Regal vs Sea Ray comes down to engine brand and the size class you want, because the two bowrider lineups overlap from about 20 to 38 feet. Every Sea Ray checked uses Mercury power. Regal's outboard bowriders up to 29 feet run Yamaha engines, and its smaller sterndrive bowriders offer a choice of Volvo Penta or Mercury.
| Size class | Regal | Sea Ray |
|---|
| About 20 ft, sterndrive | 2000 ES: 20', 10 people, 40 gal fuel | SPX 190: 19' 7", 10 people, 29 gal fuel |
| About 21 ft, outboard | 21 OBX: 21' 1", 10 people, 40 gal | SPX 190 Outboard: 21' 10", 10 people, 29 gal |
| About 22 ft, sterndrive | LS2: 22' 4", 12 people, 56 gal | SPX 210: 21' 8", 12 people, 37 gal |
| About 23 ft, outboard | LX2: 22' 9", 13 people, 56 gal | SPX 210 Outboard: 23' 11", 12 people, 37 gal |
| About 24 ft, sterndrive | LS4: 24' 5", 13 people, 56 gal | SDX 230: 23' 2", 13 people, 60 gal |
| About 24 ft, outboard | LX4: 24' 4", 13 people, 74 gal | SDX 230 Outboard: 23' 6", 13 people, 60 gal |
| About 26 ft, sterndrive | LS6: 26' 4", Yacht Certified, 74 gal | SLX 260: 25' 9", 15 people, 75 gal |
| About 29 ft, sterndrive | LS9: 29', Yacht Certified, 108 gal | SLX 280: 28' 8", Yacht Certified, 117 gal |
| About 34 ft, outboard | 33 OBX: 34' 1", Yacht Certified, 248 gal | SLX 310 Outboard: 33' 10", Yacht Certified, 158 gal |
| About 37 ft, sterndrive | LS36: 37' 4", Yacht Certified, 209 gal | SLX 350: 36' 0", Yacht Certified, 160 gal |
| About 38 ft, outboard | LX36: 37' 4", Yacht Certified, 295 gal | SLX 360 Outboard: 38' 1", Yacht Certified, 275 gal |
Lengths, person capacities and fuel capacities are the builders' published figures, read from their US websites on 21 October 2026. Where a builder prints "Yacht Certified" instead of a person count, the table does the same. Neither builder's model pages state a model year for these figures.
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Each Regal was paired with the Sea Ray closest to it in length and drive type, so the differences come from the builder rather than the size of the boat. Every figure comes from the builders' own model pages and online boat configurators, read on 21 October 2026, and a second, separate check re-read each one. Nothing here comes from test drives or sea trials, and neither brand is called better overall.
Some figures are not measured the same way, so they are not compared across brands. Sea Ray quotes dry weight with no engine, while Regal's pages do not say whether the engine is included, so weights are left out. Sea Ray's outboard models are also listed as longer than the sterndrive models that share their number: the SPX 190 Outboard is 21' 10" against 19' 7" for the SPX 190. Compare capacity and layout as well as length when you match an outboard pair.
The two lineups pair up closely from 20 to 38 feet, the range compared here, with each builder naming its series by drive type or by size and trim. Regal splits its bowriders into a sterndrive LS family and an outboard LX and OBX family, and some LS and LX boats share a layout. Regal says the LX4 has "the same layout as the LS4." Sea Ray splits its bowriders into three series by size and finish level, sold with sterndrive or outboard power and, on some models, as surf boats.
- Regal sterndrive bowriders: the 2000 ES, LS2, LS4, LS6, LS9, 3300 and LS36, from 20' to 37' 4".
- Regal outboard bowriders: the 21 OBX, LX2, LX4, LX6, LX9, 33 OBX, LX36 and LX43, from 21' 1" to 44' 1".
- Sea Ray SPX: the SPX 190 and SPX 210, each with a sterndrive or outboard version. Sea Ray says SPX boats are "easy to tow and easy to store."
