Its long overhangs both fore and aft stretch the boat to its 52-foot length, and she weighs only 34,000 lbs., nevertheless she packs more into her footprint than do most express cruisers her size. The Regal 52 Sport Coupe (formerly called the 5260) has a mid cabin with full standing head room, a roomy salon below with electric lounge seats and Star Trek-like controls, a large bridge deck with a helm seat that is electric, large windshields that allow you to stand at the helm with the sky light closed, and a garage aft for a small dinghy. Those are just a few things that 52 Sport Coupe has.

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The Regal 52 has a base price of $695,000 and is sold out for two years.

The design is Italian following the recent trend in America set by the Lazzara 75 last winter and more recently the Marquis 40SC. But like the Lazzara, there is a strong dose of American practicality in the design which makes the boat not only beautiful to look at but also functional. Unless you are a retro, there is a lot to like in this new boat.

By introducing this 52-footer Regal is making a statement. It is the first company among the independent sportboat and express cruiser boat builders to step into the rarified atmosphere of a 50’+ yacht. Cobalt, Formula, Four Winns, Chaparral, Larson, Cruisers Yachts, Monterey, Doral and several others can now watch as Regal’s baby-boom owners move up to the size boat that they have always wanted -- and, of course, have always needed.

Two-Step Buying

“Our 44’s are selling better than ever,” said VP of sales Duffy Stenger, “as people who want a 52 now -- and can’t get one for two years -- are buying 44’s until their 52 is ready.”



Regal is no stranger to innovation, but the 52 program has the industry watching. By selling factory-direct Regal comes to grips with reality in a number of ways. First of all, people buying 52 foot boats often are gotten into bed by the builder’s sales manager, as these customers demand a lot of TLC. Second, these customers are demanding and want to have a lot of things their way, which means that the dealer must spend half his time relaying questions and answers to and from the buyer and the factory. By going factory-direct Regal is making life a lot more pleasant for all three parties.

Eliminating the Bank’s Vigorish

Third, one of the big expenses in the boat you buy is floor-plan interest the dealer – or the builder – is paying to the bank which fronted the cash to get the boat on the dealer’s showroom floor. That’s a biggie. And since the dealer is bogged down in the minutia of specing out a semi-custom boat with dozens of decorating options and layouts, he will be happy to give up some of his margin, the company says. However, the dealer is still paid a decent fee because he is going to commission the boat, service it, and be responsible for keeping the owner happy. He is also the one who is going to take your used boat in trade. As we said, the industry is watching. But so far it seems to be working.



Granite Instead of Corian

Are you tired of boat builders that think Corian is a big deal? It looks like plastic to us, and goodness knows plastic is the look we’re all trying to banish from the interiors of our boats. Regal lets you have galley and head countertops your way – granite, marble, wood, stainless steel, tile, you name it. Same goes with the wall coverings, floor covering (teak? marble?) and the upholstery. Regal has set up a decoration room just like the big motoryacht builders so that the buyers can fly to Orlando, FL and pick out whatever they want.



If you have heard your wife complain that boats look like they were decorated by fishermen on a budget, and you’re not quite ready for a Hatteras or a Lazzara, then stopping along the way with the Regal 52 might be fun and instructive. Owners can pick out the sconces, the wood paneling, the stains, the push-pulls, the sink fixtures and just about anything else you can find at the Expo. We’re told that women enjoy this sort of thing.

Designed Specifically for Twin IPS600 Diesels

A boat of this size and weight needs diesel power and Regal (along with Tiara) was one of the first companies in the U.S. to have a boat designed specifically for IPS. The last thing you want is an under-powered express cruiser and the 30% + gain in cruising speed and fuel economy over a V-drive makes pod drives a no-brainer. This power option will get you into the respectable 30s (mph) WOT, and solid cruising in the mid to high 20s, where you should be with a boat of this type, anyway.

Designer to Royalty

It is fitting that Regal should choose Donald Blount to design their 52, because Blount is used to working with royalty in a hurry. He designed the King of Spain’s 136’ Fortuna which has recorded speeds of 70 mph with its gas turbine engines. Blount also designed the 220’ gas turbine-powered Destriero which won the Blue Riband (fastest time from NYC to The Lizard, England) in 1992. The boat was owned at the time by His Highness Aga Khan IV, spiritual leader to two million Muslims of the Ismaili Nazaris sect.

Blount lives in Chesapeake, VA (home of Volvo Penta) and has worked closely with the engine maker for nearly 10 years on the development of the IPS system and bottom shapes to take maximum advantage of the pod drives. In a word, he is to the IPS what C. Raymond Hunt was to the deep-V.



Two or Three Staterooms

Most of the early 52s built will be twostaterooms, but if you want a third, Regal has a plan for you, too. That third stateroom will be a bit tight and there are some compromises with it – but Regal believes in thinking outside the box. It could be ideal for a nanny, or kids, or Uncle Harry, or guests who you don’t want to get too comfortable. And if you change your mind, you can always turn it into a walk-in closet.



A Yacht for Serious Cruising

Duane Kuck, president of Regal Marine, is a pilot and a man who likes to do some serious cruising with his family a couple of times a year. Being a pilot, he is conscious of weight and the necessity of using modern materials and building techniques. A lot of work has gone into the 52 to make sure she’s not too heavy. And being a cruising man, he knows what you need to have on a boat of this size to make the experience fun and comfortable. You will not be camping out in this 52.

Aft there is a “garage” for your tender. It's not big but it is adequate and it keeps you from having to have your tender on davits off the stern or mounted on the swim platform one way or another. The Europeans figured this out before the Americans, and they are right.



Basic Specs

The boat is 53’ LOA and just under 45’ LWL, with a 15’4” beam and a draft of 44” heavy. She carries 450 gal. of fuel and 125 gal of water. Deadrise at the transom is 15.5 degrees. We will trust Blount on that one.



Performance Numbers

BoatTEST.com has not yet tested the 52, but Regal has done exhaustive testing and we pass along their numbers. They have tested the boat both light at about 34,400 lbs and heavy, just under 40,000 lbs.

At WOT Regal says the boat will go 37 mph light and 35 mph heavy. At best cruise, the boat goes 27 mph light at 3000 rpm burning 29 gph, for a range of 385 miles with 90% of fuel load. Heavy the boat cruises better at 3200 according to Regal, going almost 30 mph, burning 30 gph, giving the boat a range of 378 miles at 90%.

What’s it Really Cost?

All of this room, performance, granite, and pizzazz cannot sell for the base price of $695k, and it doesn’t. When we asked VP of sales Duffy Stenger what the 52 would cost all up equipped the way it should be, he said “about $850K.” That is still a pretty sharp price in our book. Look around and you’ll see what we mean.