It’s been more than 30 years since Joan and Owen Maxwell built their first Regulator 26, in the process reinventing the deep-V center-console and introducing what has come to be known as Regulator’s “Legendary Ride.”
Regulator Marine still builds each boat by hand, with a hull comprising four solid pieces—hull, stringer system, liner and deck cap—polybonded, fiberglassed and foam-filled in place to create a single unit with no noise, creaking, soft spots, leaking, cracks or caulk. And all with no wood.
Regulator 28
Regulator has refreshed its classic 28 fishing machine (itself a stretched version of the original Regulator 26) with new standards for 2020: fiberglass T-top with multicolored LED lights and integrated wraparound windshield, and factory-installed Garmin Offshore 28 Premium Package electronics.
They’re on a Lou Codega-designed hull that’s been pleasing offshore anglers since its launch. Its legendary soft ride is proven in the Outer Banks of North Carolina and all along US -coastlines year after year.
For anglers, the heart of the boat is its 28 tackle center, a rigging station with storage and rocket launchers in the dual-seat leaning post. Four stainless-steel rod holders are mounted on the gunwales, and there are options to add more to reach the six that cover the needs of 68 percent of offshore CC survey respondents.
The transom bears a 124-quart fish box and 25-gallon livewell. Up front is an in-deck, illuminated 456-quart fish/storage box; flanking it are two insulated fish-box/dry-storage bins, which are illuminated and 169 quarts each. A center dry-storage compartment offers 256 quarts more space that could be the locked rod storage that one-third of survey respondents say they need.
In total, there’s plenty of storage for safety gear, cruising supplies and water toys—and, of course, bait, tackle and fish.
A tuna door welcomes aboard fishers and big fish. The console features a fiberglass-lined head with electric toilet.
Hard-fishing options include T-top rocket launchers and Taco Grand Slam 390 outrigger bases with 20-foot carbon-fiber telescoping poles; optional forward comfort touches include sun shade and a dual-height pedestal table with sun-bed. (Thirty-six percent of our center-console survey respondents called bow seating important.)
Survey Says: On Target
⋅Performance and cockpit space optimized by engine bracket
⋅Solid ride thanks to four-piece bonded-hull construction
⋅Space for fish and storage exceeds expectations
Owners Say
⋅Great fishing platform, safe ride
⋅Run straight into slop and at a decent speed, and still be comfortable and dry
⋅Soft-riding boat in sporty seas
Brand Says
⋅Built to fish and designed for comfort
⋅Fit, finish and ride that only Regulator can deliver
⋅Big-boat features come standard
More Info: regulatormarine.com
