Boattest.com Review
Brief Summary By outfitting the Regal 33 XO with twin outboards, the company has freed up a large amount of cockpit space for dayboat entertaining, as well as to provide robust lazarette storage and room for a generator. Outboard power gives her the ability to explore backwaters and out-of-the-way coves, in addition to the obvious advantages of reduced maintenance. By providing a large, wraparound swim platform with long extensions port and starboard of the twin outboards, she also doubles as a watersports platform. Key Features Fusion UD650 marine stereo Convertible twin beds to form a King Convertible forward berth Full-size microwave 4.2 cubic foot refrigerator 32" LED TV Refreshment center Slide-away cockpit seating Teak cockpit table Multi-position sunlounge Specifications Length Overall 34' 2'' / 10.41 m Beam 10' 4" 3.15 m Dry Weight 11,500 lbs. 5,216 kg Draft N/A Deadrise/Transom 21-deg. Max Headroom open Bridge Clearance 9' 10'' 2.99 m (max) Fuel Capacity 150 gal. 568 L Water Capacity 36 gal. 136 L Engine Options Tested Engine Currently no test numbers Std. Power 2 x 300-hp Yamaha V6 4.2L F300XCA Opt. Power Not Available NMMA Certified The Regal 33 XO has an LOA of 34’2” (10.4 m), a beam of 10’4” (3.2 m), and the hull has a 21-degree deadrise. Mission Statement The Regal 33 XO is referred to by the manufacturer as a “Dynamic Explorer”, and we think that designation is apt. She is an express cruiser that is outboard-powered, something that is still quite unusual in an express boat. From this propulsion system flows a number of important benefits. She is designed for a couple or a family and has dedicated berths for four, and can sleep 6 in a pinch. She’s full of features for entertaining her owners and guests, for a day excursion, weekend getaway, or a longer cruise. By eliminating sterndrive engines Regal has freed-up a large amount of cockpit space for dayboat entertaining, as well as to provide robust lazerette storage and room for a generator. Outboard power gives this boat the ability to explore backwaters and out-of-the-way coves, in addition to the obvious advantages of reduced maintenance. By providing a large, wraparound swim platform with long extensions port and starboard of the twin outboards, she also doubles as a watersports platform. This is important for people moving up from bowriders who still want to enjoy towing sports. The Regal 33 XO can accommodate six comfortably with a large salon, forward and aft berths, plus a head. The Regal 33 XO is a versatile design that can be optioned out for a number of purposes. She has many standard features (which we will cover below), and her standard configuration is well-suited for day-boating, entertaining and weekending. With the addition of an optional 7.5 kW gas generator and air conditioner and electric appliances can be added, along with many other options, making her suitable for long cruises and three-season operation with cruising canvas. If this boat was inboard powered, the captain wouldn’t dream of pulling up to a beach in this manner. Major Features C. Raymond Hunt Hull. C. Raymond Hunt & Associates pioneered the deep-V hull design in the early 1960s and has remained as one of the primary naval architectural firms in the boating world over the years. It has designed thousands of hulls and the result is that they can deliver the ride and performance that a builder wants – without taking a flyer on an unknown design. Regal desired that their 33 XO provide a soft, dry ride, with stability, and so Hunt has designed a warped V bottom design with a 21-degree deadrise at the transom. This a totally appropriate compromise among ride, stability and performance. The optional joystick is part of the Yamaha Helm Master package and we like its location on the armrest just behind the trim tabs and toggle for the bow thruster. We would move the accessory switch panel seen at right elsewhere. Outboard Powered. Typically, a boat this size and with this hull design would have twin sterndrive propulsion. Outboard engines are easier to service and allow for a broader trim range to dial in the most efficient running angle of the hull. Another big benefit is the ability to trim the engines up for maneuvering through shallow water or being able to tilt the lower units out of the water. Since they are on the outside of the hull, not inside it, the room inside is freed up for other purposes. Anchoring stern to the shore is something that an inboard-powered boat could not do. This transom also has a swim platform that extends past the engines with a built-in swim ladder. King Bed. According to the builder, the Regal 33 XO is the only boat in its class to feature a king sized bed in the mid cabin, which can be made into twins. An optional innerspring mattress is available. Large Hull Side Windows. Large windows in the salon, galley, and on both sides of the mid-cabin provide an abundance of natural light. Silent Head. The 33 XO comes with a standard silent electric flush head instead of the commonly used, noisy VacuFlush. Vacuum-Resin Infusion. The hull of the 33 XO is made with a modern vacuum resin infusion