Regulator 24XO Review
For 30 years, stretching back to its founding in 1988, all Regulator boats featured deep-V hulls with 24 degrees of deadrise. And it made sense because the waters off the coast of North Carolina, where they are built, are among America’s most challenging. But the shallow inshore fishing spots there among the marsh-lined sounds and creeks are also fantastic places to fish…if you can get there. Then, looking to expand its offerings to include popular crossover/hybrid models that can run shallow but are large and stout enough for more clement days offshore, Regulator had naval architect Lou Codega design the 26XO before adding the Regulator 24XO to the lineup.
With its 17 degrees of deadrise, the 24XO can float in 16 inches of water and can run shallow to reach inshore hotspots. Add the optional jackplate ($4,595) and its skinny-water prowess is further enhanced.
At a Glance: Regulator 24XO
REGULATOR 24XO
- Can float in 16 inches of water
- Abundant fish box and livewell capacity
- Standard Seakeeper Ride system
- No pumpout head option
- Small stern fishing cockpit
- 19-inch freeboard low for some buyers
- Owners primarily into fishing but who dabble in other activities
- Anglers who like to take the boat on road trips
- Anyone who wants to run skinny in a heftier boat
Specifications
- LOA: 24 feet, 4 inches
- Beam: 8 feet, 5 inches
- Dry weight w/engine: 5,250 pounds
- Deadrise: 17 degrees
- Fuel capacity: 86 gallons
- Maximum horsepower: 350
- Base price: $186,395
Power and Performance
- Engine: Yamaha F350
- Cylinders: V6
- Displacement: 4.3L
- Dry weight: 629 pounds
- Top speed: 56.5 mph
- Best cruise: 30.2 mph @ 3500 rpm 10.3 gph = 2.93 mpg
- Time to plane: 4.3 seconds
- Time to 30 mph: 8.8 seconds
Features We Love
- Seakeeper Ride
- Large bow casting platform
- Full glass windshield
- Carolina bow flare
- Optional Garmin Force Kraken 36-volt trolling motor
- Choice of 13 hull colors
- Optional 10-foot Power Poles
- Six aft gunwale rod holders
- Twin 190-quart storage/fish boxes under bow benches
- 186-quart in-deck fish box
- Doublewide console jump seat with cooler
- 25.5-gallon stern livewell
- Optional second 25.5-gallon livewell
- Yamaha Digital Electric Steering
Design and Construction
Before he designed the 26, Regulator’s first boat, Codega looked at what was working well in the area. It’s a method he still applies to the XO series, which also includes the 30XO. Unlike some boats in this class, the Regulator 24XO continues the builder’s tradition of the proud bow that delivers extra freeboard up front to help deal with bigger seas in rough conditions. Its pronounced Carolina flare knocks down spray to keep riders dry and adds to its offshore abilities.
Owen Maxwell (vice president) and his wife, Joan, (president) co-founded Regulator. Owen is the head of engineering and was one of the first proponents of using a one-piece fiberglass stringer grid, which in Regulator-speak is called grillage. Using an all-fiberglass construction, the backbone of the 24XO is glassed onto the hull before the liner is affixed, which is one reason it can take a pounding like its pure offshore stablemates.
Regulator 24XO Bow
Some offshore fishing purists despise bowrider seats, but the Regulator 24XO layout is ideal for inshore work. With the cushions removed, the bowrider benches integrate with a large bow casting platform to create a wraparound forward deck. Anglers will find it ideal for sight-casting for tailing redfish or skip-casting under docks or bushes. And unlike on flats boats or some bay boats, a generous amount of freeboard above the deck remains to help keep anglers inside the boat in choppier conditions.
One feature owners will love is the twin 190-quart storage/fish boxes under the bowrider benches. They open with one dog to reveal a one-piece lid with twin rams that allow quick access. A smaller hatch lid built into the larger one allows people to stow small items quickly. The lids are well-gasketed for a tight seal, and the interior is insulated to keep the catch fresh. Lockable racks inside the compartments secure rods up to nine feet long.
While the bowrider seat fish boxes are long enough to accommodate torpedo-sized wahoo and kingfish, anglers have access to a shorter, wider 186-quart fish box set into the deck up front. It is the preferred place to store fish such as grouper and snapper because it has a macerator to clear fish crud when it’s time to clean up.
