Regal 28 Express, a 28 Foot Cabin Cruiser Reviewed

Why the Regal 28 Express still sells in a crowded 28 foot boat market

The Regal 28 Express is the kind of 28 foot boat that used to fill every marina in America: a sterndrive express cruiser with a mid cabin, an enclosed head and a cockpit full of seating, all on an 8-foot 6-inch beam that can still go down the highway. Many builders have moved to outboards or dropped the category; Regal has kept the 28 Express in its range for more than a decade, alongside the outboard 26 XO and 33 XO.

Regal is a family company, founded in 1969 by Paul and Carol Kuck and still run by the second and third generations in Orlando, Florida, according to Yachting. The 28 Express sits in the middle of its express cruiser line between the 26 Express and 32 Express. The earliest factory documents we found for the current boat are a November 2012 performance test and a 2013 owner's manual, so it has been around since about the 2013 model year.

If you have been searching for a Regal 2800 for sale, note that Regal has used similar numbers before; its 2800 was a bowrider and its earlier 28-foot cabin boats included models such as the 2860 Window Express that Power and Motoryacht reviewed in 2006. The 28 Express is the current cabin cruiser of this size.

An UltraLounge with four positions and a cockpit for day guests

Regal designs the cockpit around forward-facing, aft-facing and multi-position seating, with its four-position UltraLounge at the stern. A refreshment center with a deep sink and space for a removable cooler sits behind the helm, and the engine hatch underneath gives access to the single Volvo V8.

At the helm, Regal now fits dual 9-inch Garmin displays and a standard bow thruster, a welcome feature on a single-engine sterndrive boat that otherwise needs a deft hand in a crosswind. The windshield uses a stainless steel header rather than the anodized aluminum common in this class, and an optional electric PowerTower folds down for low bridges.

For a 28 ft cabin cruiser the cockpit is generous rather than vast. It suits six adults for an afternoon, and the walk-through windshield and foredeck give a second spot for sunbathing when anchored.

A queen mid cabin and the class's tallest head

Below, the 28 Express does what buyers of a 28 foot boat with a cabin expect, and a little more. The forward salon has wraparound seating and large hull-side picture windows; filler cushions turn it into a second double. The mid cabin carries a full queen-size berth, which Regal treats as a signature feature.

The head is the standout. Regal claims the largest head in the class with 6 feet of standing headroom, a separate shower head instead of a pull-out sink faucet, and a standard electric silent-flush toilet. The galley has an electric burner, a stainless 4.2 cubic foot refrigerator, a full-size microwave and storage, and two overhead deck vents let in light and air.

For two couples on a weekend this works well, provided one couple does not mind the converted forward salon. A family with two young children will find it close to ideal.

Volvo V8 sterndrives and why they still make sense here

All current 28 Express engine choices are single Volvo Penta gasoline V8 sterndrives with Duoprop counter-rotating propellers: a V8 300, a V8 350 or a V8 380, the latter two with electronic EVC controls. Duoprop drives give strong grip in turns and straight-line tracking, and the engine hatch keeps everything under one cover.

Regal's factory test of a V8 380 with Duoprop, run in November 2012 at an 8,900-pound test weight, recorded a top speed of 35.8 mph at 5,000 rpm. At 4,500 rpm the boat ran 30.7 mph on 15.9 gph for 1.93 mpg, and at 4,000 rpm 24.8 mph on 13.3 gph. It reached 30 mph in 11.4 seconds. Expect somewhat lower figures with the V8 300 and a heavier, more recent boat, since Regal now lists 7,700 pounds dry compared with 7,285 pounds in the 2012 report.

Why choose a sterndrive in 2026? It keeps the swim platform clear and full width, lets the boat sit lower and quieter, and on fresh water the corrosion concerns are modest. On salt water, budget for diligent outdrive maintenance or look at the outboard 26 XO instead.

What it costs to keep a 28 ft cabin cruiser

This is one of the most affordable ways into a boat you can sleep on. Budget roughly $10,000 to $20,000 a year for insurance, a slip or rack, an annual sterndrive service with bellows and impeller replacement at the recommended intervals, bottom paint if kept in the water, winterization in northern climates and fuel for 60 to 100 hours.

At 8 feet 6 inches wide, the boat can be towed without a wide-load permit in most states, though with dry weight of 7,700 pounds before fuel, gear and trailer, you need a heavy-duty truck. Most owners leave it in a slip or on a lift.

Finding a good used Regal 28 Express

Because the boat has been built for more than a decade, used examples range from early 2013 to 2014 hulls to nearly new boats, and pricing tracks year closely. Earlier boats are the value play for freshwater owners; later boats with the V8 380, EVC, Garmin glass and bow thruster suit buyers who want modern conveniences.

Have a Volvo technician inspect the engine and outdrive, and check the history of bellows, gimbal bearing and impeller service. Look closely at the cabin for water stains around the deck vents and windshield, and test the electric head and refrigerator.