Regal LS4 Review

The Regal LS4 combines innovative seating and a high-performance hull to create a versatile and sporty bowrider with space for the entire family.

Founded in 1969 by Paul and Carol Kuck, Regal Boats has established a well-earned reputation for building high-quality boats that define state-of-the-art craftsmanship and set the standard for incorporating leading-edge innovation. The Orlando-based company continues to lead today with forward-looking designs that blend proven engineering with next-generation versatility. Perhaps no boat in the company’s current lineup exemplifies this better than the Regal LS4.

To borrow a phrase from the company brochure, the LS4 “delivers outstanding performance matched with elevated style” – a true statement, but one that doesn’t even begin to tell this boat’s story.

Regal’s innovative LS4 uses the company’s Edge-to-Edge seating to accommodate up to 13 people in spacious comfort.

Over the past several years the typical seating arrangement in bowriders has migrated toward what’s now known as “hot tub” style, with the seats in both the bow and stern section of the boat arranged around the perimeter, creating a roughly circular pattern that’s reminiscent of the seating in a hot tub. And while Regal offers other models with this arrangement, the LS4 steps out on its own with an innovative new arrangement focused on two rows of back-to-back seats with a central walk-through. Beyond standing out in a crowded market, this innovative arrangement proves highly versatile, whether the boat’s underway or sitting at anchor.

Apart from offering more seating space, the Edge-to-Edge seating design delivers up to 31% more storage space for gear.

With its high sides and generous freeboard that ensures a safe, dry ride, the best way to board the Regal LS4 is via its deep aft swim platform, complete with available SeaDek soft-touch decking. A pair of rear-facing stereo speakers located on the outer transom just above the platform, and a stainless steel grab handle hint that this is a boat meant for enjoying the water, and that means being both on and in it. Aft-facing transom lounge seats provide an ideal spot to dry out after a swim, get set for a turn on the wakeboard or just kick back and keep an eye on the kids while they paddle around. Many bowriders have aft-facing transom seats, but the seat cushion is usually a smallish affair about the size of a milt crate. The LS4, by comparison, has deep seats that really do allow one to lay back and stretch out in comfort. Look closely and you’ll note that there are even two fold-away rumble seats integrated into the design. Now that’s ingenious.

Between these seats, a central pass-through leads into the main cockpit. There we see that the seat backs are double-sided, providing forward-facing seating across the transom. An optional filler cushion with a back rest can be added to plug the walk-through if desired, creating a full-width bench seat.

With twin aft-facing stereo speakers and available SeaDek decking, the low-profile swim platform hints that this boat is all about fun on – and in – the water.

The magic in Regal’s seating arrangement now becomes clear. Up at the dual consoles are extra-wide seats for the driver and co-pilot, and these are also double-sided. Between the two are full-length lounge seats up each side of the boat supported by plush coaming along each gunnel, creating that inner hot tub arrangement that allows passengers to sit facing forward, facing aft, or facing off to the sides with equal comfort. This arrangement provides tremendous versatility and an immense amount of space for a 24-foot boat, with comfy seating for up to 13 people.

Regal calls this completely re-imagined and redesigned cockpit layout Edge-to-Edge seating, and the simple fact is that it provides 11% more seating space and an amazing 31% more storage capacity what you can get in similar-sized models with a more conventional layout.

The passenger console includes a locking glove box for valuables and the control head for the Fusion stereo.

Part of that lies in the fact the Regal LS4 rides on a full eight-foot, six-inch beam that uses Regal’s FasTrac hull design. This hull incorporates a step cut across the full width just aft of the mid-way point, which breaks the suction created by surface tension to give you more control with up to 26% faster speeds and up to 30% better fuel efficiency. It also allows the boat to plane easily with even a full load, and reach top speeds at wide-open throttle of better than 50 mph. That’s impressive performance by any measure.

An available all-glass dash consisting of twin Garmin multi-function displays doesn’t just look great, it makes life much, much easier for the driver.

Not content to rest there, Regal goes one better in giving the LS4 the full luxury treatment with an available all-glass dash. Forget the traditional round gauges, this upgraded helm puts all the information before your eyes with a pair of high-definition Garmin multi-function displays mounted side-by-side. This doesn’t just look cool as can be, it makes the most of the Regal LS4’s modern engineering to put every piece of information possible right at the driver’s fingertips. Instead of chewing up dash space with a row of gauges when only two or three may be needed at any given time, the twin Garmin displays show you what you need to see and nothing more, providing a clean, uncluttered look that is safer in operation and far more intuitive for the driver. It also preserves the boat’s clean lines without requiring the owner to drill holes in the dash to screw a GPS to the top of it. The twin screens keep everything at eye-level without compromising or inhibiting the view out the sporty, wrap-around windshield.

As a bowrider, that’s a walk-through windshield of course, opening to fold flat on the passenger side. The passenger console is simple, neat and elegant with the stereo control head, a pair of stainless steel beverage holders and a locking glove box to keep valuables safely stowed.

Plush upholstery work and thoughtful appointments like fold-down arm rests and neatly integrated grab handles and beverage holders set the LS4 apart.

Step forward into the bow and once again Regal’s innovative seating designs return to the fore. Along each side are forward-facing lounge seats with fold-down arm rests, each with a pair of stainless steel beverage holders and a handy stainless grab handle neatly integrated into the side wall coaming. An aft-facing backrest in the center allows three to share this space in comfort, especially if the owner opts for the removable bow insert cushion. Under the seats, there’s a huge amount of storage space for all sorts of gear and supplies.

With its FasTrac hull design the LS4 can achieve top speeds of over 50 mph. The wake tower with speakers shown is a popular option.

The Regal LS4 comes well equipped right from the drawing board. But as a Regal, buyers will also find a number of enticing options available, including niceties like a retractable wakeboard tower, a removable cockpit table, docking lights, fender clips (a wonderful option that no one should leave off the build sheet) and a variety of stereo upgrades.

Families looking for an elegant, upscale bowrider that can do it all would be hard-pressed to find fault with the innovative Regal LS4. This company has been building high-end boats for a long time, and that heritage of quality truly shines through in the LS4.