BOATING MAGAZINE reccomends the boat for “The discriminating cruiser who appreciates a well thought out design and likes his room with a view.”,  and writes further that “… The unique foredeck design of the 2565 Window Express provides more than just a window, allowing sunshine and a view. This bi-level bow also provides 6′ of headroom in the forward cabin. In addition, the midcabin berth features a big 3’3″-by-2’9″ entry, made possible because there is no well in the companionway steps above. Besides providing better access, the big entry helps stave off the feeling of sleeping in a cave. A complete galley with a fiddled counter, a standup head, and a standard pump-out commode all further substantiate Regal’s cruisabilty claim. Topside you’ll find a portside lounge with a pivoting backrest that allows passengers to focus either forward or turn and enjoy the party aft. Fold the aft bench to open up more cockpit space or access the roomy engine compartment. Note the hatch, which opens to the side so you can access the compartment from inside the cockpit or the swim platform. Regal’s OceanTrac hull has an 18-degree deadrise, which provided a nimble feel on the water even in choppy test conditions.

GO BOATING reviewed the 2565 in November of 2006 and praised the model saying “…Regal’s 2565 Window Express is more than a boat. You could call her a portable palace. For a trailerable cruiser, there’s an impressive amount of interior room inside her overall length of 27 feet, 6 inches and her 8-foot, 6-inch beam. The feeling of space is made even more impressive by the amount of light an array of windows lets in — a feature you won’t find in any comparable express cruiser. A large window panel comes up from the foredeck and stretches nearly full beam to flood the salon with light. It’s similar to a windshield you’d find on a larger cabin cruiser. Light comes in through elongated oval side windows, as well as the opaque door from the cockpit to the cabin and an overhead hatch forward. Dark spaces in small boats are now a thing of the past.

The 2565 Window Express sleeps four adults. A V-berth forward can be closed off with a curtain for privacy. During the day, it doubles as a dinette. No part of the 2565 can be called a “cave” — not even the mid-cabin berth. You can even order an optional innerspring mattress for it. There’s also a privacy curtain here.

What’s Cooking - The galley, located along the starboard side, is compact but full-featured. All appliances are standard and include a molded fiberglass sink with hot and cold pressurized water, a single-burner electric stove, a microwave oven and a dual-voltage, under-counter refrigerator. The Corian countertop is standard, too.

The removable dinette table in the V-berth area serves double duty as a cockpit table. It has a dedicated storage niche in the cabin. The standard tabletop is molded fiberglass. (Our boat also has the interior upgrade package, which includes cherry and holly cabin decking, a solid cherry step at the companionway and a cherry tabletop done in a high-gloss finish).

Hang Your Hat - For a boat this size, you’ll be surprised to find not one, but two hanging lockers. There’s a storage compartment in the deck and several smaller lockers around the cabin, not to mention the cabinet space above and below the galley countertop. For entertainment, a Kenwood AM/FM stereo radio with CD player is standard (and our boat also has the optional  15-inch LCD TV with DVD player installed).

For cabin ventilation, the large oval side windows are screened, as are smaller ones in the mid-cabin and the head compartment. There’s also screening on the overhead hatch forward and the entryway from the cockpit. (Our boat is also equipped with the optional digital air conditioning system.)

There’s more than 6 feet of headroom at the highest point in the cabin and almost as much in the head compartment, something you don’t normally see aboard vessels in this class. The fiberglass-lined space has a vanity sink with a mirror above it and a full-length dressing mirror on the door. In addition to the opening portlight I mentioned, there’s a window at eye level to let in light. A VacuFlush toilet is standard.

Out and About - As inviting as the cabin is, you won’t be spending all your time belowdecks. The 2565’s layout above is as accommodating as the cabin. What’s nice about the seating is its versatility. There is a pair of two-person bench seats on the port side. The backrest of the one opposite the helm flips, so passengers can either face forward while under way or aft when using the removable table that mounts between the two benches. The forward bench has an L-shaped extension that runs along the port gunwale and ends at a backrest cushion on the dash. This stretch-your-legs perch is prime real estate when it comes to seating on board.

The 2565 comes with not only a standard Bimini top, but also four side curtains that completely protect the cockpit from weather. Our boat also has the optional cockpit cover installed.

The helm is compact, but nicely arranged, with all controls within easy sight and reach. The standard flip-up bolster, footrest and adjustable seat are very comfortable. Our boat has the optional Raymarine 435i GPS chart plotter installed on a panel to the left of the instruments. I liked the sound system’s remote-control head built into the hub of the Dino steering wheel. It’s another standard feature.

The molded fiberglass console directly behind the helm has a sink, a storage locker and dedicated space for a 25-quart cooler. The 2565’s wide swim platform has a hot and cold transom shower and a rack for holding fenders or dive tanks.

