A thoughtful blend of day boat and weekender, the 26 XO takes Regal’s popular 26 Express, which has historically featured sterndrive power, and adds the option of outboard power. This option increases space in both the cockpit and the cabin. Outboard power also provides ease of maintenance, particularly for coastal boaters. Unlike sterndrives, outboards can be tilted completely clear of the water. The sterndrive-powered version of the boat remains available.
Step into the cockpit via the port walk-through and discover multiple seating islands to enhance socializing. Regal’s Ultra Lounge sits adjacent to the entryway, dividing cockpit and swim-platform seating with a shared backrest. Flip that back forward and the benches convert to a roughly 4-foot-square sun pad with abundant storage below. To port, an angled bench backs up to the passenger seat, again with a flip-over backrest that creates an aft-facing lounge. To starboard, the 2-foot-6-inch-wide helm seat has a flip-up bolster for better visibility when docking and a similarly sized bench behind. A 36-quart Igloo cooler is housed below.
Steps are built into the sliding cabin door for easy access to the nonslip foredeck, which has a one-piece stainless-steel bow rail for security. At the bow, the anchor roller and windlass complement a polished plow-style anchor. A deep locker ensures the rode will be easy to deal with. The cabin below includes seating around the forward perimeter and a pedestal table that lowers to form a V-berth. A spacious mid-cabin berth features a queen mattress and 2 feet 6 inches of headroom. The galley includes a sink, a microwave and a 4.2-cubic-foot refrigerator, with an alcohol/electric stove as an option. The wet head offers a fixed shower head, sink and electric toilet. Large hull-side windows, a 12-inch overhead hatch and a new-for-’19 lighter cabinetry finish all combine to create an open and spacious feel.
At the helm, a Garmin GPSMap XS flatscreen dominates the dash, shaded by a practical brow. A compass sits above on the console. Our test boat’s 300 hp Yamaha pushed the hull onto plane in less than 8 seconds. Speed peaked at 43.4 mph.
High Points
- Abundant stowage in the now empty sterndrive engine compartment.
- Outboards often bisect swim platforms; Regal maintains over a foot of walk-across space.
- Luxury vinyl stitching.
Price: $94,240
How We Tested
Engine: Yamaha F300 outboard
Prop: Yamaha Saltwater Series II 15 1/2″ x 16″ 3-blade stainless steel
Gear Ratio: 1.85:1
Fuel Load: 48 gal.
Crew Weight: 330 lb.
Regal Marine Industries – Orlando, Florida; 800-US-REGAL; regalboats.com
