regal LS4 SURF

Launched in late 2018, this 24-foot Regal Boat combines the speed, agility and practicality of a sport boat with the sort of wave-generating powers that will impress both experienced wax heads and novice surfers alike. Larger than its entry-level sister vessel the LS2 Surf with a more compact hull-form than its other sibling, the LS9 Surf, the LS4 Surf is big enough to host a family and friends, but small enough to be trailered overland for access to lakes and rivers. It possesses the sort of good looks that have become Regal’s signature style over the years, boasting clam-shell curves, a bespoke paintjob, an open-air aspect and a finish that ably straddles the divide between sporty and stylish. But most of all, it promises next-level surfing and tow-sports thanks to a second-generation surf system.

Instead of travelling a thousand miles in search of the perfect breaker, you can take the waves with you wherever you go thanks to the proprietary FasTrac hull form, which does its bit to deliver sheer speed while the forward-drive engine promotes natural wave-shaping and keeps the motor safely away from those enjoying the surf, redirecting exhaust away from the stern. This is joined by an additional 2,000 pounds of ballast for a hefty imprint on the surface of the water, shaping the sea as smoothly and cleanly as a sculptor’s knife as it moves through soft clay. The Regal 2.0 Surf System, meanwhile, combines wake-shaping tabs linked to a Water Sport Control system at the helm for inch-perfect control over wave size, shape and directionality. Send the surf this way or that, increase the size of those barrel rolls, and test the agility, stamina and flair of wakeboarders, wake-surfers and water-skiers who have attached a line to the boat’s pop-up tow pylon or Power Tower. If you fancy a spot of moonlit surfing after the sun goes down, then switch on the underwater blue LED lighting to stern for an atmospheric ride, and pump out the tunes through the boat’s integrated Fusion speakers to set the perfect soundtrack to your pursuits. After you’ve conquered the waves you will reboard the vessel via a Seadek-lined swim platform to aft that will also be used by those who wish to enjoy swimming adventures or even snorkeling.

Any activity-based boat like the LS4 Surf is only as good as its storage. Thankfully, there’s hidden compartments under just about every seat on this boat, with gas-assisted Resin Transfer Molded hatches, an in-sole ski locker, an ice-box and helm storage also on offer to keep your gear, scuba equipment, lines and boards safe, secure and within easy reach. What’s more, you can even keep your wakeboards in the wake-racks attached to the fold-down Power Tower for a grab-and-go experience.

If there’s an argument to be made that the surfing world prefers the austere, stripped back and ramshackle, then Regal have never heard it. This boat is utterly opulent from bow to stern, with the sort of tantalizing, laid-back approach to comfort that will leave you melting into your surroundings. After a heady day riding the waves you will settle down for the evening in the company of friends and family, enjoying the comfort and luxury of this boat’s seating lounges. Up front there is a bow-lounge accessed via a walk-through pane in the windscreen, where wrap-around diamond-stitched seating with backrests can be used as a pair of chaise-longues, as a convivial V-shaped lounge with a pop-up cocktail table, or, if you insert a filler cushion, as a casbah-style daybed. Head back into the spacious cockpit, lined in non-slip Seagrass, and discover adaptable edge-to-edge seating for up to half a dozen guests, with backrests that flip back and forth depending on how you want to configure this space. Two side sofas, rumble seats to aft and a pair of extra wide helm chairs can all be utilized in a number of ways, while an optional teak-lined cockpit table, cup-holders and integrated speakers are on hand to keep the drinks and tunes flowing. To stern, meanwhile, are a pair of daybeds with views out across the transom, where you can lie back, sip on cocktails, and watch your more active guests enjoy the surf.

Ulysses took a decade to get back home to Ithica. Of course, he didn’t have two next-generation Volvo Penta monitors for convenient navigation and instrumentation at the touch of your fingertips. Nor did anyone in the ancient world experience a hand-wrapped, power-assisted steering wheel, hi-tech and responsive digital throttles, a panel of accessory switches or a backlit dashboard that makes night piloting easy and intuitive. Nor is this boat a mere thing of myth but a solid piece of nautical engineering; crafted, precision-engineered and hand-finished by a crack team of the industry’s finest artisans at the Regal facility in Orlando, Florida. The reinforced fiberglass hull boasts a 21-degree transom deadrise and a draft of just 33-inches with the drives up, making it perfect for coasting through both the open waters of the sea and those shallower bodies of water to found inland.

The single 350HP Volvo Penta V8 FWD Catalyst engine delivers top speeds in excess of 47 knots, making this one of the swiftest vessels in its class, while at a cruising speed of approximately 19 knots you will be able to ride this beauty for around 159 nautical miles before requiring a fuel top-up. Looking for swift acceleration from a standing start? This boat reaches planing speeds in as little as 3.5 seconds, while a zero to 30mph time of less than 9 seconds makes it the ideal option for avid racers. The sweet spot for wake-surfers, meanwhile, comes in at around 10 knots, delivering the sort of raw power that will test your more athletic guests to their max.