- Sea Ray SDX: the SDX 230, 250, 270 and 290, in sterndrive and outboard versions, plus surf versions of the 230, 250 and 270. Sea Ray describes SDX as "the boat for families."
- Sea Ray SLX: the SLX 260 to SLX 400, Sea Ray's luxury sport boats, in sterndrive and outboard versions, plus the SLX 260 Surf.
Above the sizes paired here, Regal's outboard range runs up to the 44' 1" LX43, and Sea Ray's SLX 400 is 39' 9".
At 20 to 22 feet, the Regals carry more fuel than the Sea Rays of the same capacity. The Regal 2000 ES is 20' long with an 8' 6" beam, a 20-degree deadrise, 40 gallons of fuel and room for 10 people. The Sea Ray SPX 190 is 19' 7" long with an 8' 4" beam, a 19-degree deadrise, 29 gallons of fuel and room for 10.
One size up, the Regal LS2 is 22' 4" long with an 8' 6" beam, a 21-degree deadrise, 56 gallons of fuel and room for 12. The Sea Ray SPX 210 is 21' 8" long with an 8' 6" beam, a 19-degree deadrise, 37 gallons of fuel and room for 12, with a standard 200 hp MerCruiser 4.5L and a 250 hp version available.
In outboards, the Regal 21 OBX is 21' 1" long with 40 gallons of fuel and room for 10. The Sea Ray SPX 190 Outboard is 21' 10" long with 29 gallons of fuel and room for 10, with a standard Mercury 115 Pro XS. The Regal LX2 is 22' 9" long with 56 gallons of fuel and room for 13, against 23' 11", 37 gallons and 12 people for the Sea Ray SPX 210 Outboard.
At about 24 feet, both builders seat 13 people, and fuel capacity depends on the drive. The Regal LS4 is 24' 5" long with an 8' 6" beam, a 22-degree deadrise and 56 gallons of fuel. The Sea Ray SDX 230 is 23' 2" long with an 8' 6" beam, a 21-degree deadrise and 60 gallons of fuel, with a standard 250 hp MerCruiser sterndrive. Sea Ray's configurator also offers a 300 hp MerCruiser 6.2L.
The outboard pair reverses the fuel gap. The Regal LX4 is 24' 4" long with 74 gallons of fuel and a 21-degree deadrise. The Sea Ray SDX 230 Outboard is 23' 6" long with 60 gallons and a 21-degree deadrise, with a standard Mercury 200 FourStroke and a 250 hp Verado available in the configurator.
In the 26-foot class, the LS6 and the SLX 260 carry almost the same fuel, and the Sea Ray prints a person count where the Regal prints Yacht Certified. The Regal LS6 is 26' 4" long with an 8' 6" beam, a 21-degree deadrise and 74 gallons of fuel. The Sea Ray SLX 260 is 25' 9" long with an 8' 6" beam, a 21-degree deadrise, 75 gallons of fuel and room for 15 people, with a standard 350 hp MerCruiser 6.2L.
The outboard Regal LX6 is 26' 3" long with 95 gallons of fuel. Sea Ray's nearest outboards are the SDX 250 Outboard, listed at 27' 11" with 75 gallons, and the SLX 260 Outboard, listed at 28' 7" with 75 gallons and room for 15 people.
At 29 feet, the Regal LS9 has a 9' beam, a 19-degree deadrise and 108 gallons of fuel. The Sea Ray SLX 280 is 28' 8" long with a 9' beam, a 21-degree deadrise and 117 gallons, with a standard 350 hp MerCruiser 6.2L and a 430 hp MerCruiser 8.2 available. The outboard Regal LX9 is also 29' long with a 9' beam and a 19-degree deadrise.
