Is this a good deal? Regal 2250

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sj8070

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Hi guys
First time poster and potentially first boat as an owner...
Have been on boats quite a bit through my life and am doing my fair share of reading and research
We are looking for a cuddy/cruiser in the 20-25ft range that can be trailered down to spain, occasionally slept in (very occasionally) and OK for water sports.
Budget £10k-20k

Would massively appreciate a old hands giving their views on this Regal cuddy cabin and what she's worth / what condition people think she's in

Went and viewed her on a stack down in Hamble on the weekend and took a few pics

If buying, would be putting down a c£1k deposit subject to sea trial and marine survey

Positives:
- Easily trailerable
- Big fuel tank (200 litres)
- Quick cruising (30 knots) and top speed estimated (40 knots) supposedly due to Regal's techy air-bubble creating hull
- Reasonable economy according to the broker at c.3mpg
- Hull seems in good condition
- Spare battery

Negatives
- Touch small, particularly the cabin. Probably a real squeeze for 2 people (am 6'2). Admittedly don't plan on using a lot
- Quite shabby and very clearly used
- Inboard engine, would prefer outboard
- Has been kept in the water through the winter generally according to broker. 3 owners

Worries
- As photos show, engine room very mucky and seems damp. Lot of loose connections, rust and DIY wiring
- Locker that housed battery actually had standing (assume rain) water
- Owner had disconnected battery despite their being an isolater, so couldnt test electronics

Asking is £18,500
Thinking about a £14k ish offer
Give us yer thoughts!


Brochure
https://file.io/ZaD440

Images
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Engine looks worse than my 35 year old Scand. Looks like a heap...engine bay wise. Worth a good run before paying anything!
 
Anyone who presents an engineroom in that condition really has not taken care for the boat - has it any service records? At the very least, get a good Volvo engineer to thoroughly check it over. The hull doesn't look too bad - what's the interior like? Personally, I wouldn't touch it, though at the right price (not anywhere near £18k), it could be remedied. I always think you can tell a lot from the state of the engine room, and this one does not tell a good tale.
 
I would agree that the engine bay isn't up to concourse standard, but the rest of the boat looks smart, and if the engine and outdrive actually work well, then a tidy-up could be factored into the price.
It doesn't look as if the filters have been changed recently either, so budget for a full service at a minimum, and find out when it was last serviced.
Pump in pic 3 is not healthy.

.
 
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Friend of mine just purchased a 2005 2250 with KAD32 in MUCH better condition than that for €15k (no trailer)
 
We own a 2250, currently down on the Hamble.

These are excellent little boats for watersports and for general towing to different locations (ours goes on lakes, rivers and the sea throughout the year)

You can see ours and its "life story" here : http://www.sportsboat.org.uk

For watersports you really need a petrol V8, preferably the 350MAG variant to get the best hole shot and the overall performance you desire. The petrol one will leave a diesel one dead in the water.

In answer to your specific asks:

1. Water in the locker - a standard feature and they get dirty quickly.
2. Engine bay, full of engine so difficult to keep clean. Ours is better than shown in your pictures as its petrol and cleaned almost weekly but the bilge is almost impossible to clean properly.
3. Regal hull rides beautifully, a very positive ride for a small boat.

Be aware: They are heavy so you will be towing up towards the UK maximum of 3500kg.

Your offer price looks about right, we think the boat you are looking at has been for sale for a while.

If you are local to the Hamble area you are welcome to look at ours and ask questions without the pressure of a broker nearby (ours is NOT for sale!). PM me and we will arrange to meet.

phoca_thumb_l_sized_regal2250_imgp0694.jpg


b2ap3_large_Regal_2250_IMG_20170408_135106.JPG


b2ap3_large_Regal_2250_IMG_20170408_142752.JPG
 
You dont need to put down any deposit...custom is that you do but if you have doubts just proceed without any.
Dont get too carried away with Regal hull..might add a fraction of top speed but I have also had them skip out a bit on hard turns. Still..usually decent build class....22ft or so is a good size on their sport boat range though 24 is alot better boat unless water sports is your priority. Petrol only..dont go near a heavy diesel.
Good boats but engine and drive is where your liability is not the pretty cockpit and fancy hull.
 
gjgm said:
but engine and drive is where your liability is not the pretty cockpit and fancy hull.
Click to expand...
Spot on gigm
Outboard every time, you said so yourself sj
That boat looks like a money pit, pictures quite often flatter, these don't
You will get more space with a small boat using an outboard
Plus a better power to weight ratio
Modern outboards are much more economical than they used to be
Plus- fuel consumption is not the be all and end all with motorboats
Heck if it was we would all be Sailors
God forbid!
;);):p
 
Just to add - my friend was getting 34knots WOT with full fuel / empty water / 2 people on board (and no luggage)

The water tank / pump / shower has been removed?

The throttle cable looks to be too long. We just replaced my friends one with a Teleflex 33c 16ft and it's a much better fit than the pic.

General servicing is quite easy as the seat & storage compartment forward of the engine comes out and then easy access to front of engine. Very tight on the starboard side, though.
 