The bowrider seatbacks flip up and provide good support, but I found legroom tight. The low-profile grab rail is perfectly placed, as is the optional cupholder/rod holder set into the wide gunwale. In front of the console is a doublewide jump seat. It conceals a cooler underneath it and features a lid that opens from the rear to prevent it from being blown open.
Aft Fishing Deck
The rear deck is a great fishing spot and, unlike the forward deck, has only a minimal raised edge that serves as a warning track.
Aft seating consists of a doublewide jump seat that features a tall flip-up backrest. This configuration eliminates a rear cushion set, so nothing needs to be stowed before the fishing begins.
To the side of the jump seat is a 25.5-gallon livewell. A matching storage compartment opposite can be optioned as a livewell, giving the Regulator 24XO a substantial 51 gallons of total bait spa capacity. To access the bilge, simply lift the rear seat base.
A small platformette on the starboard side has a sidesaddle boarding ladder. I didn’t see an option to add a second platformette, which would add to the stern’s symmetry.
Regulator 24XO Cockpit
If conditions are too rough to fish from the rear casting deck, move to the fishing cockpit behind the leaning post. Like on most crossover boats, the gunwale height is a shin-high 19 inches, which makes it easy to handle fish for catch-and-release action and to swing them aboard without using a net.
Behind the leaning post is a handy tackle storage area for seven Plano boxes and a grab rail that’s perfectly placed for anglers to hold onto when cruising over the chop. Four rocket launcher rod holders add much-needed storage.
Helm
Regulator gave the 24XO helm a big-boat feel. It begins with a full-height Lewmar glass windshield and side windows for extra protection from the elements. That setup is atypical for hybrid boats. The T-top is a standard feature and includes an electrical box for the VHF radio. Our test boat had the upgraded electronics package ($4,695) that includes a second Garmin 1243XSV touchscreen multifunction display.
Push-button accessory switches and a lighted waterproof glovebox for valuables are set high on the dash. The angled footrest with storage underneath provides comfortable support for those hunkering in at the helm. The leaning-post-style helm seats have a curved backrest for excellent crew containment.
Head
Passengers access the center console via a wide side door entrance. Stepping down reveals a low overhead that measures 5 feet, 3 inches. Our test boat didn’t have a marine toilet, but that’s not surprising since the optional one is a portable unit ($395) that must be carried off the boat to a proper dumping location. I found the lack of a real head with a dockside pumpout to be a head-scratcher. Let’s call this compartment the dedicated storage area for the bow cushions and safety equipment bag.
Engines
Since its inception, Regulator has been a Yamaha-only outboard company. Buyers won’t be confused by endless engine choices because there aren’t any. All Regulator 24XO models come paired with a single Yamaha F350. Before 2024, this model came with a Yamaha F300, which some owners felt was a bit underpowered and only pushed it to a top speed around 50 mph. The F350 was developed largely in response to customer demand; they needed something between the F300 and the 450 XTO Offshore outboards.
The V6 F300 has been one of the most reliable and successful engines Yamaha ever built, so it makes sense that they based the F350 on it with some important upgrades. It has a slightly larger displacement (4.3L vs. 4.2L) thanks to a larger stroke created by a new crankshaft, which increased its valve lift and duration. To generate more power, it uses an 81mm electronic throttle valve and has larger intake and exhaust valves than the F300.
The F350’s lower unit is beefier with a reinforced clutch dog gear that has more teeth to handle the added power. The 25-inch version weighs just 629 pounds, making it the lightest 350 hp outboard on the market.
Regulator 24XO Handling
Another benefit of F350 outboards is that they all come equipped with Yamaha Digital Electric Steering (DES), which eliminates the hydraulic tank and hoses and keeps the transom rigging on the 24XO clean. Thanks to this upgrade, the steering is very responsive and doesn’t emit the whish-whish sound of hydraulic systems. Since this is an electrical steering system, owners can change a couple of settings to their preference. First, they can change the lock-to-lock rotation to anywhere between four and nine turns of the wheel. They can also change the steering friction to suit their preference.
