Regal 4060 Commodore Express

Elsewhere in this fine journal you will find tests of two quite different 30-something sportscruisers. Nice boats, but beyond the mid-range, seize-the-day league all kinds of possibilities reveal themselves. So it is with the 2007 model 4060 Commodore Express, an all-American sportsyacht rather than a sportscruiser, and a high-volume boat that, given a week of holidays, you could really live on.

Where the sportscruisers depend on single-level decks to maximise their outdoor space, convertible dinettes to create extra accommodation, and handheld showers for freshening up, this sportsyacht, or express, has more permanent arrangements for coastal cruising and kicking back for a week or more aboard. Seize the weekend, at least.

What's more, rather than petrol inboard power and sterndrive legs, the 4060 Commodore has the latest twin Volvo Penta diesel D6 motors with those forward-facing, steerable IPS 400 drives. And the joystick, of course, for fingertip berthing. After a short play, you won't want to go back to throttles.

Below, there are twin staterooms with two heads to ensure relatives or friends have privacy and comfort. Then, when cruising, there's Regal's cockpit-forward seating to appreciate, which allows everyone to sit beside the skipper.

REGAL RECIPE
A family boatbuilder, the 37-year-old Orlando-based Regal recently increased its factory space and created a new half-mile water-testing facility to cater for its bigger sportsyachts. Unsurprisingly, the factory uses CAD, CNC routers and automation on its considerable production line, which has ISO certification.

 Locally, the Regal dealer network has expanded to include Western Australia where, incidentally, another of these 4060 Commodore Express sportsyachts with Volvo Penta IPS 400s was headed. There are already three of the bigger 4460s with IPS on the east coast, with local interest for the new 55-footer already stirring, I'm told.

While not breaking new ground in the styling stakes, the 4060 Commodore teams the latest engines, a social layout, lots of accommodation and an albeit optional hardtop very effectively. Though the lid doesn't run right down to the windscreen – stay tuned for Regal's new fully-enclosed 5260 – it needs only small clear curtains for those dirty-weather days. And most of the boat's seating is under the hardtop, not back in the cockpit.

The hull construction isn't too radical, with a fully glassed-in stringer system, vinylester resin, Coremat layers and stainless steel fasteners to join the one-piece moulded decks and hull. All Regal boats carry a lifetime hull warranty for first owners, with various other impressive warranties included (lifetime on the Faria gauges and three years on the upholstery).

This brings us to the boat's finish. It's a cut above those of many high-volume American production yards. There's a stainless steel-framed windscreen rather than powder-coated alloy, Corian counters with fiddle rails, multi-density foam cushioning covered with plush, French-stitched, stretch-proof vinyl, innerspring mattresses, high-gloss American cherry joinery and cedar-lined hanging lockers, and even a fold-out recliner footrest on the saloon lounge.

Such is the standard inventory that there's little left to choose from on the list of options. The boat comes with generator and air-con, cockpit carpet, portable cooler, Raymarine C80 GPS chartplotter, 50cm flatscreen TV/DVD player, 35cm TVs in both staterooms, central vac, crockery and cutlery, towels, fenders, lines, lifejackets, a first-aid kit, boat hook, deck brush, and more. Thanks to the dealer ticking some boxes, the demo boat also sported the optional Mediterranean blue gelcoat hull, cockpit and sunpad covers, cockpit icemaker, hardtop, iPod adaptor, 220V package, Raymarine ST6001 autopilot and local AC electrical package.

Put it all together and, but for a tender, grub and a change of clothes, you're set for a good time on the 4060 Commodore.

TWO-TIERED COCKPIT
In keeping with all good lifestyle boats, there's an overside boarding platform, portside swim ladder, pop-up cleats for tying off watertoys, hot/cold handheld shower, storage hatch with shorepower and marina jacks, raw-water washdown, and a good grade of diamond-pattern non skid. All deck hatches on the 4060 Commodore lift on gas struts. There's a decent spread of courtesy lights, thick stainless steel hand and bowrails, and an aft stereo remote.

The cockpit is of a two-stage design accessed through a simple spring-loaded door, which doesn't have a separate latch. The upper area, which Regal calls its 'cockpit forward design', is actually the bridgedeck. The aft area is more outdoors, though quite shaded by the rear fold-back awning. Features of the aft cockpit include an L-shaped lounge for five, room for a table, the 36-can portable icebox for refreshments or prawns, under-seat storage accessible from the boarding platform as well as beneath the seat bases, and drinkholders.

Up a step, at the beginning of the bridgedeck, there's a moulded amenities centre to starboard with a Corian counter, stainless steel grabrail and drinkholders, a small sink, U-Line icemaker, a concealed rubbish bin, Kenwood sound system, and 240V power outlets.

The well-supported moulded hardtop sits on huge stainless steel struts, making it strong enough to stand on, and features lots of downlights for entertaining after dark. The seating is a highlight here. Your crew are bound to rush the semi-circular lounge to port, which caters for four.

There's a Corian table, too, and with the infill cushion it makes a daybed in the shade. Considering there are full camper covers, the kids might enjoy it as a summer sleep-out. But if it's sun you want, head to the foredeck, either via the walkaround sidedecks with bow, hand and toe rails, or up the walkthrough dash (without moulded steps) and out the opening windscreen.

