When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Regulator 29 FS 2011 and the Regulator 29FS 2009 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?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Regulator 29 FS 2011 at 29,0 ft versus Regulator 29FS 2009 at 29,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Regulator 29 FS 2011 tips the scales at 8 016 lbs — 7 947 lbs more than the Regulator 29FS 2009 at 69 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.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 600 hp, the Regulator 29 FS 2011 has a 100-hp advantage over the Regulator 29FS 2009's 500-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 285 gal and 285 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

Both boats are rated for 8 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.