Regal 5260 Commodore: Culture Shock

Owners can personalize the Regal 52 to suit their individual tastes. This is as close to a custom-built yacht as you can get in 52 feet. The highly versatile 52 SC will be offered with two cockpit layouts: one with extended seating and the other featuring a garage that can store a dinghy. Four different cabin interiors are available, including two- and three-stateroom versions. The extensive range of options for interior fabrics, countertop materials, cabinetry and flooring are truly custom-build level in their scope and quality. Models will be equipped with a choice of Volvo IPS 600 or Volvo D-9 575-hp V-drive diesel engines.

“The 5260 is a unique blend of performance, styling and customization unmatched by any other builder,” says Duane Kuck, Regal president & CEO. “Not only are we building a unique yacht, but we’re also giving our owners an unparalleled ownership experience by fully involving them in the process.

The beauty of the 52 is that each boat is a reflection of its owner – from colors to flooring to cabinetry to fabrics. The 52 is a custom yacht from a production builder – the ultimate value in boating.” Hard and sharp “edge styling” lines abound outside the 5260, from the stepped transom all the way forward through the cockpit and hardtop glass and tear-drop bow. The European-inspired queues from Italy’s T4 Design firm add to the external flair and are found throughout the wide, entertainment-equipped cockpit with teak flooring. Supple upholstery -- combined with features such as an electric backrest and drop-down flat screen TV from Solé -- make the 5260 cockpit trendy and crowdfriendly. Below, Regal has maximized every square centimeter of space while allowing light to flow freely into staterooms, salon and galley – even the heads. With headroom exceeding 6 feet plus and utilizing a full 15-foot beam, it is a boat that belies its dimensions.

Sound is both prevalent and non-existent. With the standard Yamaha surroundsound stereo or the addition of the Bose 38 Lifestyle system, satellite radio, CD or DVD is enhanced and voluptuous. With tunes on or off, you’ll barely notice the 5260 under power. By combining engine room design and interior sound deadening (such as whisper panel ceilings), the boat is equal parts quiet and elegant. In terms of performance, the 5260 hull was designed specifically to optimize the benefits of Volvo Penta’s revolutionary IPS powerplant. Since IPS propellers are forward of the drive, to grab clean water and improve handling and efficiency, the system prefers a boat with a more forward center of gravity. To maximize the benefits of IPS, Regal along with naval architect Donald Blount, created the optimum performance system, or OPS. The OPS chamber, located at the stern, fills with water at rest to allow for proper static waterline without compromising the inherent center of gravity. Underway, the chamber empties and allows the IPS to do its work. The payoff is immediate. Third-party testing of the 5260 with base twin Volvo IPS 600 engines (with a light load) turns in impressive numbers: over 35 mph top speed, 15 seconds to 30 mph and 380-mile range at cruise with 10 percent reserve. The mpg says consistent from 20 mph to 31 mph, offering a broad cruise range. The magic isn’t limited to the hull, either. Inside the boat, engineers created the lightest and strongest interior ever in a Regal, specifically by looking at every component inside the boat. If Regal could build it or source it lighter, without compromising quality, it did. The result is a boat that at fewer than 35,000 pounds is one of the lightest boats on the market. This significant weight reduction allows the 5260 to really perform at peak levels – the fastest, quickest and most fuel efficient. The third component in the 5260’s design philosophy and its positioning in the marketplace is true Regal mission statement material: customer satisfaction. But instead of focusing soley on typical post-sale experiences, Regal interacts with the consumer pre-sale – by allowing them to actually have a hand in how the boat is designed. Buyers can choose from a multitude of layout options, fabrics, countertops -- you name it.

This customization is only half of the buying experience, as Regal has been offering the 5260 for sale at a pre-production price far below the price of competitors’ similar products. In addition, this philosophy allows Regal to get up close and personal with its customers, hosting and interacting with them to build their dream boat on the Regal campus in Orlando, Florida.

A progressive and forward thinking stance on the styling, design and ownership experience has elevated Regal’s flagship and ushered in a new era of yachting; one which gives an owner the power of choice, the exhilaration of ride and a look like no other. In other words, a dose of culture shock when every other builder wants to give owners off-the-shelf designs.

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Contact Steve at Premier Marine on 0417 253 545 for more details.