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hen we have lots of passengers and gear, we like big bowriders. But whenwe carry fewer passengers and want an exciting time behind the wheel, there’snothing like a small bowrider. Small sportboats are light, so they offer excellent

power-to-weight ratios, and they also feature low profiles, which adds to the ex-citement of traveling over the water. By design, they provide spirited acceleration,a thrilling top speed and quick, precise turns. A small boat makes trailering andgarage storage easier, too. In short, these boats rock (in a good way, that is).

One rockin’ 2006 model that delivers this kind of driving experience is Regal’sfresh 1900. A new boat from hull to deck, the 1900 replaces last year’s slightly shorter

1800. (Yes, even small boats are upsizing.) Like its predecessor, the1900 utilizes fiberglass-encapsulated wooden stringers, but this

year’s model also features a liner system — whichmeans it has a fiberglass sole instead of

the former version’s wood floor. Andthe 1900 has removable, snap-in

carpeting, whereas the 1800’scarpet was permanently in-

stalled.This rig’s 19-foot, 9-inch length

and 8-foot, 3-inch beam makes for ahighly responsive and maneuverable boat,

as we discovered during our exclusive test onLake Conway in Orlando, Florida.

DYNAMIC PROFILEAlthough the 1900 is the smallest model in Regal’s 2006 lineup, it re-

ceives much of the same treatment lavished on its big sisters. For exam-ple, the 1900 offers colored gelcoat in the hull sides and boot stripe. Choices

in Regal’s palette are many and include vibrant colors, such as Absolute Blue orthe Sunset Red, which was on the model we tested.

Because of the 1900’s size, the boat’s sleek lines — with an uncomplicated, un-cluttered design — work especially well. The sheerline is fairly straight, with a bit ofdownward slope at both bow and stern that creates a long and stylish profile. Thepointy bow says speed, and a thin deck and swept-back windshield complete an im-age of aggressive performance.

As every performance-boat driver knows, seating is important. A supportivebucket seat helps give the driver a feel for the boat and cradles the back, too. Inthe past few years, we have seen boatbuilders place extra emphasis on more sup-portive and comfortable helm seating on their larger, more expensive models. In the20-foot bowrider class, that’s not always the case. Often, you’ll find back-to-backseating that stretches out to a sun lounge. Or, if bucket seating is used, it doesn’tnecessarily provide very much side support. But the 1900 boasts the same high-quality, supportive seats used in Regal’s new 2565 Window Express cruiser. Thehelm seats feature thick foam, a high back and wraparound support for the hips. So,whether you’re tracking straight in bumpy water or making tight turns, the driverand first mate experience a sense of security. The driver’s chair features a roll-upbolster, as well, which improves visibility in docking situations.

EXCLUSIVE!

Regal’s new, fun-to-drive 1900 energizes your passion for boating

Story and Photos by Zenon L. Bilas

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And to help maxi-mize forward visibility,Regal gave the dash alow profile that pro-vides an unobstructedview during accelera-tion. Part of this can beattributed to the loca-tion of the 1900’s gastank, which is situatedamidships to help bal-ance the hull. Finally,the bow’s downturnedsheerline lets the driv-er and passengers bet-ter see the waterwayahead.

ON THE INSIDEThe new Regal pro-jects an upscale lookthanks to well-stitched,high-quality vinyl up-holstery and the use ofstainless (rather thanp las t i c ) g rabra i l s .Adorned with a con-trasting accent stripe, the sun-pad rises on gas pistons to allowengine access. While the bayopening is fairly large, the1900’s top-loading compart-ment means it’s a long reachdown if you drop something inthe bilge.

Regal’s less-is-more themebecomes apparent as you movearound the 1900. Lateral spacestays wide forward of the helm,which makes for a spaciousbow walkthrough, especially fora 20-footer. At the other end, thetransom walkthrough, whichmeasures 14 inches wide, al-lows easy passage between thecockpit and swimstep. There’sno provision for closing off thewalkway when the boat is un-der way, however — a designchoice that some owners willfind appealing, while others,such as families with smallchildren, might prefer that Regaloffer some kind of gate or cush-ion to close off the area.

Although the 1900 featuresmodest upholstered sections un-der the gunwales, Regal did notdesign this area for stowage —a choice that opens up the cock-pit. Look around, however, andyou’ll find stowage in somenifty places. Besides a 76x27-

inch centerline locker that’s bigenough for skis, wakeboardsand wakeskates, you’ll find a re-movable cooler hidden underthe cockpit’s 5-foot-long benchseat. Regal also includesstowage inside the consolethat’s easily accessed via a side-way-hinged backrest in thebowrider area.

Another reason the cockpitseems roomy is because of thecompact bowrider area. Thissection features fairly verticalbackrests and offers limitedspace for adults to stretch outcomfortably. Young teens willmigrate forward and adults willprobably stay in the cockpit.When it’s time to rock out, thestandard Kenwood CD stereoboasts four impressive speakersthat pipe music throughout theboat — no need to try to crankup the volume through only twospeakers.

For those who enjoy theirtime in the water, a stern toweye is standard, and Regal offersan optional stainless ski pylonthat provides a higher pull forwaterskiers and boarders.

BEHIND THE WHEELOnce behind the wheel, you’llfind the 1900 delivers pure driv-

ing exhilaration. Although basepower consists of a 3.0L VolvoPenta or MerCruiser sterndrivedeveloping 135 hp, our test unitwas rigged with the max-ratedVolvo Penta 4.3L GXi V-6.Pumping out 225 hp, it wasmated to an SX drive. This set-up gives the Regal plenty ofpower.

