Regal 242 Commodore Used Boat Review

The Commodores were Regal's popular express cruisers, and the 242 Commodore was designed specifically to meet two needs: first, create an entry level boat that has all the features of the larger Commodores and, second, still be easily trailerable. Packed with value, the 242 provides big boat amenities in a 26 foot package.

The Regal 242 Commodore is commonly seen in late 90's vintages.

The cockpit draws heavily on the entertainment-oriented styling of Regal's Ventura line and, with the optional high-low table, there is a wrap-around seating area that converts easily to a sundeck. The rear settee is standard, and it can be quickly removed to open the cockpit for fishing, diving, or deck chairs. A transom door separates the swim step with four-step boarding ladder, and there is a large storage bin in the cockpit side. To port is a refreshment center with a removable 25 qt. Igloo ice chest underneath and an optional sink.

The double-width helm seat tilts upward to provide a leaning post for comfortable standing behind the Teleflex tilt wheel, and a burled instrument panel holds the complement of Faria gauges, rocker switches and waterproof circuit breakers. There's ample room left for electronics to be installed, and a padded elbow rest supports the driver's throttle arm comfortably. Two molded in steps provide good footing to reach the walk-through windshield, and the foredeck has good non-skid in all areas. A rope locker is located at the very bow, and the foredeck is surrounded by a high welded stainless-steel rail.

Stepping below, there's a surprising amount of usable space for such a small boat, starting with full headroom. The galley is a compact module to port, with an Origo one-burner alcohol stove, icebox underneath the counter, and ample bins and lockers for weekend necessities. The head compartment is molded of fiberglass for easy maintenance and, like the rest of the 242, is comfortably sized for real people with a shower and portable toilet, plus ample storage and an opening port.

Forward in the cabin is a U-shaped convertible dinette upholstered in a jazzy print, with a storage tray behind the backrests. But certainly the biggest surprise in this compact cruiser is the mid-cabin tucked under the raised helm area of the cockpit. Easy to enter, there's a full queen-sized berth (6'11 x 5') in a bright compartment with two opening portholes and a storage bin in the headboard. Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised to see owners of the 242 using this as the primary sleeping area, rather than converting the dinette to sleep in the traditional forward cabin area. With a privacy curtain, plenty of light and air, and ample headroom, the mid-cabin was anything but claustrophobic.

Construction on Regals continues to be impressive even in a pocket cruiser like the 242, where it would be easy to let down some of the quality found on the larger Commodores. The electrical system, for example, is completely loomed and secured into place, all of the harnesses use sturdy Mate-N-Lok harness connectors, and Regal even applies a heat-shrink protection to the electrical connectors to assure long and trouble free boating. All fuel hoses are double-clamped, the stainless-steel deck hardware is through-bolted into sturdy backing plates, and the tinted windshield uses tempered safety glass. The hull uses four layers of stitched fiberglass fabric, and the plywood stringers are fully encapsulated for protection.

The standard power was a MerCruiser 4.3LX, but Regal offered a wide range of engine upgrades to MerCruiser and Volvo Penta 5.7 liter V-8s with twin-prop drives. Our test boat had the Volvo 5.0Fi SX engine, and access is convenient through the fully gasketed and gas-assisted engine hatch in the aft floor. Making it easy to perform the basic checks on the engine and systems is a valuable feature, because it encourages you to inspect everything regularly.

I ran the 242 Commodore on Florida's Biscayne Bay and found her to be fast, comfortable and forgiving. With an 18-degree deadrise at the transom, she swept past chop and passing wakes with aplomb, and the power-assisted steering was precise when running a swoopy slalom course along the channel. The wind protection behind the wrap-around windscreen is excellent and, even when standing, the breeze just ruffled what's left of the hair on the top of my head. A Bimini top of Sunbrella canvas is standard, by the way, and you can add a full enclosure package as an option.

With the upgraded Volvo 5.0 engine, we topped out with a half-load of fuel and three people aboard at over 42 MPH, but the best news was that at a lazy 3200 RPM, we were still getting 25-plus MPH but burning just five gallons an hour.

That makes the Regal 242 not just inexpensive to buy, but a real penny-pincher to operate.

Boat Specifications