Regal 38 Express 2012 boat specs
Regal
Regal 38 Express 2012
2012
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Regal 42 Sport Coupe 2013 boat specs
Regal
Regal 42 Sport Coupe 2013
2013
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Regal 38 Express 2012 vs Regal 42 Sport Coupe 2013 — Which Deep Vee Fits Your Needs?

When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Regal 38 Express 2012 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 4,3 additional feet of deck space compared to the Regal 38 Express 2012 at 38,0 feet (2012). At 152 lbs and 205 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.

Bottom line: The Regal 42 Sport Coupe 2013 at 42,3 ft is the right call if deck space, comfort, and entertaining are top of your list. The Regal 38 Express 2012 at 38,0 ft wins on trailering ease, likely lower purchase price, and simpler docking — a solid choice for a buyer who wants more boat for less money.
General Boat Info
MakeRegal
MakeRegal
Model38 Express
Model42 Sport Coupe
Model Year2012
Model Year2013
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam12 ft. 2 in. (3.7 m)
Beam13 ft. (4 m)
Beam - Meters3.71
Beam - Meters3.96
Beam - Inches146
Beam - Inches156
Bridge clearance - Detail12 ft. 2 in. (3.7 m) top of arch light 12 ft. 4 in. (3.7 m)top - closed array
Bridge clearance - Detail12 ft. 4 in. (3.8 m)
Bridge clearance - Meters3.76
Bridge clearance - Meters3.76
Bridge clearance - Inches148
Bridge clearance - Inches148
Deadrise19°
Deadrise18°
Depth - Detail30 in. (0.7 m) cockpit - helm
Depth - Detail38 in. (0.9 m) cockpit - helm
Depth - Centimeters76.2
Depth - Centimeters96.52
Depth - Inches3
Depth - Inches38
Draft [drive up] - Detail22 in. (0.5 m) high trim (I/O)
Draft [drive up] - Detail41 in. (1.04 m)
Draft [drive up] meters0.56
Draft [drive up] meters1.04
Draft [drive up] inches22
Draft [drive up] inches41
Draft [max] - Detail36 in. (0.9 m) drive down 34 in. (0.9 m) V-drive
Draft [max] - Detailnot available
Draft [max] - Meters0.91
Draft [max] - Metersnot available
Draft [max] - Inches36
Draft [max] - Inchesnot available
Weight - Detail15,200 lbs. (6,895 kg) with twin 8.1 l engines
Weight - Detail20,500 lbs. (9,298 kg)
Weight - kg6894.6
Weight - kg9298.64
Weight - lbs.152
Weight - lbs.205
Height - Detail12 ft. 5 in. (3.8 m) arch to keel
Height - Detail12 ft. 10 in. (3.9 m) hard top to keel
Height - Meters3.78
Height - Meters3.91
Height - Inches149
Height - Inches154
Length - Feet38
Length - Feet42.33
Length [over all with swim platform]38 ft. (11.6 m) with ext. platform
Length [over all with swim platform]not available
Length overall - Detailnot available
Length overall - Detail42 ft. 4 in. (12.9 m)
Length overall - Metersnot available
Length overall - Meters12.9
Length overall - Inchesnot available
Length overall - Inches508
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeDeep Vee
Hull typeDeep Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Detail276 gal. (1,045 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail276 gal. (1,044 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters1044.77
Fuel tank capacity - Liters1044.77
Fuel tank capacity - Gal276
Fuel tank capacity - Gal276
Fuel typeGas or Diesel
Fuel typeDiesel
Drive typeI/O - Twin
Drive typeInboard - Twin
Operational Info
Headroom6 ft. 5 in. (1.95 m) max (salon)
Headroomnot available
Sleeping capacity6
Sleeping capacitynot available
StorageCabin: 75 cu. ft. (2.1 m³) Cockpit: 83 cu. ft. (2.3 m³)
Storagenot available
Water capacityI/O: 67 gal. (253 l) I/B: 61 gal. (230 l)
Water capacity70 gal. (264 l)
Maximum peopleYacht certified
Maximum peopleYacht certified
Holding tank capacity - Detail30 gal. (114 l)
Holding tank capacity - Detail40 gal. (151 l)
Holding tank capacity - Liters113.56
Holding tank capacity - Liters151.42
Holding tank capacity - Gal3
Holding tank capacity - Gal4

Regal 38 Express 2012 vs Regal 42 Sport Coupe 2013 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Regal 38 Express 2012 or the Regal 42 Sport Coupe 2013?
The Regal 42 Sport Coupe 2013 is the longer of the two at 42,3 feet overall. The Regal 38 Express 2012 comes in at 38,0 feet, making it roughly 4,3 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
Which is easier to trailer — the Regal 38 Express 2012 or the Regal 42 Sport Coupe 2013?
For trailering, the Regal 38 Express 2012 has the edge at 152 lbs dry weight versus 205 lbs for the Regal 42 Sport Coupe 2013. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.
How many passengers can the Regal 42 Sport Coupe 2013 carry?
The Regal 42 Sport Coupe 2013 has an official capacity rating of 12 people. Capacity data wasn't available for the other model in this comparison — verify directly with the dealer.
Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?
The Regal 42 Sport Coupe 2013 measures 156" wide, compared to 146" for the Regal 38 Express 2012. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.
How do the fuel tanks compare on the Regal 38 Express 2012 and Regal 42 Sport Coupe 2013?
Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 276 gallons and 276 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.
Are the Regal 38 Express 2012 and Regal 42 Sport Coupe 2013 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Regal 38 Express 2012 and the Regal 42 Sport Coupe 2013 are built by Regal. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.