When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Regulator 26 FS 2012 and the Regulator 26FS 2009 are modified 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?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Regulator 26 FS 2012 at 25,8 ft versus Regulator 26FS 2009 at 25,8 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Regulator 26 FS 2012 tips the scales at 6 216 lbs — 6 165 lbs more than the Regulator 26FS 2009 at 51 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.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 500 hp for the Regulator 26 FS 2012 and 500 hp for the Regulator 26FS 2009. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 2 gal and 2 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

Both boats are rated for 7 passengers — a good fit for a family of four or five plus guests. Comfort at capacity is another matter; the longer hull typically means more seat options and better weight distribution.