Above 33 feet, the Regals carry more fuel, and the two 37-foot Regals have a flatter hull than the Sea Rays they pair with. The Regal 33 OBX is 34' 1" long with a 10' 4" beam, a 21-degree deadrise and 248 gallons of fuel. The Sea Ray SLX 310 Outboard is 33' 10" long with a 10' 3" beam, a 21-degree deadrise and 158 gallons, with standard twin Mercury 300 Verado outboards and joystick piloting.
The sterndrive Regal LS36 is 37' 4" long with an 11' 7" beam, a 16-degree deadrise and 209 gallons of fuel. The Sea Ray SLX 350 is 36' 0" long with a 10' 6" beam, a 21-degree deadrise and 160 gallons, with twin 300 hp MerCruiser 6.2L sterndrives and joystick piloting listed as standard. In outboards, the Regal LX36 shares the LS36's 37' 4" length, 11' 7" beam and 16-degree deadrise and holds 295 gallons. The Sea Ray SLX 360 Outboard is 38' 1" long with a 10' 10" beam, a 21-degree deadrise and 275 gallons, with triple Mercury 300 Verado V8 outboards.
Engine brand is the clearest difference between the two builders. Every Sea Ray model page and configurator read for this article lists only Mercury outboards or Mercury MerCruiser sterndrives, and Sea Ray's SDX page says the series comes with "your choice of Mercury® sterndrive, outboard or surf propulsion."
Regal's own configurator shows a different mix:
- Outboard bowriders: every engine choice for the 21 OBX, LX2, LX4, LX6 and LX9 is a Yamaha, from a single 150 hp on the 21 OBX and LX2 to twin 250 hp outboards on the LX9.
- Smaller sterndrives: the 2000 ES, LS2, LS4 and LS6 each offer Volvo and Mercury sterndrives. The LS4, for example, comes with a Volvo V8 350 or a Mercury 6.2L 350.
- Larger sterndrives: the LS9 and 3300 list only Volvo engines, up to 430 hp per engine.
A buyer who already uses a Yamaha, Volvo Penta or Mercury service dealer may want to start with the builder that offers that engine. For how the two outboard makers compare on warranty and controls, see Yamaha vs Mercury outboards, and for drive types, inboard vs outboard vs sterndrive.
Both builders sell surf versions of their sterndrive bowriders with forward-facing drives, and Regal's carry more ballast at similar lengths. The Regal LS4 Surf is 24' 5" long with 2,000 pounds of ballast and room for 13 people. Regal says the Regal Surf System "combines wave shaping tabs, 2,000 pounds of ballast, Volvo's Forward Drive, and a touch-screen Water Sports display." The Sea Ray SDX 230 Surf is 23' 2" long with 1,040 pounds of ballast and room for 12, and uses a MerCruiser engine with "a forward-facing Bravo Four S® drive."
One size up, the Regal LS6 Surf is 26' 4" long with 2,000 pounds of ballast. The Sea Ray SDX 250 Surf is 25' 2" long with 1,550 pounds of ballast, room for 14 people and a standard 300 hp MerCruiser 6.2L. Regal also builds the LS2 Surf with 1,800 pounds of ballast and the LS9 Surf with 2,500 pounds. For dedicated inboard wake boats, see the wake boat buying guide.
Both builders state a lifetime hull warranty for many of these bowriders, and Sea Ray also publishes a five-year bow-to-stern warranty. Sea Ray's warranty page says its SURPA5S+ warranty "provides five years of bow-to-stern factory warranty on the boat and its components" on SPX, SDX and SLX sport boats, excluding the SLX 400 and SLX 400 Outboard and limited to boats built in the USA or Mexico, plus a Limited Lifetime Structural Hull / Deck Warranty to the original owner. The same page says Sea Ray's factory warranties "are transferable to subsequent owners free of charge."
