volvo Penta’s Water Sport Control integrated into the boat’s dual 12-inch-display Glass Dash. Tap icons to adjust speed, ballast and tabs, then save settings in individual rider presets. The Glass Dash is also where you can monitor all boat and engine vitals and, thanks to digital switching, activate everything from the RGB lighting to lowering the Power Hardtop, eliminating physical switches cluttering the dash.

Regal limits the interior bulk of the port and starboard sides to create one of the widest cockpits in this size range. Social-oriented helm and passenger backrests flip forward when it’s time to join in on cockpit conversation. Port and starboard couches flow into the Ultra Lounge, with backrests that likewise reposition for either cockpit or swim-platform focus. The mirror-image seating and center transom walk-over maintain access from bow to stern while naturally balancing the load. The near 3-foot-deep swim platform sits at water level, making it easy to get in and out of the boat.

When not cranking out waves, the LS9 Surf proves one sporty bowrider. Forward Drive not only repositions propellers to the front of the drive for safety, but it also shifts the pivot point of the hull, making the boat feel like it responds directly below the driver. The FasTrac hull also generates more speed with less horsepower and increases fuel efficiency. We burned 12 gph at 28 mph and averaged a top speed of 46.5 mph (with a one-way top speed of 47.5 mph).

High Points 

• Standard power hardtop lowers for bridges and  provides run-in-the-rain protection.
• Standards include dual 12-inch helm displays, a bow thruster, a Power Platform swim step and a head. 
• Underseat stowage for multiple boards.   

How We Tested

• Engine: Volvo Penta V8-380-CE
• Drive/Props: Volvo Penta Forward Drive/Volvo Penta K4 propset
• Gear Ratio: 2.32:1 Fuel Load: 108 gal. Crew Weight: 400 lb.

Pricing and Specs

Regal Boats – Orlando, Florida; 800-US-Regal; regalboats.com

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A decade of engineering innovation by Volvo Penta focused on performance and durability has produced the new Coastal Series Corrosion Protection Package for both the Volvo Penta Aquamatic and Forward Drive systems paired with V6 and V8 gasoline engines in North America. With the Coastal Series features and advanced marine-engine technology, Volvo Penta debunks these five long-held sterndrive myths. Learn how Volvo Penta sterndrive power has become an ideal choice for saltwater applications.

Myth: The sterndrive was invented to power small boats in fresh water.

Busted: Just months after the Volvo Penta Aquamatic sterndrive was unveiled at the 1959 New York Boat Show, inventor Jim Wynne installed a prototype in a Thunderbird boat, entered the prestigious Miami-to-Nassau offshore race, won his class, and finished fourth overall—with a Boating Magazine editor as his co-pilot. From the beginning, the sterndrive was proven capable in salt water and demanding conditions.

Myth: Sterndrives corrode in salt water.

Busted: Coastal Series drives are designed from the inside out to resist corrosion in salt water. The advanced titanium-ceramic coating is applied using a state-of-the-art electrodeposition process and covers the entire drive assembly for maximum protection of the aluminum castings against galvanic corrosion. The highly durable and flexible coating is chromate free and environmentally friendly. To further block galvanic corrosion, standard Active Corrosion Protection (ACP) applies impressed electrical currents through a transom unit. The system continually measures and automatically adjusts the electrical output for ideal protection in both brackish and salt water. A second active system uses sensors that monitor the quality of the drive gear’s lubricant and any presence of water in the bellows area. The sensors deliver audible and visual warnings to indicate potential marine corrosion in these areas. Volvo Penta is so confident in the corrosion protection offered by its Coastal Series package that it is backed by a seven-year/480-hour transferable extended protection package with full coverage of the engine, drive, transom shield and controls.

Myth: Sterndrives are old technology, iron made.

Busted: Volvo Penta gasoline V6 and V8 engines are purpose-built with marine-specific aluminum block and exhaust manifolds, fresh water cooled standard, a water-separating fuel filter, and an engine calibrated to produce the low-end torque required to lift the heaviest boats on plane with ease. Technologies such as exhaust catalysts, direct fuel injection and variable valve timing broaden the powerband, make the most of every ounce of fuel, and minimize CO exhaust emissions at idle. Volvo Penta engines are also designed to resist corrosion in salt water. The block, heads and exhaust are aluminum, and standard freshwater cooling means salt water never touches internal engine components. Plus, the Volvo Penta clutch features Silent Shift, which provides a seamless and soundless shifting, in and out of gear, making a more enjoyable experience on-board.

Myth: Sterndrives are hard to service.

