When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Regal 2520 FasDeck 2008 and the Regal 3550 Cuddy 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 3550 Cuddy 2012 measures 34,7 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 9,7 additional feet of deck space compared to the Regal 2520 FasDeck 2008 at 25,0 feet (2008). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Regal 2520 FasDeck 2008 tips the scales at 465 lbs — 351 lbs more than the Regal 3550 Cuddy 2012 at 114 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.

The Regal 2520 FasDeck 2008 carries a rated maximum of 375 hp. Engine data for the Regal 3550 Cuddy 2012 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Regal 3550 Cuddy 2012 carries 186 gallons versus 62 gallons in the Regal 2520 FasDeck 2008. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Regal 3550 Cuddy 2012 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Regal 2520 FasDeck 2008 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Regal 3550 Cuddy 2012 could be the deciding factor.