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SPOTLIGHT ON

We consider ourselvesfinicky behind the wheel. Butduring our tests of the all-new2200, we sought a third-partyopinion and ushered a coupleof extra-hard-to-please guysto the helm: show skiers fromSeaWorld. Understand, theseperformers are not just showskiers; they’re also showboaters. In the show arenathey’ll run boats side-by-side,

inches apart at wide-openthrottle. They only drive boatswith needle-precision trackingand steering, which meansthey’re married to inboardsand think stern-drives willwalk around on them.

Told the 2200 mightexceed their expectations, theshowmen took it beyond theedge that we ourselves stretchin every test. On-the-dime

180s. Figure eights in atiny square of water.Races through a six-buoy slalom course.When they finally slidup to the dock, the firstfour words from one ofour stand-in testerswere, “That’s a funboat.” Those areuncommon words for a ski-boat devotee to use about a22-foot I/O.

That summary statementconfirmed what we’d alreadynoted. There’s substance in

BY R .J . LEWIS

ow better to test Regal’s new mid-size bowrider

than with some of the pickiest boat drivers on

the water?

H

the FasTrac hull that Regaltouts. It works especially wellunder the 2200 and its beefy3,700 pounds (not includingfuel and passengers). Theheavy hull is a good indicator

Regal 2200 BowriderValue Premium

Cruising High-Performance

Fresh Water Salt Water

Protected Water Open Water

AT A GLANCE

The 2200 Bowrider is built to the

specs that won Regal its third

straight Customer Satisfaction

Index award from the NMMA.

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NOTABLEFEATURES•Optional wakeboard tower collapses

for easy storage

• Stainless-steel tow pylon is solid, trimmed in a diamond-shaped plate

• Faria instrumentation includes depth gauge with alarm

• Storage under bow headrests is deep and secure from water

• All hinges are concealed for a streamlined appearance

CONTACTRegal MarineOrlando, Florida800-US-REGALboatinglife.com/boats/regal2200

of quality — generous use offiberglass in the structure andlayup. In some models we’vetested, that type of weightmakes a boat sluggish. Not sowith the FasTrac hull.

The patented hull incor-porates a funnel-like entranceinto a full-beam step (acarved notch from the strakesinto the centerline). This pullsair under the running surfaceand reduces water friction.We were on plane in less thanthree seconds — quick. Pow-ered with a MerCruiser 350MAG, the 2200 made repeat-ed runs in the mid-50 mphrange.

Another characteristic ofthe FasTrac hull is that widestrakes run the length of thehull. We look at the strakesand the tuned balance in con-struction as the chief reasonsfor the arrow-straight track-ing of the 2200. The length isa strategic compromisebetween the big-water capa-bility of Regal’s 26-footbowrider and the maneuver-ability of their 20-footer wetested in the January BoatBuyers Guide (see it at boatinglife.com/boats/regal2000).

We’d also call the 2200one of the year’s more stylishrunabouts, with sharp angles

along the transom and ahydrodynamic profile. Alongthe transom is a wide and firmmolded-in platform, withnone of the give we’venoticed in a few others. Cock-pit entrance is via starboardwalk-through with one morestandout feature: a flip-up padthat doubles as an adjustablebackrest for the sunpad.

The setup along the tran-som includes a stainless-steelshower. It’s designed specifi-cally to prep for, and finish, awakeboarding session. Yes,it’s considered a water-sportsboat. The showmen agreedabout that, too.B

ILLDOSTER

QUICKSTATSLength Overall: 22’2”

Beam:8’6”

Dry Weight: 3,700 lb.

Seat/Weight Cap.: 10/1,500 lb.

Fuel Cap.: 54 gal.

Max. HP (w/5.7 Volvo Penta GXi): 320

NMMA Certified: Yes

MSRP (test boat): $42,627

TESTDRIVETest Engine: MerCruiser 350 MAG MPI, Bravo III

Test Prop: 28-pitch, stainless

Test Load:People (390 lb.); Fuel (25 gal.)

Top Speed: 53.5 MPH @ 4,650 RPM

Time to Plane: 2.7 sec.

Time to 30 MPH: 6.7 sec.

Min. Plane:17.5 MPH @ 2,100 RPM

MPHRPM

Idle 3.8 66 db

1,000 7.0 68 db

1,500 9.1 75 db

2,000 16.9 78 db

2,500 25.4 83 db

3,000 31.9 83 db

3,500 38.9 85 db

4,000 45.0 86 db

4,500 52.0 91 db

4,650 53.5 91 db

SOUND

LEVEL