Busted: Stop wrestling with that outboard cowl. Simply raise the hatch to see how Volvo Penta has located color-coded service points such as the oil and fuel filters, dipsticks, coolant expansion tank, and the seawater pump high or in front of the engine. The engine flush and Easy Drain feature clear raw water from the cooling system with a push of a button. Available Volvo Penta Glass Cockpit and Engine Monitoring Displays offer diagnostics and constant monitoring of all vital functions on a color screen.

Myth: A sterndrive has a lower power-to-weight ratio.

Busted: Last time we looked, the fastest performance boats are all sterndrive-powered, for a reason. A sterndrive powertrain might weigh more than an outboard, but the sterndrive offers tremendous torque and centers engine mass within the boat for improved ride and handling in all conditions, leaving the transom uncluttered for easy access to the water and the dock. Contra-rotating Aquamatic Duoprop and Forward Drive propellers maximize thrust and deliver outstanding handling, control and efficiency.

Experience confident corrosion resistance, outstanding performance and serviceability, and the convenience of a clean transom. Step into the future with a saltwater-ready drive featuring the Volvo Penta Coastal Series Corrosion Protection Package.

For more information on the Volvo Penta Coastal Series Corrosion Protection Package, visit volvopenta.com/en-us/marine/leisure-solutions/powerboat-solutions/coastal-series/. For the Regal 38 Fly, visit regalboats.com/model/38-fly-yacht/.

The post Volvo Penta Coastal Series Crushes Five Sterndrive Myths appeared first on Boating Mag.

Overview

Volvo Penta’s Forward Drive opened up the market for sterndrives to compete with V-drive tow boats in the popular wakesurf market. However, more than one manufacturer found that shaping a stellar surf wake isn’t as simple as adding ballast, throwing on a set of generic surf tabs, and swapping to Forward Drive to keep the prop out of harm’s way. Regal is one manufacturer that seems to have found the secret sauce. The LS6 Surf 2.0 is one of the best Forward Drive boats we’ve tested to date, producing large wakes with plenty of push, and a deep pocket in which riders can strut their stuff. That the LS6 is also one impressive bowrider when it’s not dishing up waves is just icing on the cake. 

Regal’s surf recipe starts with the basics. Forward Drive positions the props at the front of the drive rather than the rear, which tucks the sharp, spinny stuff well under the hull and creates a safer zone behind the boat for the rider. Ballast, in this case 2,000 pounds of water pumped into bags positioned at the bottom of both stern storage compartments and the forward of two in-sole compartments, settles the hull deeper into the water to substantially boost wake size. That 2.0 upgrade includes new pumps to fill bags faster and more quietly than on previous models. Forward Drive can then exploit electric trim, an advantage not found aboard V-drive boats, to alter the boat’s running angle and further influence the wake’s size, shape and length.

The LS6 Surf clearly benefits from all these features, but it’s those surf tabs—oversize transom-mounted trim plates that move up or down to influence the flow of water coming off the hull—that arguably have the most profound influence on the surf wave. And here, Regal has clearly done its homework. Specifics are proprietary, but Regal started with tabs from Wake Worx, modified them to its individual specs, and matched them to work with the LS hull design. The result is a wake that features an exceptionally deep pocket, and our test riders found it to be taller and more robust. Riders also enjoyed plenty of push at nearly every point along the way and a clean, firm wave face.

Another approach with which manufacturers have had solid results with surf waves is to license Malibu’s Surf Gate. Using technology proven on the builder’s popular V-drive models, Surf Gate consists of vertical tabs that pivot outward from transom corners to create an impressive surf wave. Both Chaparral and Cobalt currently use the technology with good results. Similarly powered, Chaparral’s 26 Surf starts at $169,672 and Cobalt’s R6 Surf at $189,624.

Speed, ballast, trim and tab deployment are all easy controlled at the LS6 helm via Volvo Penta’s Water Sport Control integrated into a pair of touchscreens that incorporate audio-system controls as well as all of VP’s Glass Cockpit functions, including engine and navigation data. For 2022, displays have been upgraded to 9 inches. Enter and save the preferred settings for up to three riders, then instantly recall them without the hassle of reentering individual settings.

Interior and Accessories

Turn your attention from the wake potential to the interior and the LS6 continues to impress. A cockpit redesign added 6 inches to the interior beam, allowing seating to extend from inwale to inwale. It also flows seamlessly fore to aft, from the consoles to the swim platform. Twin benches to port and starboard morph into double-wide helm and passenger seats, both of which feature pivoting backrests to allow occupants to face forward while underway, or aft when socializing or taking in the action astern. Regal’s Comfort Curve notches out what would otherwise be a comfort-stealing right angle between these seats as they flow aft to the UltraLounge, a pair of sun-pad-like benches that extend from the cockpit edge to the swim platform and flank a center walk-through. Both feature pivoting backrests that can face forward or aft. Recline the backrest to form a chaise. Pop up a hinged section tucked into the bottom cushion and create a rumble seat that’s great when using the swim platform to gear up or relax at the sandbar. 