process that allows a 60/40 glass to resin ratio to be achieved in the laminate. This creates a light hull that is strong and is a process that many builders in class do not yet use. Radar Arch. A fold-down tower that is electrically-actuated is standard. Basic Specs The Regal 33 XO has a LOA of 34’2” (10.41 m), a beam of 10’4” (3.15 m), and a hull deadrise of 21-degrees. The approximate dry hull weight of 11,500 lbs. (5,216 kg). Long range cruising is possible in this boat as well as using it for a weekend retreat. Regal 33 XO run star A pair of 300-hp Yamaha outboards provides plenty of power for this 11,500-pound hull. Features Inspection Helm Seat. The seating at the helm has double-wide seating for two people. The seat is well-supported and is adjustable bolster for leaning back while standing. The helm of the 33 XO has a captain’s seat with a bolster cushion, which can rotate up, to aid in standing while underway. Note the flip-down support for standing. Vertically-challenged skippers will appreciate this. The 33 XO’s padded dash. We would move the instruments from under the steering wheel to a more easily visible location. Controls and Dashboard. The layout of the controls are key to comfort at the helm and total control of the vessel. The optional joystick makes for effortless docking maneuvers and greatly assist a novice who may be intimidated by the size of the boat and rule themselves out of being able to operate it. Even veteran boaters will appreciate the joystick, as twin outboards that are close together can be challenging at times. The boat shown in the pictures here has both the Yamaha Helm Master joystick and a bow thruster. The bow thruster makes docking easy even without the joystick, so prospective owners should consider that option without the joystick. A) Depth Gauge; B) Stereo; C) VHF; D) Muti-Function Display; E) Autopilot; Yamaha Helm Master; G) Digital Throttle and Shift; H) trim tabs; I) Bow Thruster; J) Joystick. Multi-Functional Display. Linking the engine gauge functions to the flush-mounted MFD keeps the captain from having to glance down at the Yamaha gauge display mounted low and to the port side of the steering wheel. Regal offers an array of GPS systems from Garmin as options at purchase, including an autopilot, fish finder and Radar. The Cockpit The majority of time aboard will be spent above deck and entertaining is the focus of this layout. Plush seating includes lounges that convert to sun pads, reversible seat backs, a booth style settee, a cocktail table and outside entertainment center with refrigerator and optional grill. Below the seating is dedicated storage and a massive lazarette, accessed via the stern lounge that tilts up on an electric actuator with the push of a button. The seating in the cockpit area can be configured to face fore or aft. Note the refreshment center to starboard behind the helm seat. Starting from the transom, there is a stern lounge backrest that can be lowered to make a sun pad. The stern lounge seat back can be pulled up to make a backrest that allows guests to face aft while at anchor. This is a good place for a parent to watch kids swimming or to have cocktails at sundown. It should never be used while underway. Regal 33 XO stern seat With part of the sun pad raised and locked into the forward seating position, this versatile deck furniture now becomes a wide bench seat. Note where the armrest meets the port bulwark. The whole seating console can be moved back nearly 1’ to create more space in the cockpit for a cocktail party. With the aft bench seat moved forward and the side-mounted table inserted, we now have a place for a picnic or cocktails. Everyone will like the aft teak table. Note the side mount location. With the table removed the aft section of the cockpit becomes a conversation pit for five people. There is storage under all of the seats. The lazarette is accessed by a push of a button that raises the whole stern seating console. This image gives a good idea of the room that is available in the lazarette. Note the 7.5 kW Kohler generator on the starboard side. This is what is known as a “Low CO” gas generator, and it is the only one we would recommend for this application. When the aft table is not being used the seat back of the middle seat can be adjusted to face forward. Note the steps at right are molded into the companionway hatch. Regal 33 XO galley To starboard is the wet bar/refreshment center. It has Corian countertop with stainless steel sink and stainless steel refrigerator. Concealed is a flat screen TV and electric grill, both of which are optional. A section of the countertop hinges up to reveal an optional electric grill. A rocker switch raises an optional flat screen TV up from the cockpit refreshment center. A transom door adds a factor of safety, especially when little ones are aboard. On the port side of the stern platform are plugs for shore power, a hose connection for dockside water, and a freshwater shower. The switch panel controls the hatch lift and bilge lighting. The wrap around integral swim platform is one of the most important features of the 33 XO. Note that there is a