When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Regal 2860 Express Cruiser 2009 and the Regal 42 Sport Coupe 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 42 Sport Coupe 2013 measures 42,3 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 12,9 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 42 Sport Coupe 2013 tips the scales at 205 lbs — 196 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.