I am now boatless (just sold the Chap), and am looking for a runabout in the 22' range. At the moment, I am focusing on the Regal 2200, and would like to hear from current owners. How do you like your 2200? How does it handle choppy or rough water? What is the good, bad, and ugly?

Thanks in advance.

Congrats on the sale, especially these days! I'm no help about 22'ers, but I AM interested myself...

I test drove one last year before we bought baby blue. It ran good for the little bit I drove it. I believe it was a little softer ride than the Four Winns 220 that I drove the same day. I couldn't really push it as it was a customer's new boat and I wasn't going to go out there and be mean to it when it was going to someone else. The dealer had received permission from the customer to take me out before the customer took delivery.

It was the top boat on my list before Baby Blue came along.

Are you looking new or used?

If you are open to both, I would look at the Cobalts as well. Find a 226 a few years old and I don't think you will want anything else in that size range.

Looking for either lightly used, or a dealer leftover/non-current- and at a bargain price.

Just food for thought, but I would add Bryant's new 233 to your short list

I was looking seriously at the 2000 and 2200 before getting a used 2400. My take on the 2200:

Likes: styling (well-appointed without being too flashy or "Cadillac-y"); quality components and construction; ride; performance with the 5.7; good interior space for its size.

Dislikes: didn't care for the plain metallic air intake vents; bow has little droop, which is good for heading into rough waters but not so good for visibility when getting on plane; engine compartment cover angles into the swim platform.

Overall it was my favorite 22' bowrider out there (still is), but that's just me. You may also try the Regal owners forum and see whether some 2200 owners will share what they love/hate about the boat.

We started looking at the 1900, then stepped up to the 2000 then 2200. We've only had our 2200 for about 2 months but so far we are very happy with the way the boat performs and handles. Ours has the 5.0 MPI and I was very happy with the overall performance with the original prop, not so much with the Solas however.

I will say that the transom walk-thru doesn't have any sort of barrier or "step-up" like many other boats do, so if you stop abruptly from cruising speed you get a decent amount of water into the cockpit. That's really my only complaint due to any design aspect of the boat, the others are just options I wish I had, but you can't always get everything with a used boat.

Ours is a 2003 and it had white plastic or fiberglass panels instead of the stainless vent covers, I like this look much better. I'm not sure when they made the switch to stainless.

I would check out the four winns 220H. It has the most seating room out of the 3 bowriders we looked at. They were the Sea Ray 220, Rinker 226, and Four Winns 220. But in the end we ended up with a 23' wakeboarding boat.

When we were looking the Regal 2200 was at the top of the list until we went to the local dealer.

Regal builds a very nice boat.

Threads are always better with pictures. Especially when you don't know the boat, like me. So here it is.

Congrats on selling your cruiser Dock. No personal experience with the 2200, but is one of my favorites in that size and style.

If you are so inclined to like a Four Winns, this guy is ready to unload his 200SS for a decent price. I like orange.

2008 200 SS

I don't have any experience with the 2200, but it's the prettiest boat of its size. I find it stunning in either yellow and white, or navy blue with a yellow boot stripe.

Great input, thanks. Good to know I am not the only one enamored with the 2200.

Scott L - Thanks for suggestion on the new Bryant 233 - darn nice looking boat. In searching for 233 models for sale, most seem to have powered by a 5.0. Is that enough motor? I am thinking a 5.7 would be preferable.

PhatBoyC - Great pic!

Capn - Thanks for the link. Smaller than I was targeting, but it should go like a scalded cat with a 5.7. Any idea why this guy is selling after only 12 hours?


All - I am not loyal/dedicated/committed to any particular brand. I just need to limit the choices to keep the search manageable. So, if you know of any good deals on nice bow riders.....

That particular size happens to be a lot more "target rich" than any other size for bowriders. In addition to Regal, I think Bryant, Chaparral, Crownline, Four Winns, Larson, and Monterey all have nice boats in that range.

Enjoy, nice problem to have!
Kelly

Dock, no idea why he is selling so soon. It's a good price for that boat. Good luck in your search, it's fun boat shopping, isn't it?

I went over the 2200 pretty well when it first came out in that design. Well appointed and nicely finished, IMO. No water time or long term exposure though....
Another boat, while a hair smaller, in that size range would be the Monterrey 214.

I like the Monterey 214 as well. Sleek looking boats -- Montereys always catch my eye on the water. The 214 appears to have less room inside than the 2200, but then it is offered with an ESP that gives it a bit more walking-around room. It also has a step at the transom walk-thru, so presumably it won't get water in the cockpit as TimBob describes.

IMHO Monterey interiors don't measure up to Regal, at least in this size range. 2200 is also the only 22' bowrider with a stainless windshield header, which is a nice touch.

Decisions, decisions

I have crawled around a few Monterey's over the years at boat shows - they seem very well built, with some nice design touches. There are also more of them available that Regal or Bryant.

There is a Bryant dealer who is advertising some left overs, but they all have Alpha drives. I would really like either a Bravo, or a VP.

I have been driving cruisers for the last 10 years, and my next boat, regardless of brand, is going to be fast. Looking to get a 5.7 with a DP/BIII. Perhaps I should take a very close look at the boat that Capn posted - if nothing else, it would be a screamer.

Anyone have a clue what the difference is between the Bryant 233 and 239? They are very close in size, so there must be a major design difference. Anyone?

Dock Holiday, I know of a dealer in MI that has a 2008 Four Winns 220 with the 320 hp GXI for a great price. The last price I had was $39,999 for the boat and trailer. It's red and white and fast.

If you're serious about fast, redial your selection to Advantage, Baja, Caravelle Interceptor, Eliminator, Formula, and Stingray. Spirited but not so serious might include Campion Chase, Crownline, Larson, Monterey, Regal, Reinell, and Yamaha.

slow Kelly

Don't leave out Four Winns. Their 220 is hard to beat....we looked hard at it.

I look at a lot of boats hard, then i look how soft my wallet is.

I think the new Bryant 239 is the old 219, but they add in the swim platform now, not sure though. I really like my Bryant, my next boat will probably be one as well.

"I look at a lot of boats hard, then i look how soft my wallet is."

I thought there were new pills for that ....

I'd think the Regal dealers would be willing to get rid of the current 2000/2200/2400 bow rider models very soon.

There are supposed to be three all new bowrider models from them (2100 as seen by someone on this board, 2300 as described in this month's Trailer Boats Magazine and 2500 as guessed at by others in this forum).

Don

Yes, that may be another incentive to move the boats (if another is needed in this economy). A Regal rep was touting the virtues of the 2100 on the owners forum just this morning. The new models should appear on an updated Regal website some time in September.

Well, over the labor day weekend, I purchased a left over 2008 Regal 2200. Powered by a VP 5.7 Gi, with SX drive. Very pleased so far. She is small for a 22', but the size works well for my current needs.

I am also glad to report that Regal fixed the problem with water flowing into the cockpit from the transom walk-thru that TimBob mentioned. That was a concern!

Congrats on your new boat. She's a beauty boat. Pics of yours?

Here are a few cell phone pics from the day we took her home:

[img]www.boatingabc.com/photos/showfull.php?photo=721[/img]


[img]www.boatingabc.com/photos/watermark.php?file=724&size=1[/img]



The pics aren't displaying for me, so here is a link to my BABC Photo Album

Sharp looking