Regal's model pages for the 2000 ES, LS2, LS4, LS36, 21 OBX, LX2, LX4, 33 OBX and LX36 say "Regal offers a Limited Lifetime Hull Warranty." Regal's pages read for this article do not state a component warranty term, so ask a Regal dealer for the full warranty document and who it transfers to before you compare the two.
Both builders publish prices in online configurators, but on different bases, so their figures cannot be compared directly. Regal's configurator says its prices are "based on standard MSRP in U.S. dollars and do not include freight, dealer prep, or international cost factors." Sea Ray's configurator gives a total MSRP for model year 2027 that "includes base model and selected options, plus freight and fees, excluding tax, title, dealer prep, and doc fees." Because one includes freight and the other does not, ask dealers for both brands for an out-the-door price on the same equipment.
Start with the size class, drive and engine brand you want, then compare the matching pair.
- Yamaha outboard power: Regal's 21 OBX and LX2 to LX9 use Yamaha engines; every Sea Ray checked here uses Mercury.
- A choice of Volvo Penta or Mercury sterndrive: the Regal 2000 ES, LS2, LS4 and LS6 offer both.
- More fuel at 20 to 22 feet: the Regal 2000 ES, 21 OBX and LS2 carry 40 to 56 gallons, against 29 to 37 gallons on the SPX models.
- More ballast in a surf bowrider: the Regal LS4 Surf and LS6 Surf carry 2,000 pounds, against 1,040 and 1,550 pounds on the Sea Ray SDX 230 Surf and SDX 250 Surf.
- A published five-year component warranty: Sea Ray states one for its SPX, SDX and SLX sport boats, excluding the SLX 400 models.
- Buying used: check the boat's model year against the builder's specifications for that year, and use the used boat inspection checklist before you buy.
Shop Regal, Sea Ray and other bowriders for sale on Searchshop, or compare another pair in Sea Ray vs Chaparral and read the boat buying guide and bowrider vs deck boat.
The Sea Ray SDX 230 is the closest match to the Regal LS4. Both are rated for 13 people and have an 8' 6" beam. The LS4 is 24' 5" long with 56 gallons of fuel and a 22-degree deadrise, and the SDX 230 is 23' 2" long with 60 gallons and a 21-degree deadrise. Regal's LX4, the outboard version of the LS4 layout, pairs with the SDX 230 Outboard.
Regal uses Yamaha outboards on its smaller outboard bowriders and Volvo Penta or Mercury sterndrives on its smaller sterndrive bowriders. Regal's configurator lists only Yamaha engines for the 21 OBX, LX2, LX4, LX6 and LX9. The 2000 ES, LS2, LS4 and LS6 offer Volvo and Mercury sterndrives, while the LS9 and 3300 list only Volvo engines.
Sea Ray does not offer one on the boats covered here: its model pages and configurators list only Mercury engines. That includes Mercury FourStroke, Pro XS and Verado outboards on the outboard models and Mercury MerCruiser sterndrives on the others. A buyer who wants Yamaha outboard power in one of these two brands would look at Regal's 21 OBX and LX models.
- Regal sterndrive bowrider series and outboard bowrider series
- Regal 2000 ES, LS2, LS4, LS6, LS9 and LS36
- Regal 21 OBX, LX2, LX4, LX6, LX9, 33 OBX, LX36 and LX43
- Regal LS2 Surf, LS4 Surf, LS6 Surf and LS9 Surf
- Regal boat configurator (LS4 shown): engine choices and price basis
- Sea Ray SPX series, SDX series and SLX series
- Sea Ray SPX 190, SPX 190 Outboard, SPX 210 and SPX 210 Outboard
- Sea Ray SDX 230, SDX 230 Outboard, SDX 230 Surf, SDX 250 Outboard and SDX 250 Surf
- Sea Ray SLX 260, SLX 260 Outboard, SLX 280, SLX 310 Outboard, SLX 350, SLX 360 Outboard and SLX 400
- Sea Ray boat configurator: engine choices and price basis
- Sea Ray warranty
