Regal 33 XO (2017-)

Brief Summary

By outfitting the Regal 33 XO with twin outboards, the company has freed up a large amount of cockpit space for dayboat entertaining, as well as to provide robust lazarette storage and room for a generator. Outboard power gives her the ability to explore backwaters and out-of-the-way coves, in addition to the obvious advantages of reduced maintenance. By providing a large, wraparound swim platform with long extensions port and starboard of the twin outboards, she also doubles as a watersports platform.

Key Features

• Fusion UD650 marine stereo
• Convertible twin beds to form a King
• Convertible forward berth
• Full-size microwave
• 4.2 cubic foot refrigerator
• 32" LED TV
• Refreshment center
• Slide-away cockpit seating
• Teak cockpit table
• Multi-position sunlounge

Specifications

Length Overall	34' 2'' / 10.41 m
Beam	10' 4" 3.15 m
Dry Weight	11,500 lbs. 5,216 kg
Draft	N/A
Deadrise/Transom	21-deg.
Max Headroom	open
Bridge Clearance	9' 10'' 2.99 m (max)
Fuel Capacity	150 gal. 568 L
Water Capacity	36 gal. 136 L

Engine Options

Tested Engine	Currently no test numbers
Std. Power	2 x 300-hp Yamaha V6 4.2L F300XCA
Opt. Power	Not Available

Captain's Report Learn More
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Mission Statement

The Regal 33 XO is referred to by the manufacturer as a “Dynamic Explorer”, and we think that designation is apt. She is an express cruiser that is outboard-powered, something that is still quite unusual in an express boat. From this propulsion system flows a number of important benefits. She is designed for a couple or a family and has dedicated berths for four, and can sleep 6 in a pinch. She’s full of features for entertaining her owners and guests, for a day excursion, weekend getaway, or a longer cruise.

By eliminating sterndrive engines Regal has freed-up a large amount of cockpit space for dayboat entertaining, as well as to provide robust lazerette storage and room for a generator. Outboard power gives this boat the ability to explore backwaters and out-of-the-way coves, in addition to the obvious advantages of reduced maintenance. By providing a large, wraparound swim platform with long extensions port and starboard of the twin outboards, she also doubles as a watersports platform. This is important for people moving up from bowriders who still want to enjoy towing sports.

Overview

The Regal 33 XO is a versatile design that can be optioned out for a number of purposes. She has many standard features (which we will cover below), and her standard configuration is well-suited for day-boating, entertaining and weekending. With the addition of an optional 7.5 kW gas generator and air conditioner and electric appliances can be added, along with many other options, making her suitable for long cruises and three-season operation with cruising canvas.

Major Features

• C. Raymond Hunt Hull. C. Raymond Hunt & Associates pioneered the deep-V hull design in the early 1960s and has remained as one of the primary naval architectural firms in the boating world over the years. It has designed thousands of hulls and the result is that they can deliver the ride and performance that a builder wants – without taking a flyer on an unknown design. Regal desired that their 33 XO provide a soft, dry ride, with stability, and so Hunt has designed a warped V bottom design with a 21-degree deadrise at the transom. This a totally appropriate compromise among ride, stability and performance.

• Outboard Powered. Typically, a boat this size and with this hull design would have twin sterndrive propulsion. Outboard engines are easier to service and allow for a broader trim range to dial in the most efficient running angle of the hull. Another big benefit is the ability to trim the engines up for maneuvering through shallow water or being able to tilt the lower units out of the water. Since they are on the outside of the hull, not inside it, the room inside is freed up for other purposes.

• King Bed. According to the builder, the Regal 33 XO is the only boat in its class to feature a king sized bed in the mid cabin, which can be made into twins. An optional innerspring mattress is available.




• Large Hull Side Windows. Large windows in the salon, galley, and on both sides of the mid-cabin provide an abundance of natural light.




• Silent Head. The 33 XO comes with a standard silent electric flush head instead of the commonly used, noisy VacuFlush.




• Vacuum-Resin Infusion. The hull of the 33 XO is made with a modern vacuum resin infusion process that allows a 60/40 glass to resin ratio to be achieved in the laminate. This creates a light hull that is strong and is a process that many builders in class do not yet use.




• Radar Arch. A fold-down tower that is electrically-actuated is standard.

Basic Specs

The Regal 33 XO has a LOA of 34’2” (10.41 m), a beam of 10’4” (3.15 m), and a hull deadrise of 21-degrees. The approximate dry hull weight of 11,500 lbs. (5,216 kg).

Features Inspection

Helm Seat. The seating at the helm has double-wide seating for two people. The seat is well-supported and is adjustable bolster for leaning back while standing.