The 4060 Commodore comes with a double sunpad forward with an adjustable backrest, drinkholders and great views. The windlass and deckwash are concealed, along with bow fenders, mooring lines and the water filler. All of this helps to create a clean profile for this express, which has four separate outdoor living areas – the boarding platform, aft cockpit, bridgedeck and foredeck.

DRIVING STATION
The helm is an additional focal point, sitting before the windscreen, which has a push-button electric vent panel. The electronics are in keeping with serious coastal cruising boats, running from the Raymarine C80 chartplotter to numerical depthsounder, VHF radio and, best of all, an autopilot for hands-free helming. The Volvo Penta electronic D6 motors come with digital control panels and the fly-by-wire shifts, plus analogue gauges, and the joystick. There was a remote for the spotlight, a huge switch line-up including a fuel-transfer switch for the dual aluminium fuel tanks (in case you fall asleep with the generator running and drain the port tank), plus a chart locker ahead of the navigator.

A switch raises the cockpit sole for engine access. Without sterndrives, there's a good amount of space aft of the 5.5lt D6 diesel straight-six engines, but there isn't too much wasted space. Fuel is carried in aluminium wing tanks, fitted with Racor fuel filters, the generator is aft and, being fully electronic, there's not much for owners to worry about on the maintenance front.

ACCOMMODATION PLAN
Head below and you will realise that this is a different calibre of cruiser with a finish more in keeping with the big European boats than those from high-volume American production-boat yards. The twin staterooms at either end have cabin doors for privacy, but the owner's cabin in the bow uses a sliding door to provide the effect of an open-plan interior when you want it.

Head room is way up there, too. There are opening ports and hatches, and air-con to prevent stuffiness. The head also has an extractor fan. Elsewhere, the high-gloss light cherrywood cabinetry sparkles under the downlights, giving an even greater sense of space in the bright interior.

Immediately to port in the saloon is a big five-person lounge before a high-gloss timber dinette. The lounge has a flip-up, recliner-style footrest and can be used as an impromptu bed. The nearby AC/DC panel has the all-important tank gauges, galvanic isolator, and glass and bottle storage below.

A Z-shaped galley with Corian counters and fiddle rails is to starboard, traced by practical, hard-wearing mock timber Amtico flooring. You get a two-burner cooktop, Tappan microwave oven, coffee maker, crockery and cutlery, garbage bin under the deep sink, and plenty of storage for appliances and provisions in high-gloss cherrywood cabinets. The Novacool fridge off to the side is a feature, being bigger than usual fridge, with a separate vertical freezer.

The AV system includes a 50cm Sharp flatscreen television and DVD player with surround sound and digital receiver. There are separate TV/DVD players and air-con controls in the forward cabin and a third entertainment system in the aft, or what Regal calls the 'mid cabin'.

 In the bow, owners get an accommodating offset double bed, which had a faun-coloured synthetic suede cover on the demo boat, cedar-lined his and hers hanging spaces, sidepockets, drawers, and full head room. Behind the cabin door is the door to the head, thereby creating an ensuite and leaving the aft head as the communal amenity. The forward ensuite has a large, American-sized separate shower stall with a sliding door, air-con and extractor fan, full-length mirror, and Vacuflush loo. The aft arrangement features a WC with Vacuflush loo and handheld shower over a curtained area, but separate sink back in the cabin.

Guests also get twin single beds, but they are seriously comfortable and the aft cabin is of a decent size. You can convert the single beds into a queen-size bed as well. Ventilation and storage are, once again, in abundant supply and there's a separate TV/DVD player to keep the kids occupied.

By the time I returned up top, I'd spent the best part of an hour inside the 4060 Commodore.

FASTRAC HULL
Regal uses what it calls a 'Fastrac' hull, which it claims takes less time to get to planing speed. A constant deadrise shape, the hull carries a sharp 18 degrees of deadrise at the transom. With twin D6 IPS 400s putting out 310hp but reputedly with the power-to-weight and performance of a pair of 400hp donks, the 4060 wasn't going to hang around.

But, with full trim tabs down, I thought there was still some bow lift during the transition to planing speed, whereupon the IPS steering could have made this a snappier boat in the bends. To fix this is probably just a matter of reprogramming the three-setting steering and, to be honest, this boat had barely left the ship. One thing I will report with unrestrained excitement is the amount of mid-range acceleration provided by the IPS 400s. It's kind of like gunning it from a standing start when you push the throttle forward while doing 20kts. The boat slingshots forward.

The hull held plane at 10.86kts and 2100rpm, cruising at 15.9kts and 2500rpm, but was not even working hard at 20.42kts and 2800rpm. At 3000rpm, the boat levelled right out, the motors sounded silky smooth, and delivered a great family cruise of 24.76kts.

 The D6s sounded kind of throaty at 3500rpm, as the boat dashed along at 30.8kts. Top speed was 31.2kts, which isn't lightning fast. But from 16 to 30kts there's a big power band and oodles of at-call thrust.

Pitched in the $650,000-plus market, Regal's 4060 Commodore Express sportsyacht teems athletic performance and conveniences with diesel engine efficiency and a promising cruising range from a 1049lt fuel supply. With the water capacity nearing 300lt, you will be self sufficient for at least a long weekend with a full house aboard before needing a refill.

What I'd give to have those Christmas holiday again…

HIGHS

LOWS