REGULATOR

24XO

“Go anywhere, do everything” is the mantra for Regulator’s new 24XO crossover boat. The 24XO offers a graceful Carolina sheerline and a shallow-running, Lou Codega-designed 17-degree bottom that sharpens into a wave-cleaving, flared bow. It’s handy inside, plus able to accept coastal assignments. Though rock-solid in build, the 24XO is light enough to easily tow. It’s made to order for all sorts of adventure and exploring.

Fishing comes first. With an optional Minn Kota Riptide Ulterra trolling motor and its iPilot system, the 24XO can masquerade as a bass boat in fresh water one morning, work an eelgrass bed for speckled trout the next, drift for flounder the third, and jig an oyster reef or an offshore wreck for sea bass the fourth. Lockable racks port and starboard hold fly rods up to 9 feet, 6 inches long, while horizontal racks under the padded gunwales each hold two rods up to 7 feet, 3 inches long. There’s tackle stowage in the leaning post, along with a four-rod rocket launcher. The stern holds a livewell to starboard and plenty of casting room (a second livewell is $1,695).

For a change of pace, mount the 24XO’s watersports tow bar ($1,195), or snap in the cushions, put the bow on the beach of your choice, and roll out the (also optional) bow and stern sunshades that had been hiding under the hardtop. A human-size restroom resides within the console. Two lounges with tilt-up backs live in the bow, along with seating for two more on the cushioned front of the console cooler. In the stern, a flip-up backrest makes comfortable seating for two more.

Rugged? Stringers are bonded to the hull; the liner is bonded to the stringers; the console is bonded to the liner. Movement in rough seas is nil.

With a Yamaha F300 on the hydraulic jack plate ($2,995), the 24XO topped out near 50, but proved happy at speeds from the low 20s to the mid-30s, a wide range for adapting to ever-changing conditions. We were particularly impressed with the super-sweet spot at 3,700 rpm (29.8 mph, 9.2 gph fuel burn).