When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Regal 2500 Bowrider 2011 and the Regal 2700 ES Bowrider 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?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Regal 2500 Bowrider 2011 at 26,3 ft versus Regal 2700 ES Bowrider 2012 at 28,5 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Regal 2700 ES Bowrider 2012 tips the scales at 605 lbs — 559 lbs less than the Regal 2500 Bowrider 2011 at 46 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 2700 ES Bowrider 2012 is rated for 16 passengers, while the Regal 2500 Bowrider 2011 caps at 13. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Regal 2700 ES Bowrider 2012 could be the deciding factor.