When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Regal 20 Sport Bowrider 2012 and the Regal 27 FasDeck 2012 are deep vee designs with fiberglass construction — 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 27 FasDeck 2012 measures 27,3 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 7,1 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 27 FasDeck 2012 tips the scales at 535 lbs — 500 lbs less than the Regal 20 Sport Bowrider 2012 at 35 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 27 FasDeck 2012 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Regal 20 Sport Bowrider 2012 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Regal 27 FasDeck 2012 could be the deciding factor.