Regal 26 XO Review, Single Outboard Specs and Price

The Regal 26 XO is the 26 Express with an outboard

The Regal 26 XO is easiest to understand as a power choice rather than a separate boat. Regal's 26 Express had long been a sterndrive cabin cruiser; for the 2018 model year the Orlando builder offered the same layout with a single Yamaha V6 outboard on the transom and called it the 26 XO. Boating's 2019 test summed it up as a blend of dayboat and weekender, and noted the sterndrive version stayed in the range for buyers who prefer it. Both are still on Regal's configurator in 2026.

Why choose the outboard? Moving the engine outside the hull frees the old sterndrive engine compartment for storage and opens up room in the cockpit and cabin. An outboard also tilts completely clear of the water, which matters for owners on salt water who would otherwise fight corrosion on an outdrive. Boating called out the abundant stowage in the now-empty engine bay as a highlight.

One naming note: shoppers searching for an XO 360 or a 36 XO for sale are usually looking at Regal's larger twin-outboard 36 XO. The 26 XO is the entry point to the same XO family, and it is a much simpler, single-engine boat.

An UltraLounge cockpit built for a crowd of six

Regal's UltraLounge sits next to the port walk-through and divides cockpit seating from swim platform seating with a shared backrest. Flip the backrest and the benches convert to a sun pad roughly 4 feet square, with a deep lazarette underneath. To port, an angled bench backs up to the passenger seat with another flip-over backrest, so guests can face forward underway or aft at anchor. Regal says the face-to-face seating takes five comfortably.

The helm seat is 2 feet 6 inches wide with a flip-up bolster for docking visibility, and a similar bench behind it hides a 36-quart cooler. Regal's integrated foredeck steps are built into the sliding cabin door, and the one-piece 316 stainless bow rail surrounds a non-skid foredeck with an anchor roller and windlass. The wraparound swim platform keeps more than a foot of walkway across the transom despite the outboard, which Boating singled out because many outboard boats split the platform.

Regal's optional PowerTower lowers electrically for low bridges or storage, a useful feature on lakes and rivers with fixed spans.

A mid-cabin queen in a 27-foot hull

Below, the forward salon wraps around a pedestal table that lowers to form a V-berth, and Regal markets the uniquely shaped salon as the largest in class. The mid cabin carries a queen mattress with about 2 feet 6 inches of clearance above it, which is typical for this layout and fine for sleeping but not for sitting up.

The galley has a stainless sink, a microwave and a 4.2 cubic foot refrigerator, with an alcohol and electric stove as an option. The wet head has a fixed shower head, a sink and an electric toilet. Large hull-side windows and a 12-inch overhead hatch keep the cabin bright, and for 2019 Regal switched to lighter cabinetry that makes the space feel larger.

Realistically this is a boat for a couple and two kids, or two adults overnighting while friends join for the day.

Yamaha 300 or 350, according to Regal's own tests

Regal publishes performance reports for both engines, and they make the choice clear. With the Yamaha V6 300, tested in 2017 at 8,180 pounds, the boat reached 44.0 mph at 6,060 rpm. Its best economy on plane was 37.3 mph at 5,000 rpm on 19.6 gph, or 1.90 mpg, and 0 to 30 mph took 10.6 seconds. Boating's own 2019 test with the F300 saw 43.4 mph and a planing time under 8 seconds.

The V6 350 report, from a lighter 7,468-pound test in late 2024, is more impressive: 48.5 mph at 6,000 rpm, and an efficient cruise of 32.6 mph at 4,000 rpm on 12.1 gph, or 2.69 mpg. The bigger engine planes more readily, so at the same speed it is turning fewer rpm and burning less fuel. The two reports were run years apart at different weights, so do not over-read the gap, but the trend favors the 350 for a loaded boat.

With 70 gallons of fuel, the 350's cruise figure suggests a practical range of roughly 150 statute miles with a sensible reserve. For most owners that means two or three weekends between fill-ups.

Trailering, rack storage and running costs

At 8 feet 6 inches of beam, the 26 XO is legal to tow without a wide-load permit in most states, though at roughly 6,700 pounds dry plus engine, fuel and trailer you need a full-size truck. Many owners keep it on a lift or in a rack and tow only to change cruising grounds.

Running costs are among the lowest for a cabin boat this size. Budget roughly $9,000 to $18,000 a year for insurance, storage, an annual Yamaha service, bottom paint if kept in the water, and fuel for 60 to 100 hours. A single outboard keeps maintenance simple, and Yamaha dealers are everywhere.

Regal backs the hull with a limited lifetime warranty and builds with composite stringers and a vinylester barrier coat to resist blistering, both worth confirming on the hull identification and warranty paperwork when buying used.

Shopping for a used 26 XO

Because the boat has been built continuously since 2018, there is a steady supply of used examples, and pricing follows model year and engine closely. Early 2018 and 2019 boats with the F300 are the value buys; later boats with the V6 350, integrated electric steering and the PowerTower fetch more.

Check that the platform walkway, lazarette and cabin door steps are in good shape, and look for signs of heavy sandbar use such as gelcoat scrapes on the forefoot and wear on the platform.