When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Regal 2860 Express Cruiser 2009 and the Regal 35 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 35 Sport Coupe 2012 measures 36,8 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 7,4 additional feet of deck space compared to the Regal 2860 Express Cruiser 2009 at 29,4 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Regal 35 Sport Coupe 2012 tips the scales at 129 lbs — 120 lbs less than the Regal 2860 Express Cruiser 2009 at 9 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.