wide platform connecting the two “wings” that wrap around the engines. Swim Platform Solution. One of the strong attractions of sterndrive-powered boats over the years has been their wide swim platforms. They are perfectly suited for launching watersports of all kinds. For decades the few outboard-powered boats in the market had tiny swim platforms which did not lend themselves to launching watersports. But a few years ago some builders began enlarging the platforms. In the 33 XO, Regal has done what we think is an admiral job of solving the swim platform “problem” for outboards. First, it created a platform over a one foot wide to connect the two sides of the boat making it easy to go from one side to the other without having to step in the outboard well. Second, the port and starboard platforms were extended aft, past the legs of the outboard engines, thus creating almost as much “launching” platform edge as we might find on a sterndrive boat. And, by placing the re-boarding ladder on the port side, outboard, the ladder is as far away from the props as possible. The port pull-up cleat can even be used as a hand hold for re-boarding. While there is still not as much working area on the swim platform as we might find on a sterndrive boat, it is significant and definitely workable. Lower Deck Features Stairs to the Bow. The lower deck is accessed through a molded fiberglass sliding companionway hatch.. Steps are designed into the face of the hatch that makes it easier to go through the center-opening windshield, up onto the bow. Since the side decks on the 33 XO are minimal, this will be the preferred way of moving forward. Accommodations. The cabin can sleep six people -- two in the forward berth, two on the converted L-shaped couch, and two in the aft king-sized berth. The port galley features a stainless steel pullout frig, stainless steel sink and microwave, hidden behind the hand-crafted cabinetry. Salon. The salon banquette seating is large enough for six people and can be converted a bed in a pinch. There is a standard 32’ flat screen TV and fusion stereo with speakers both below and on deck. There is a hatch in the cabin sole to access storage space, ideal for beverages on a long cruise. This L-shaped seating area is cozy and has been successful on other Regal models. Forward is the berth which is not quite long enough -- see below. Ample storage flanks both sides of the berth plus above and below the galley countertop. Note the three opening deck hatches, in the overhead to allow in natural light and fresh air. When it is time for lights out, the two back rests for the settee swing up providing the lower portion of the bed in the bow. In this way, Regal is able to get two large sleeping platforms in the boat – and have a salon that can seat six people. The Galley. The galley is by necessity compact. It has a standard alcohol stove, which can be upgraded to electric. The refrigerator has a 1.2 cubic foot capacity. A second, optional refrigerator can be installed on the wet boar on deck. A small microwave oven also comes standard, along with a stainless steel sink and pressure water. There is a standard hot water heater that feeds the sink here and in the head and the shower. Looking aft is a pair of over-sized twin berths that can zip together to form a king-sized mattress. A flat screen TV is mounted to the aft bulkhead and the ladder leads to the cockpit. Another look at the aft stateroom shows it with the king-sized berth configuration. Regal claims that the wet head in the 33 XO is the largest in its class. It includes a porcelain toilet bowl and is electric flush. The countertop-mounted wash basin is made of porcelain. Options to Consider What makes the Regal 33 XO particularly compelling for someone looking for a relatively inexpensive express cruiser is that she can be upgraded for ever greater levels of functionality. For those who want to pull out all of the stops and build a capable distance-oriented cruiser we can suggest a number of options. They are-- 7.5 kW Kohler Low Co gas generator Air conditioning with reverse-cycle for heat Bow thruster Electric cooktop Convertible salon berth to sleep six White PowerTower canvas top Electric cockpit wet bar grill All-chain anchor windlass SeaDek faux teak non-skid covering White painted outboards The Regal 33 XO may re-define how this category of boats are powered in the future. Observations Regal has built the 33 XO to open up a whole new realm of possibilities for the owner that is ready to move up in the world. She has a lot of everything -- cockpit space, accommodations room, and swim platform square footage. This is a 33’ boat that can be put to a lot of uses depending on what is needed. Her long list of options means that she can be outfitted much like a far larger express cruiser, if that is what is wanted. What makes the 33 XO unusual, of course, is her outboard power. At this time, only one set of engines seems to be available -- twin Yamaha 300s. There is certainly a trend away from sterndrive power and this vessel shows what can be done with some new thinking.
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