When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Regal 2550 Cuddy 2011 and the Regal 3350 Cuddy 2009 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 3350 Cuddy 2009 measures 34,7 feet overall (2009), giving it roughly 8,4 additional feet of deck space compared to the Regal 2550 Cuddy 2011 at 26,3 feet (2011). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Regal 3350 Cuddy 2009 tips the scales at 114 lbs — 109 lbs less than the Regal 2550 Cuddy 2011 at 5 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 3350 Cuddy 2009 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Regal 2550 Cuddy 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 3350 Cuddy 2009 could be the deciding factor.