regal LS9

Larger than the entry-level boats in Regal’s current fleet of sterndrive-powered bowriders yet still compact enough to be trailered overland, the LS9 shares some of its same basic features with the popular LX9 and LS9 Surf, the outboard and surfing equivalents of this model. Yet this yacht has an appeal all of its own, combining powerful motors with thoughtful ergonomics and a sleek curving form that works a charm. As many have come to expect from this self-financed, family-owned and vastly respected boat-building firm the finish here is practically out of this world. Stainless steel fixtures, diamond-stitched upholstery, hand-finished surfaces, custom livery choices and a sturdy, durable build-quality meet a composite fiberglass hull reinforced with stringers for an unmistakably luxurious and seaworthy experience. Take a trip down to the Regal factory in Orlando, there’s tours on offer for inquisitive clients, and you will discover that this brand’s magic works less by hocus pocus but is rather the result of hard graft combined with precision engineering, an artisan’s touch and more than a little dash of innovation.

Cast a spell over your most demanding guest by opening up the walk-through panel built into the tempered and curved windscreen to reveal a cozy bow lounge up front. In here there is marine-grade, wraparound seating with padded backrests in sophisticated colors like Hitch, River Rock or cool Titanium, with space for up to five guests to enjoy a convivial experience around a pop-up pulpit table lined in waterproofed teak. A set of JL audio speakers up here are on hand to set the vibes to your liking, while integrated cup-holders keep your refreshments secure and always within easy reach. Up to ten guests, meanwhile, can luxuriate for hours in sheer comfort in the cockpit, where edge-to-edge seating can be utilized in a number of different formats thanks to adjustable backrests. Opt for bench-seating with Comfort Curve backrests, lengthy chaise-longues straight out of a Manhattan penthouse, rumble seats that look forward or pillow-soft daybeds with views out to stern. Need to bring along sports gear with you? Then check underneath the seating to discover ample storage compartments with gas-assisted ramps, with one seat hiding a chiller to keep your refreshments and beers ice-cold even on the warmest summer days. The hard-top will also come in handy at those times, too, providing plenty of seductive shade and an actuating function so that the roof can be lowered as you pass under bridges.

To stern there is a reFLEX-lined power-platform that can be lowered and raised in and out of the water at the touch of a button for an immersive swimming experience and simple reboarding. Switch on the under-water RGBW night-lighting in a range of vibrant tones for enchanting after-dark swims, or turn on the SandbarSubs, an inventive set of hidden subwoofers that emit high-quality, low-frequency audio that remains audible above the rushing of your boat’s wake so that surfers and swimmers can sing along to their favorite tracks. And when you head back on board, freshen up at an inner cabin lined in coastal timber with a chemical toilet, half-moon lighting, a stainless steel sink with a mixer-tap and solid countertops.

A real marvel to ride, you can choose between a variety of muscular engine options to hit top speeds that should register in excess of 40 knots at full-throttle. Pick a 380HP Mercury 8.2 Magnum DTS engine with Bravo 3 drives as standard, or upgrade to one of the Volvo V8 EVC2 Duoprop motors with up to 430 points of raw horsepower for an extra bit of bite as you accelerate out against the tide. Whatever powerful option you choose, you can expect a soft, dry and efficient ride that is well balanced thanks to this yacht’s proprietary hull with a 19-degree transom deadrise, capable of taking on the coastal swells as if it were smoothly gliding down the languid backwaters. A relatively shallow draft of just 40 inches, meanwhile, allows you to park this vessel just a short swim away from isolated sand-bars and pristine beaches on forgotten desert islands, radically expanding the sorts of destinations you can explore.

There is plenty of technical wizardry on offer at the starboard helm, where a robust and intuitively planned helm station includes digital throttles and a hand-wrapped, power-assisted steering wheel for an old-school piloting experience with plenty of up-to-date responsiveness. Add in bow-thruster controls for pinpoint accuracy as you come back into the dock, and the chance to pick between either dual 9-inch Garmin touch-screen monitors or a dual 12-inch Volvo Glass Cockpit with integrated instrumentation. You will discover a companion screen to port, facing the other helm seat so that guests can take charge of navigation, check the weather, monitor boat systems, pick the music and switch on the lights with the merest flick of their fingertip. The helm seats themselves are likely to exert a magnetic pull on captains and guests alike, thanks to their soft cushioning, waterproofed upholstery and backrests that can be shifted back and forth to be used as traditional helm seats facing the dashboard when on the move or turned around to face the sociable cockpit when your boat is idling.