Controls and Dashboard. The layout of the controls are key to comfort at the helm and total control of the vessel. The optional joystick makes for effortless docking maneuvers and greatly assist a novice who may be intimidated by the size of the boat and rule themselves out of being able to operate it. Even veteran boaters will appreciate the joystick, as twin outboards that are close together can be challenging at times.

The boat shown in the pictures here has both the Yamaha Helm Master joystick and a bow thruster. The bow thruster makes docking easy even without the joystick, so prospective owners should consider that option without the joystick.

Multi-Functional Display. Linking the engine gauge functions to the flush-mounted MFD keeps the captain from having to glance down at the Yamaha gauge display mounted low and to the port side of the steering wheel.

Regal offers an array of GPS systems from Garmin as options at purchase, including an autopilot, fish finder and Radar.

The Cockpit

The majority of time aboard will be spent above deck and entertaining is the focus of this layout. Plush seating includes lounges that convert to sun pads, reversible seat backs, a booth style settee, a cocktail table and outside entertainment center with refrigerator and optional grill. Below the seating is dedicated storage and a massive lazarette, accessed via the stern lounge that tilts up on an electric actuator with the push of a button.

The Swim Platform

The wrap around integral swim platform is one of the most important features of the 33 XO. Note that there is a wide platform connecting the two “wings” that wrap around the engines.

Swim Platform Solution. One of the strong attractions of sterndrive-powered boats over the years has been their wide swim platforms. They are perfectly suited for launching watersports of all kinds. For decades the few outboard-powered boats in the market had tiny swim platforms which did not lend themselves to launching watersports.

But a few years ago some builders began enlarging the platforms. In the 33 XO, Regal has done what we think is an admiral job of solving the swim platform “problem” for outboards. First, it created a platform over a one foot wide to connect the two sides of the boat making it easy to go from one side to the other without having to step in the outboard well.

Second, the port and starboard platforms were extended aft, past the legs of the outboard engines, thus creating almost as much “launching” platform edge as we might find on a sterndrive boat. And, by placing the re-boarding ladder on the port side, outboard, the ladder is as far away from the props as possible. The port pull-up cleat can even be used as a hand hold for re-boarding.

While there is still not as much working area on the swim platform as we might find on a sterndrive boat, it is significant and definitely workable.

Lower Deck Features

Stairs to the Bow. The lower deck is accessed through a molded fiberglass sliding companionway hatch.. Steps are designed into the face of the hatch that makes it easier to go through the center-opening windshield, up onto the bow. Since the side decks on the 33 XO are minimal, this will be the preferred way of moving forward.

Accommodations. The cabin can sleep six people -- two in the forward berth, two on the converted L-shaped couch, and two in the aft king-sized berth. The port galley features a stainless steel pullout frig, stainless steel sink and microwave, hidden behind the hand-crafted cabinetry.

Salon. The salon banquette seating is large enough for six people and can be converted a bed in a pinch. There is a standard 32’ flat screen TV and fusion stereo with speakers both below and on deck. There is a hatch in the cabin sole to access storage space, ideal for beverages on a long cruise.

The Galley. The galley is by necessity compact. It has a standard alcohol stove, which can be upgraded to electric. The refrigerator has a 1.2 cubic foot capacity. A second, optional refrigerator can be installed on the wet boar on deck. A small microwave oven also comes standard, along with a stainless steel sink and pressure water. There is a standard hot water heater that feeds the sink here and in the head and the shower.

Options to Consider

What makes the Regal 33 XO particularly compelling for someone looking for a relatively inexpensive express cruiser is that she can be upgraded for ever greater levels of functionality. For those who want to pull out all of the stops and build a capable distance-oriented cruiser we can suggest a number of options. They are--

• 7.5 kW Kohler Low Co gas generator




• Air conditioning with reverse-cycle for heat




• Bow thruster




• Electric cooktop




• Convertible salon berth to sleep six




• White PowerTower canvas top




• Electric cockpit wet bar grill




• All-chain anchor windlass




• SeaDek faux teak non-skid covering




• White painted outboards

Observations

Regal has built the 33 XO to open up a whole new realm of possibilities for the owner that is ready to move up in the world. She has a lot of everything -- cockpit space, accommodations room, and swim platform square footage. This is a 33’ boat that can be put to a lot of uses depending on what is needed. Her long list of options means that she can be outfitted much like a far larger express cruiser, if that is what is wanted.

What makes the 33 XO unusual, of course, is her outboard power. At this time, only one set of engines seems to be available -- twin Yamaha 300s. There is certainly a trend away from sterndrive power and this vessel shows what can be done with some new thinking.