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Regal 29 OBX: An Outboard Powered Regal Bowrider?
Outboard engines are expanding their appeal to different genres of boats, and with the 29 OBX, Regal introduces their second outboard powered boat.
September 22, 2016
Anyone following the new boat market has surely noticed that outboard engines are encroaching into what was historically stern-drive territory, as we examined in detail in Outboard Engines on Bowriders: A Match Made in Heaven?Ā The latest evidence: the Regal 29 OBX, following closely on the heels of the 23 OBX Regal introduced last year.
If you havenāt encountered the 29 OBX yet, thereās a good chance you missed it because the boat was overshadowed a bit by Regalās introduction of the 2100 RX Surf,Ā which made headlines as one of the first boats ever to be fitted with Volvo Pentaās Forward Drive.Ā There was also the introduction of the Regal 35 Sport Coupe,Ā a slick, innovative cruiser. If one thingās for sure, itās that Regal isnāt resting on its laurels. Theyāre rolling out new models at a rapid pace, which makes it easy for one to get lost in the shuffle. But if youāre looking for a large bowrider and you find outboard power intriguing, you wonāt want to let the 29 OBX escape your attention.
The attraction of outboards on bowriders can usually be chalked up to a cost savings. When EPA regulations requiring a catalytic converter on stern-drives went into effect, the pricing advantage this power system traditionally enjoyed disappeared. In fact, in most cases outboard versions of the same boat became less expensive. But letās be real: on a 29ā boat with a price tag thatās well over the six-figure mark, no oneās going to try to save a grand here or there by choosing a different power system. As it turns out, however, there are some other outboard advantages Regal makes use of.
First, consider weight. A pair of twin Yamaha F200 outboardsĀ weighs in at 974-lbs. The 380 HP MerCruiser 8.2L V-8 with a Bravo III drive (found in the Regal 2800 Bowrider) is almost 300-lbs heavierāand delivers 20 fewer horses. Along with that horsepower-to-weight ratio advantage comes some extra speed. The 2800 and 29 OBX post the same dry weight, but the 29 reaches a top-end about 2.5 MPH higher, easily breaking the 50 MPH mark. The down-side, on the other hand, is a slightly higher fuel burn.
Then, thereās cockpit design to consider. Stern drives require an enginebox, which on runabouts usually creates a natural sunpad at the stern. The absence of this sunpad will, to some buyers, be seen as a disadvantage. But Regal has creatively used this space by mounting a pair of loungers with swing-down backrests on an electric-actuated sliding fiberglass deck plate. In the seating position the whole affair slides back 10ā to boost cockpit space, and in the sunpad position you have at least as much room as you would on a traditionally-designed stern drive motorbox, though youāll recline in a fore and aft position instead of across the beam.
Up forward in the boat you wonāt find anything radically different from stern-drive bowriders, though the 29 OBX certainly does take full advantage of its relatively large LOA. The passengerās side console has a roomy head with a sink, cherry trimming, and a choice of a portable MSD or electric commode. One beef, here: the opening port is an option, not a standard feature, and weād consider it a must-have on any head compartment.
The bow has the expected flanking seats, plus swing-down arm rests, a large filler forward, and a mount for a removable dinette table. Stainless-steel cup holders and blue LED mood lighting abound.
One thing about Regalāthey donāt do things cheap, and it shows in the standard features. The stereo, for example, is a six-speaker 200-watt Fusion system. Grab rails are stainless-steel instead of the more commonly seen plastic. And hatches are RTM (resin transfer molding), which creates lighter, stronger pieces that are fully finished on both sides.
If the past couple of years are any indication, weāre going to see more and more of these outboard powered bowriders hitting the water. No doubt, manufacturers like Regal will find new and inventive ways to take advantage of hanging eggbeaters on the transom instead of shoe-horning iron horses into the stern. And if youāre in the market for a new bowrider, youāll want to pay close attention to these boatsādonāt let one like the 29 OBX escape your attention.
Other Choices: The sterndrive-powered Sea Ray 280 SLXĀ will be a natural competitor, as will the Crownline 285SS.Ā If those outboard seem too attractive to pass up you may also want to look at dual console boatsĀ like the Edgewater 280CX,Ā which in truth are extremely similar to bowriders.
For more information, visit Regal.
See Regal 29 OBX listings.
Specifications | |
---|---|
Length | 29'1" |
Beam | 9'0" |
Draft | 1'7" |
Deadrise | 19 degrees |
Displacement | 6,550 lbs |
Fuel capacity | 148 gal. |
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