David Lockwood•5 Jan 2015

REVIEW

Regal 35 Sports Coupe

Name: Regal 35 Sports Coupe
Brand: REGAL

Lunch on deck, a test of the lounges and a quick spin on Sydney Harbour…

Although the baby in the Sports Coupe range, the Regal 35 SC punches above its modest six-tonne (dry) weight. We found the pair of 300hp Volvo Pentas with sterndrives gave snappy performance, but we also discovered there is more to this boat than a point-and-shoot sportscruiser with twin V8s petrol engines.

OVERVIEW

- American made with European interior design

Thinking outside the box, the 35 SC offers a deep level of design, abundant creature comforts and loads of convenience in a very user-friendly cruising package.

It’s an American-made boat, as indeed is Regal to the core, however, the styling owes everything to a European interior design house. And with an open-plan layout and a high volume hull and deck, this is a big 35.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT

- From $56K for a share plus outgoings

With plush seating, great on-deck amenities and accommodation for weekending, plus plenty of signature Regal features, the 35 Sports Coupe was a $449,500 boat at the time of testing.

A new addition the Luxury Boat Syndicates fleet at Rose Bay, the 35 Sports Coupe was also being offered to a group of eight owners for as little as $56,000 over a three-year term, plus $990 in monthly outgoings. This entitled you to 43 days boating on Sydney Harbour per year and unlimited stand-by days.

Either way, carefully chosen options by Luxury Boat Syndicates added to the 35 SC’s function.

The Volvo V8s were upgraded with the OceanX treatment, which includes titanium-ceramic coating for improved corrosion resistance, and sensors with audio and visual alarms to warn of low oil level and/or water intrusion in the drives.

Our test boat was also optioned with a petrol generator for at-anchor autonomy while overnighting, so you can dial-up the supplied air-conditioning and galley cooktop without needing shorepower.

An upgraded windlass and ground tackle gave push-button anchoring and overnighting assurance, while a tender and barbecue were to be fitted to the whopping great extended swim platform.

OPEN-PLAN LAYOUT

- A great sense of space and light from the cockpit to below decks

Besides the open-plan layout, the finishes are what set this sportscruiser apart. The Amtico birch flooring and high-gloss cherrywood cabinetry are cheerier than what you find on introspective American cruisers of yore with dark timbers and no skylights or sunroofs.

Seating includes a fore/aft lounge at the transom that morphs into a sun pad; a chaise lounge under the hardtop for relaxing in any weather; and two more sun lounges with clever flip-up backrests on the foredeck, beyond the walk-through windscreen.

The boat has a lunch dinette and moulded wet bar/amenities centre (with upgraded icemaker) in the cockpit and it’s all shaded by the moulded coupe top. The weather protection and reverse-cycle air conditioning means the 35 SC is a true all season’s boat on our market.

To this end, the clever sleeping plan can accommodate up to six, with a convertible dinette, an aft cabin/rumpus room with nifty (single-handed action) pull-out queen bed, and a double bed in the bow.

Push a button and that double bed in the bow extends electrically in length to a class leading owner’s queen.

Put it all together and the 35 Sports Coupe is something of an open-plan, on-water dormitory below decks. And the bathroom has standing-height fixed shower in case the deck shower doesn’t suffice.

HULL AND ENGINEERING

- OceanTrac hull for performance efficiency

Regal's Express Cruiser and Sports Coupe ranges, measuring from 28-53ft overall, boats the so-called OceanTrac hull designed to give the genuine American sports-cruising experience with twin engines and a smooth ride from a sharp hull with plenty of deadrise.

ON THE WATER

- Joystick control and sporty handling

The optional joystick linked to the twin Volvo V8 petrol engines certainly encourages a hasty departure from the dock.

Once clear of Rose Bay Marina, with the leather-bound wheel in hand, we shot to planing speed, held a mid-20 knot comfortable cruise, and touched almost 40 knots flat strap.

The electronic EVC shifts, clear sight lines, snappy cornering and twin helm seat add to the driving experience.

Top down in sunny weather gives you a sportscruiser experience, while the single-level bridgedeck has a more encapsulated feeling with the lid shut.

VERDICT

- A high-volume weekender with loads of horsepower

The 35 SC is a great all-seasons coupe relevant to the way we go boating in big cities like Sydney. You get ease of handling for day trips, amenities for entertaining, and autonomy and twin engines for weekends away.

History has shown the Regals to be great designs that are ahead of their time and the production pack. That holds true for Boatshare, too, and this Regal offered through syndication offered affordable luxury boating with a walk-on/walk-off arrangement on Sydney Harbour. Lunch extra.

Specifications

Length Overall: 11.23m

Beam: 3.45m

Draft: 0.5m-0.9m

Deadrise: 19 degrees

Approximate Dry Weight: 5851kg

Bridge Clearance: 2.95m

Maximum Capacity Persons: CE 9

Sleeping Capacity: Six

Fuel Capacity: 598 litres

Fresh Water Capacity: 189 litres

Waste Tank Capacity: 114 litres

Engines on test: Twin V8 Volvo Penta 300hp petrol engines

Supplied by:

Luxury Boat Syndicates,

Rose Bay, Sydney Harbour.

See http://luxuryboatsyndicates.com.au.

New Regal boats in NSW see http://www.premiermarine.com.au.

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Regal 35 Sports Coupe

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