When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Regal 2550 Cuddy 2012 and the Regal 38 Express 2013 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 38 Express 2013 measures 38,0 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 11,8 additional feet of deck space compared to the Regal 2550 Cuddy 2012 at 26,3 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Regal 38 Express 2013 tips the scales at 152 lbs — 147 lbs less than the Regal 2550 Cuddy 2012 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 38 Express 2013 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Regal 2550 Cuddy 2012 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Regal 38 Express 2013 could be the deciding factor.