Swinging a 21-inch-pitch,aluminum three-blade propeller,our boat seemed propped morefor top speed than acceleration.In calm conditions and carryingtwo people and three-quarters ofa tank of fuel, the boat needed8.1 seconds to reach 30 mph —not blazing, but not horrible, ei-ther. In reality, our setup planedquickly, but needed extra sec-onds to surpass the 30 mphmark. If you were looking to in-crease acceleration for towingskiers, a 19- or 20-inch propwould probably make bettersense.

From 30 mph to full throttle,however, acceleration was ex-citing. At full power, we record-ed 54.7 mph, a good turn ofspeed that can be attributed toRegal’s FasTrac hull, a stepped-hull design that decreases thewetted surface area. This im-proves fuel economy, too. Even

● Highly responsive andmaneuverable

● FasTrac hull topped out at 54.7 mph with a4.3L V-6

● No way to close off the transom walkthrough when theboat is under way

● Features the same quality, supportive seat seen in Regal’s new 2565 cruiser

● Compact bow seating limits space for adults to stretch out

● This rig is solidly put together

Test Notes

School of RockSchool of Rock ■ Pushed by a 225-horse Volvo Penta V-6, Regal’s FasTrachull delivered crisp handling and speeds in the mid-50s.

■ The ski lockerhatch features a gas-assist piston, and thecompartment is deepenough forwakeboards withhigh-wrap bindings.Drinks are close athand, thanks to acooler that’srecessed under thestern bench seat.

■ The sunpad is perfect forone, but may be a snug fitfor two people. What theheck, sometimes snug isgood. Check out all thatswimstep real estate.

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Base Price (w/ Volvo Penta 3.0L GL/SX) $20,799

Price as Tested $26,506Length 19’ 9”

Beam 8’ 3”Deadrise at Transom 22 degrees

Weight 2800 lbs.Draft (drive down) 31”

Fuel Capacity 30 gals.Maximum Horsepower 225

NOTABLE STANDARD EQUIPMENTKenwood AM/FM/CD stereo with four speakers;steering wheel stereo remote

NOTABLE OPTIONAL EQUIPMENTDepthfinder; Limited Edition Package that includesmahogany wheel and stainless steel rub rail

Regal Marine, Dept. TBM, 2300 Jetport Drive,Orlando, FL 32809; 800/US-REGAL; regalboats.com

ENGINE AS TESTEDMake Volvo Penta 4.3L

GXi/SXHorsepower 225

Number of Cylinders V-6Displacement 4.3L (262 cid)

Weight 907 lbs.Gear Ratio 1.66

Maximum WOT RPM 4800Propeller 14.3x21” aluminum

3-blade

Volvo Penta, Dept. TBM, 1300 Volvo Penta Drive,Chesapeake, VA 23320; 757/436-5100; volvopenta.com

10

MPG

4.6(Miles)

RANGE

124

GPH

6.5

Optimum Cruising Speed

MPHRPMx 1000

010

2030 40

50

6070

32

1 0

45 6 7

54.7mph

Top Speed

T E S T R E S U L T S

Engine Speed Fuel Range1

(rpm) (mph) (gph) (mpg) (miles)1000 5.2 1.3 4.0 1081500 7.2 2.2 3.3 892000 8.4 3.9 2.2 592500 20.7 4.9 4.2 11330002 29.7 6.5 4.6 1243500 36.8 8.8 4.2 1134000 43.4 10.9 4.0 1084500 50.4 15.1 3.3 894850 (WOT) 54.7 18.4 3.0 811 Based on 90% fuel capacity 2 Optimum cruising speed

ACCELERATION (seconds) 0-30 mph 8.1

SOUND MEASUREMENTS (dBa)Idle at Helm (650 rpm) 68Idle at Transom (650 rpm) 77Cruise at Helm (3000 rpm) 88WOT at Helm (4850 rpm) 98

S P E C I F I C A T I O N S

Regal 1900

at mid-range speeds of 20 to 43mph, the engine was getting 4mpg or better.

Speed is only part of the en-joyment of driving the 1900.Turns in either direction, nomatter how wide or tight, arenot only precise, they also feelsafe. The amidships position ofthe fuel cell is one reason for the1900’s nimble handling, andwith our test unit’s power steer-ing, the wheel was easy to spinin either direction.

CRANK THE TUNESNew for 2006, the wheel hasmore to offer than just excellentperformance. For the first time,Regal is featuring a wirelessstereo remote that’s mounted tothe Dino steering wheel. Youcan adjust the sound level andother controls on the fly with-out taking your hands off thewheel. Although this seems likefluff, it actually increases bothsafety and convenience, and thesystem works well.

We looked for choppy andconfused water to test the1900’s limits, and though condi-tions were fairly benign, we felt

the boat performed well. A lackof hull and deck noise whiletraveling through bumps sug-gests that Regal’s new sportboatis solidly put together. The1900’s steep 22 degrees of tran-som deadrise cuts throughchoppy conditions and keepsthe ride pleasant.

Often, small bowriders don’tget the same attention fromboatbuilders as the company’slarger models, but Regal put allthe elements together in thisnew model: supportive seating,excellent visibility, precisesteering, a smooth ride andthrilling throttle response (atleast with the V-6 upgrade). Itall adds up to an exciting driv-ing experience.

Base price for the 1900 withthe 135 hp Volvo 3.0L stern-drive is $20,799 (without trailer).Equipped with the 4.3L V-6, adepthfinder and Limited EditionPackage that includes a beauti-ful mahogany wheel and stain-less rub rail, our test unit listsfor $26,506 (sans trailer). Forboaters who crave sports coupe-style driving, Regal’s new 1900offers great design and execu-tion in a stylish sportboat that’spriced right.

Rock on!

School of RockSchool of Rock

■ Side-hinged backrests revealbow storage inside each console.Additional space is located to portin the Regal 1900’s top-loadingengine bay.