When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Regal 2550 Cuddy 2011 and the Regal 42 Sport Coupe 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 42 Sport Coupe 2012 measures 42,3 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 16,1 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 42 Sport Coupe 2012 tips the scales at 205 lbs — 200 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.

The Regal 2550 Cuddy 2011 is rated for up to 8 people. Passenger data for the Regal 42 Sport Coupe 2012 wasn't available.