The Regulator 23 is fast, durable, smooth-riding, fishable and good-looking, plus it won’t break the bank for serious offshore anglers.
The 23 is now rated for dual outboards, and our tester sped over 48 mph with twin 150s on the bracket. Cruising at 29 mph, it burned less than 13 gallons of fuel per hour, giving this efficient boat a cruising range of 310 miles. It could be the ideal kingfish tournament boat.
Its 24-degree-deadrise hull with sharp stem cleaves the seas and slides through them without shaking up the crew. In our test on the Intracoastal Waterway, we cruised back over doubled-up wakes with ease and never heard a hatch rattle thanks to positive latches and through-bolted hinges.
A full-height wraparound windshield protected the skipper and passenger from spray, and the dual helm seat was plenty wide enough to eliminate crowding and give enough elbow room to handle the controls without bumping the crew. That’s not always the case with center-consoles. The dash itself is ready to accommodate large dual screens or any combo of chart plotter, VHF and stereo. An electronics box on the hardtop adds more versatility to installations.
A long livewell graces the transom, and two hatches give access to either end of it. To starboard, a flip-over transom reveals the swinging tuna door. Regulator pointed the boarding ladder to starboard, keeping swimmers and divers clear of the outboards. With the comfortably bolstered transom seat folded away, there is room in the cockpit to move and fight fish. Passages forward past the helm station are also wide enough to accommodate hot fishing action, thanks in part to the hard-top structure’s attachment to the side of the console instead of the deck.
Forward seat cushions, paired with the coaming bolsters, add loads of seating. There is plenty of rod storage and a rigging station.
The Regulator 23 looks like the killer kingfisher it is. Style points like the high bow to knock down seas, glossy gelcoat and tough yet supple vinyl suggest a boat that should cost much more than this one.
High Points
- Hawsepipes for cleats are usually only available on much more expensive boats.
- Transom bracket maximizes cockpit space while giving the 23 performance like a 27-footer.
- A freshwater shower on the transom is ready for cleanup after bait rigging.
- Raw water under the portside gunwale is ample to help clear the deck.
Price: $114,995
How We Tested
Engine: Twin Yamaha 150s
Drive/Props: Yamaha Reliance 14.25 x 18 3-blade stainless steel
Gear Ratio: 1.86:1
Fuel Load: 80 gal.
Crew Weight: 400 lb.
Regulator Marine Inc. – Edenton, North Carolina; 252-482-3837; regulatormarine.com