Oversize, beefy stainless-steel grab handles atop seatbacks make it easy to pivot both backrests into position and offer handholds while moving between the cockpit and platform. Multidensity foam in seat cushions doesn’t bottom out, providing exceptional comfort. Storage stretches 6 feet below port and starboard benches. Forward, the bow cockpit is roomy and deep. As in the main cockpit, storage is available below the seats and grab handles. LED accent lighting and charging ports await within inwale cutouts. 

Engine

Underway, the LS6 handles like the sporty runabout it is below all the surf and wake extras. Regal’s patented FasTrac hull combines a deep-V forward with a mid-beam step to introduce air under the hull, historically resulting in better top speed potential, superior fuel economy and the ability to hit the same performance targets with smaller, more-efficient engines. Our test boat’s Volvo Penta V-8 350 EVC powered the LS6 strongly out of the hole and peaked at over 47 mph. Crank the wheel into a corner and the hull is quick to respond, with Forward Drive moving the boat’s pivot point forward and creating a more responsive feel than the average sterndrive. 

Now, who wants to go surfing?

How We Tested

• Engine: Volvo Penta 350 hp 5.3L 350 EVC V-8
• Drive/Prop: Volvo Penta Forward Drive/Volvo Penta K4 propset
• Gear Ratio: 2.14:1 Fuel Load: 63 gal. Crew Weight: 485 lb.

High Points

• Power Tower S2 raises and lowers faster than average, and doesn’t interfere with the helm when lowered while underway. 
• Standard Bimini top includes Surf Sleeves, pockets that store surfboards overhead and out of the cockpit.
• Port-console head compartment is rare in the watersports segment. A chemical toilet is standard; upgrade to a pump-out or electric-flush model with a sink and ventilating port.

Low Points

• Hull is agile and responsive, but can feel a tad twitchy as the driver initiates a turn when combined with Forward Drive. 
• Given otherwise exceptional attention to detail, storage revealed exposed wiring that could be damaged when loading gear, and exposed screw threads partially covered in caulk waiting to snag a bare hand.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Operation, Efficiency

Regal Boats – Orlando, Florida; 800-US-REGAL; regalboats.com

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Overview

Regal’s 38 SAV is not defined by what it does. It’s defined by how you customize it to suit your desires. SAV stands for sports activity vessel, meaning it can be used for many boating activities. 

It has outstanding performance characteristics for cruising when equipped with triple Yamaha 300 hp outboards. Two dive doors and a swim platform for easy entry and reentry serve your inner Cousteau. The basics for fishing are already there, but the 38 SAV is ready to accept hardcore fishing equipment like Taco outriggers, downriggers and rod holders. But just as it is, the 38 SAV is a superb entertainer.

Interior and Accessories

For cruisers, the 38 has a roomy deck plan centered around the command center. Four luxury bucket seats face the helm, but the two outside seats can swivel aft to face the galley on deck. At the sandbar, the center seats remain forward, and the grill master can sear burgers, brats or steaks while seated in the aft-facing bucket seat, keeping in touch with the cockpit. There is one refrigerator and space for a second fridge or freezer (standard) below the grill, with three drawers for storing cookware, tackle or whatever you want in the center. Everything needed to keep the crew fed is in place.

A 20.5-gallon livewell is in the port side of the galley, and its clear acrylic side wall allows easy monitoring of bait to ensure adequate aeration for lively action. If you’re not fishing, the baitwell would make an excellent cooler. There is also a slide-out Yeti centered under the row of four helm seats. 

From the helm, choose the passage to port or starboard of the galley to enter the expansive cockpit or take the portside passage forward to the spacious bow seating.

The cockpit seating area is designed for an intimate experience with the water without being isolated from those on the bridge deck. Mezzanine seating for four or more faces aft. A three-seat transom couch folds out to complete a conversation area. That couch is flanked by port and starboard Plexiglas transom doors framed in stainless-steel tubing. The clear doors are stylish and keep toddlers inboard while allowing a view of the water passing by the outboards and transom.

Portside, the forward entry way to the bow leads to more luxury seating that surrounds the area. To starboard, there is no walkway to the bow. Instead, the area is closed off to form a dock-level boarding access with three teak-soled steps to the command deck and a broader cabin belowdecks with more headroom. With port and starboard dive doors and a transom entry, there are plenty of convenient options for climbing aboard.

Boston Whaler makes a 38-foot boat, the 380 Realm ($809,585), with a similar helm configuration. However, Boston Whaler enclosed the helm all the way to the starboard gunwale, which eliminated the deck-level entry found in the Regal. Cruisers will have a broader, more enclosed helm deck. Belowdecks, the 380 Realm has a large cabin. Whaler designed it to give all the seating to the V-berth, which makes a large dining area when not set up for overnighting or naps. 