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At this size is there any need to consider any boat that has been kept in the water year round when most others on have not?
And those engines, the corrosion you can see can get into areas you cant see, especially the mating surfaces of various components that are suppose to seal but don't because of the corrosion making it difficult to sort leaks.
As someone else noted, I had Volvos that were near 30 years old, they had their issues but did not look anything like your pictures. Personally, if I had been looking at that boat, that sight in the engine bay and learning that it was kept in the water full time would have been the end of that viewing!
 
This looks a very neglected boat, I have seen several of this model in good condition on 4 wheel SBS trailers sold for circa £20k
I have 10 yrs experience of this model this one would have to be very cheap and subject to very thorough inspection and testing.
Keep looking
 
stelican said:
This looks a very neglected boat, I have seen several of this model in good condition on 4 wheel SBS trailers sold for circa £20k
I have 10 yrs experience of this model this one would have to be very cheap and subject to very thorough inspection and testing.
Keep looking
Click to expand...

Were they diesel models?
It is all very well saying 'buy a new outboard powered boat' yet no-one has found one for the guys £15k budget.
 
Many thanks for everyone's responses.

General feedback seems to be:
- Very poor condition of engine, meaning non-deposit survey/sea-trial necessary
-- However owner of similar Regal 2250 (thank you very much for your detailed comments) thinks these bays are particularly hard to keep clean/maintain?
-- But also indicates owner was likely to have been negligent in other areas
- Petrol preferable to diesel for this size/type of boat ... how important is this in terms of drive?
- Winters in the water could have damaged the boat in many more inconspicuous ways
- Engine could be serviced / some parts replaced so given condition of hull/deck/cabin a £13-14k offer might be reasonable?

Appreciate Dennis's suggestion of the Fletcher though it is up in Staffordshire...
We are Guildford based so would need to be within a max 100 miles (ish) to be practical to be viewed

If people could point out the specifics in the photos as to what they're worried about that would be awesome.. perhaps annotated photos!

Just off to see this Sea Ray 240 ... will post some pics hopefully engine bay slightly better nick!
Bit above budget admittedly but hopefully bit of room to get below 20k!
http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/Cruiser/sea-ray-240-sundancer/172271
 
sj8070 said:
Just off to see this Sea Ray 240 ... will post some pics hopefully engine bay slightly better nick!
Bit above budget admittedly but hopefully bit of room to get below 20k!
http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/Cruiser/sea-ray-240-sundancer/172271
Click to expand...

2000 was the year the model changed. We have the later model, also a 2000 so the one in the advert is one of the last of the earlier models.
Main differences are a different cockpit layout, a different stern configuration and a Bravo 3 drive.
Which you prefer is up to you but if you like this one you might want to view a later one in case you prefer it.
Most of the earlier ones had just a toilet in the heads as the sink and shower were an option which became standard in the later model.
They are popular boats and seem to sell as quick as any at the right price so that’s a plus.
A year ago the going purchase price for the later model was seemed to be about £20k with the older version about £16k/£17k.
 
Must admit we really liked the sundancer today
Appeared like a careful owner who had just had a 3k service (though still need to see the docs)
Has been on the river for 2 years (and he hasn't ever opened her up past 1/2 throttle which is interesting/a little bit worrying)
Looks like quite a handful to trailer? Car is a Dodge Nitro which i think has a max towing load of 2.5tonnes

Here are some further photos beyond the listing ones above
https://anonimag.es/image/JT9sDyh
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Would love to hear peoples thoughts
Clearly a bit torn at the moment between cabin cruisers and cuddies
 
The Searay sundancer 240 seems to have a dry weight approaching 2,400 kgs depending on which review you read. Trouble is that a boat is only at its dry weight in the factory. In reality it has fuel, water and all those handy bits you buy at the Chandlery. Our own boat lists as 1900kgs dry weight but I know on a weighbridge it is over 2,200kgs with reasonable fuel and luggage on-board. Combine this with a twin axle trailer at 700kg and our boat is 2,900kgs on the road.

Applying the same to the Searay would make it 2,700kgs loaded and 3,400kgs with trailer. That is about where I would expect a 24ft boat to be, right on the towing limit. So a Dodge Nitro at around 2,300kg towing weight would not legally tow the SeaRay (or the Regal 2250 you looked at earlier).

Even if you had a vehicle that would tow the Sea-ray, at 3,400kg thats a "once per season" tow to relocate it on the coast, not a daily tow and launch weight.

Sorry

Martin
 
Many thanks Martin for this detailed and informative reply

Can you expand on why you think it's once per season ?
(Though this could be feasible as we could find marina space in barce/sitges)
Just because of the sheer bulk?

Also could we not tow without fuel/water/luggage and totally empty?

Cheers
 
sj8070 said:
Many thanks Martin for this detailed and informative reply

Can you expand on why you think it's once per season ?
(Though this could be feasible as we could find marina space in barce/sitges)
Just because of the sheer bulk?

Also could we not tow without fuel/water/luggage and totally empty?

Cheers
Click to expand...

I use a Discovery 2 to tow which can tow 3500 KG and towing something as big as the searay with the Disco would be ok but only occasionally. I think to tow something this big each time would be horrible. The largest I would tow regularly is something like the 19 foot Fletcher I sent the link to.

even if you empty the boat the stuff still needs to be in the car and even empty the Searay would be above what your dodge should pull.

This is a pic of my set up with the 19 foot fletcher which is lighter than the one in the add as I only have the 3.0 ltr engine. I would not wish to tow much bigger than this on a regular basis
 

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