We tested the Regulator 24XO on the Severn River in Annapolis, Maryland. Conditions were too calm to fully test its hull’s slicing ability on anything lumpier than a few cruiser wakes, but its 17-degree deadrise handled them well. In hard corners, the flatter hull doesn’t lean in to the extent of Regulator’s offshore models, but it hooked up well and felt very nimble. Like other Regulators I’ve driven, the 24XO feels solid, with some heft that helps create a smooth, rattle-free drive.
All Regulator models now come standard with the Seakeeper Ride system, which replaces conventional trim tabs with curved controllers that make up to 100 corrections per second to reduce side-to-side roll and bow-bouncing pitch up to 70 percent. The system is fully automatic, and once the driver activates it, they can concentrate on other aspects of driving without worrying about trimming the engine or obsessively adjusting trim tabs.
Performance and Fuel Economy
Some shoppers might prefer more engine choices, but the F350 is the ideal Yamaha for the job. Thanks in part to the Seakeeper Ride system—I always activate it when available—the Regulator 24XO rose on plane in 4.3 seconds with little bowrise. The F350 has a seamless power band and steadily pushed the boat to 30 mph in 8.8 seconds. Those extra 50 horsepower made their biggest mark on top speed, which reached 55.8 mph. That is at least 5 mph faster than older models with an F300.
I found its fuel economy to be surprisingly good, considering its stout build. At 30 mph it achieved close to 3 mpg, though our load was lighter than a boat heading for the fishing grounds with a full 86 gallons of fuel, ice, rods, and full livewells.
Who Is the Regulator 24XO For?
The 24XO is ideal for owners who are primarily into fishing but also delve into a wider array of activities on the water. Older models may have ski tow tripods, but that option is not available on new models. With a fully rigged weight of less than 6,000 pounds and a relatively narrow beam of 8 feet, 5 inches, it’s easily trailerable, so owners who fish on the coast can trailer it to boat ramps that lead to spots out of the wind.
It’s ideal for making longer road trips—a run to the Keys, anyone?—and it wouldn’t be out of place in freshwater locations. It has the size to handle larger bodies of water but runs shallow enough to hit the backcountry where its 24-degree stablemates would have a difficult time running.
Trick It Out
Avid anglers will pump up the fishing options with features such as the Garmin Force Kraken 36-volt trolling motor ($8,589) and 10-foot Power Poles ($8,195).
The Regulator 24XO only comes with six in-gunwale holders, so adding two on the transom ($1,195) and four rod holders in the bow that do double duty as cupholders ($1,895) is a no-brainer. Also, add five rocket launcher rod holders to the T-top ($3,495).
The upgraded Fusion stereo ($6,895) doubles the speaker count to eight for some added sonic output.
Customize the hull with a choice of 13 colors, starting at $5,095.
Challenges
The stern fishing cockpit is a little small, and some owners might find the 19 inches of interior freeboard at the stern too low for offshore work in lumpy seas.
Regulator needs to add a head option with a toilet that can be pumped out dockside rather than the optional portable commode that’s offered. Some owners might want engine options other than Yamaha, but Regulator probably isn’t changing that anytime soon.
Regulator 24XO Conclusions
The Regulator 24XO compares well to the competition in the hybrid/crossover arena. Its closest competitor is the Pathfinder 2400 Hybrid, and some of the Regulator traits are readily noticeable, like its heft. Regulator boats are a little heavier than most boats in their class, and while that makes them slightly slower, the tradeoff is that the added weight improves ride quality.
Although the 24XO is 7 inches narrower on the beam than the Pathfinder 2400—they are the same length—it weighs 1,150 pounds more. This weight difference allows the Pathfinder to be about 5 mph faster, but the Regulator has slightly more deadrise. Combine that with its weight and it delivers a better ride in the chop. The Pathfinder also has a short, acrylic windshield which provides less coverage than the full-glass version on the 24XO.
Buyers who need more room should consider the Regulator 26XO, which is 2 feet, 5 inches longer and has a 9-foot, 3-inch beam. Also, it is powered by a Yamaha 450 XTO engine and has a half-tower option, which the 24XO does not. The newest model is the 30XO, which Regulator designed for twin F350 outboards.
Find Regulator 24XO and Other Regulator Models
Alan Jones
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