The Regal’s cabin features a double V-berth, but a central cushion inclines toward the cabin, making it a cozy couch for two. The midcabin berth sleeps two more. The head compartment is spacious, with a porcelain sink, head and large, separate walk-in shower compartment. 

Certainly, the accommodations and space contribute to the 38 SAV’s luxury appeal, but Regal doesn’t scrimp on other touches, like highly polished stainless steel, ample use of teak on step treads, and posh cocktail tables.

Engines

Powered by triple Yamaha 300 hp outboards, the 38 SAV makes nearly 50 mph. The motors not only provide an exciting top speed, but they also offer ample staying power to remain comfortably on plane in the low 20s, with excellent midrange handling that only comes from a well-mated hull and propulsion system.  

For all its elegance, the 38 SAV can sprint from fun spot to fun spot while keeping the crew surrounded in luxury and comfort. With the helm, the bow seating and the cockpit vying for passengers’ occupancy, each boater’s experience can be as intimate or gregarious as they choose. 

The 38 SAV is designed to bring the full spectrum of boating pleasure—and so it does.

How We Tested

• Engines: Triple Yamaha F300 outboards
• Drive/Props: Outboard/SWS II 18″ x 15 ¹/₄” 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.75:1 Fuel Load: 180 gal. Water on Board: 0 gal. Crew Weight: 500 lb.

High Points

• The 38 SAV boasts a spacious, open deck with easy walkways so crew can move about and socialize without stumbling. 
• Helm seatbacks fold down level to use as service tables if needed.

Low Points

• Only the outside seats on the helm station swivel aft. 
• Command deck is raised for visibility and to give more cabin headroom, but the design requires a step down to the cockpit.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

Regal Boats – Orlando, Florida; 800-US-Regal; regalboats.com

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Wakesurfing continues to grow in popularity, but not every buyer is best served by a boat with V-drive power. Regal’s LS6 Surf, powered by Volvo Penta’s Forward Drive, offers an alternative for those seeking the sterndrive attributes of higher speeds and more efficiency. With its contra-rotating, forward-facing propset tucked well forward of the swim platform, Volvo Penta’s Forward Drive offers the safe surf zone of a V-drive but maintains a sterndrive’s ability to trim, both to build wakes and to compensate for load or water conditions.

Regal’s Surf System 2.0 adds 2,000 pounds of ballast to that Forward Drive, plumbed to easily fill faster and quieter thanks to a new ballast pump system. The pumps can dramatically increase the size of the wake. Newly redesigned surf tabs create an improved wave, deeper and longer than that of years past. Easy control of all functions is accomplished via Regal’s watersports control, integrated into twin 9-inch Volvo Penta touchscreens at the helm.

The LS6 Surf’s accommodations are highlighted by Regal’s Ultra Lounges, seats that span both the port and starboard sides of this new boat. Behind the consoles, they form extra-wide helm and passenger seats. Flip the backrests over and either seat can join with the lounges behind to make aft-facing recliners. Flip the aft-most backrests forward and fashion rear-facing recliners. Seat-bottom cushions can also be raised to create transom-focused rumble seats. By pushing seating to the cockpit’s edge, Regal adds additional space not found in some competitive wake-specific models. 

Our test boat was powered by a 350 hp Volvo V-8, which, when not producing a sizable surf wave, pushes the boat onto plane in just over 5 seconds and to a peak speed of 47.4 mph. Regal’s deep-V FasTrac hull produced an agile ride, one that also proved more than competent in rougher water, an area that a pure watersports boat without the ability to trim has a hard time matching. The hull’s midbeam step is also famous for increasing fuel efficiency as well as providing faster speeds with less horsepower.

High Points

• Standard Bimini top with Surf Sleeves stows boards overhead.
• A port console head compartment is rarely seen in the watersports segment.
• Fusion Bluetooth marine sound system includes six 200-watt speakers. 

How We Tested

• Engine: Volvo Penta 350 EVC
• Drive/Prop: Forward Drive/Volvo Penta K4 propset
• Gear Ratio: 2.14:1 Fuel Load: 63 gal. Crew Weight: 485 lb.

Pricing and Specs

Regal Boats – Orlando, Florida; 800-US-Regal; regalboats.com

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Regal’s new LS36 is built for entertaining with spacious seating and luxury conveniences like cockpit galley with refrigerators. The sun roof slides back at a button’s touch and side glass slide open to enjoy the breeze.

For more on this model, visit regalboats.com/model/ls-36-sterndrive-bowrider/ and keep your eye out for our full boat review in the 2022 Boat Buyers Guide.

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