Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Regal 20 Sport Bowrider 2012 vs Regal 2565 Express Cruiser 2011: Which Deep-V Boat Fits Your Needs?
Both the Regal 20 Sport Bowrider 2012 and the Regal 2565 Express Cruiser 2011 are deep-V designs, both built in fibreglass, so the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Regal 2565 Express Cruiser 2011 measures 27,5 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 7,3 additional feet of deck space compared to the Regal 20 Sport Bowrider 2012 at 20,2 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Regal 2565 Express Cruiser 2011 tips the scales at 6 200 lbs - 2 700 lbs less than the Regal 20 Sport Bowrider 2012 at 3 500 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Regal 20 Sport Bowrider 2012 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Regal 2565 Express Cruiser 2011 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Regal 20 Sport Bowrider 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Regal 20 Sport Bowrider 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 9 passengers and at 20,2 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Regal 2565 Express Cruiser 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
Model20 Sport Bowrider
Model2565 Express Cruiser
Model Year2012
Model Year2011
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam8 ft. 3 in. (2.5 m)
Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.6 m)
Beam - Meters2.51
Beam - Meters2.59
Beam - Inches99
Beam - Inches102
Bridge clearance - Detail6 ft. 4 in. (1.9 m) top up 4 ft. (1.2 m) top down
Bridge clearance - Detail9 ft. 9 in. (2.9 m) top up 9 ft. 3 in. (2.8 m) top down
Bridge clearance - Meters1.93
Bridge clearance - Meters2.97
Bridge clearance - Inches76
Bridge clearance - Inches117
Deadrise20°
Deadrise18°
Depth - Detail35 in. (0.8 m) cockpit - helm
Depth - Detail29 in. (0.7 m) cockpit - helm
Depth - Centimeters88.9
Depth - Centimeters73.66
Depth - Inches35
Depth - Inches29
Draft [max] - Detail34 in. (0.8 m) drive down
Draft [max] - Detail34 in. (0.9 m) drive down
Draft [max] - Meters0.86
Draft [max] - Meters0.86
Draft [max] - Inches34
Draft [max] - Inches34
Weight - Detail3,500 lbs. (1,587 kg) with 4.3L
Weight - Detail6,200 lbs. (2,812 kg) with 5.0 l engine
Weight - kg1587.57
Weight - kg2812.27
Weight - lbs.3500
Weight - lbs.6200
Height - Detail6 ft. 8 in. (2 m) est. height on trailer - top of w/s 5 ft. 5 in. (1.6 m) w/s to keel
Height - Detail10 ft. 7 in. (3.2 m) est. height on trailer - top of w/s 8 ft. 7 in. (2.6 m) est. height keel to w/s
Height - Meters2.03
Height - Meters3.23
Height - Inches80
Height - Inches127
Length - Feet20.17
Length - Feet27.5
Length overall - Detail20 ft. 2 in. (6.15 m)
Length overall - Detailnot available
Length overall - Meters6.15
Length overall - Metersnot available
Length overall - Inches242
Length overall - Inchesnot available
Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available
Draft [drive up] - Detail17 in. (0.4 m)
Draft [drive up] metersnot available
Draft [drive up] meters0.43
Draft [drive up] inchesnot available
Draft [drive up] inches17
Length [over all with swim platform]not available
Length [over all with swim platform]27 ft. 6 in. (8.4 m) with ext. platform
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeDeep Vee
Hull typeDeep Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Detail42 gal. (158 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail72 gal. (272 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters158.99
Fuel tank capacity - Liters272.55
Fuel tank capacity - Gal42
Fuel tank capacity - Gal72
Drive typeI/O
Drive typeI/O
Operational Info
StorageCockpit: 40 cu. ft. (1.1 m³)
StorageCabin: 36 cu. ft. (1.01 m³) Cockpit: 34 cu. ft.(0.96 m³)
Maximum capacity1,340 lbs.
Maximum capacity2,400 lbs.
Maximum people9
Maximum people8
Headroomnot available
Headroom72 in. (1.8 m) max cabin
Sleeping capacitynot available
Sleeping capacity4 Sleeping Width: 76 in. (1.9 m) max V-berth; 58 in. (1.5 m) max mid-berth Sleeping Depth: 79 in. (2 m) max V-berth; 74 in. (1.8 m) max mid-berth
Water capacitynot available
Water capacity20 gal. (75 l)
Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available
Holding tank capacity - Detail12 gal. (45 l)
Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available
Holding tank capacity - Liters45.42
Holding tank capacity - Galnot available
Holding tank capacity - Gal12