The 2565 uses Regal’s patented OceanTrac hull. She is very stable in turns, handles chop well and is dry-riding.

Call her your floating palace, if you like. The Regal 2565 Window Express is a comfortable, roomy and — let’s not forget — bright home away from home, no matter where you set sail.

Technical and Systems Features
Battery charger Battery switch: dual Bilge blower w/sealed shaft Certifications: meets applicable NMMA & USCG standards Circuitry protection: low voltage Electrical connectors: heat shrunk Galvanic isolator w/test display panelHose clamps: double on fuel lines Monitor: fresh/waste water Outlets: 120V GFCI protected Plumbing: Sea Tech® connectors Pump: automatic bilge Shore cord: 30-amp dockside Shower sump & float switch Trim tabs: hydraulic Water heater w/heat exchanger (6 gals.) Water inlet, dockside Water system: pressurized Wiring connectors: Deustch Wiring: loomed & color coded Zinc savers w/test display panelCockpit Features
Carpet: removable & rubber backed Cooler: 25-quart, removable with designated storage Door: sliding cabin entry Door: starboard transom Drink holders: stainless steel Engine hatch: gas assisted w/gasket seal Lights: courtesy Liner: fiberglass & self-bailing Locker: battery switch Refreshment center w/sink & storage Seating: aft, fold down bench Seating: helm, adjustable w/leaning post Seating: L-shaped w/storage locker beneath Upholstery: UV/stain resistant marine grade w/memory backing, French stitched Waste receptacle: concealed w/designated storage

Dash Features
Compass Controls: side mount w/ignition safety lanyard Dash circuit breakers Dash: non-glare Instrumentation & switch panels: burlwood Instrumentation: Faria fog-free, backlit gauges include: speedometer, tachometer, hour meter, oil pressure, volt meter, trim, digital depth sounder w/alarm, fuel & temperature Outlet: 12V accessory Steering wheel: non-slip w/stereo controls Steering: power assisted & 5 position tilt Switch: power trim/tilt Switches: backlight & water resistant

Galley Features
Cabinetry, cherry wood laminate Countertop: Corian® Faucet: chrome Lights: chrome overhead Microwave Outlet: 120V GFIC protected Refrigerator (1.7 cu. ft.) Sink w/Corian® cover Storage: upper & lower cabinet Stove: electric burner Waste receptacle: concealed

Head Features
Head: full fiberglass compartment Lights: overhead chrome Mirror: full-length Outlet: 120V GFIC protected Portlight, frosted w/screen Shower stall: stand-up w/shower curtain & sump pump Showerhead: chrome, hand-held w/spiral hose Storage: under vanity Toilet tissue holder Toilet: VacuFlush® w/holding tank Towel rack: stainless steel Vanity w/molded sink Window w/curtains

Main Salon Features
AC/DC panel Cabinet doors: positive locking Carbon monoxide detector Carpet: deep pile Dinette table: removable w/designated storage Hatch: translucent, opening Lights: overhead chrome Portlights: opening w/ screens Seating: salon, converts to sleeper w/LeatherCrest® fabric Stereo: AM/FM/CD player Storage lockers: beneath salon seating Storage: compartment behind backrest Windows w/shades: panoramic, foredeck and side deck

Mid State Room Features
Berth: oversized quilted mattress Carbon monoxide detector Lights: overhead chrome & reading Locker: lighted hanging Outlet: 12V accessory Portlight w/curtains Privacy curtain

Standard Hull Features
Anchor roller w/stainless steel chain guard plate & deck accessed rode locker Anchor work area: recessed at foredeck w/integrated locker Bow rail: stainless steel (316 grade) Bow scuff plate: stainless steel Cleats: seven 6” stainless steel Deck fill plates: stainless steel Drain plug: garboard Engine compartment: gelcoated & insulated Gelcoat: 16 in-mold color combinations Hand rails: stainless steel Hardware: deck, thru-bolted stainless steel Hatch w/screen, deck, translucent Horn: electric Hull: OceanTrac® Ladder: stern, stainless steel telescoping Lights: navigation Locker, shore power Portlights w/screens: stainless steel Rubrail: dent resistant white vinyl w/stainless steel insert Shower: transom hot & cold Storage: fender Stringer system: fiberglass encapsulated Swim platform: extended fiberglass Transom handrail: stainless steel Warranty: lifetime limited hull warranty Windows: panoramic foredeck and side deck

Windshield & Canvas Features
Bimini top w/ Sea Mark™ Sunbrella® canvas, stainless steel bows & hardware Sunshade w/zippered aft & side curtains, Sunbrella® Windshield frame: stainless header & supports Windshield support stanchions: stainless steel Windshield walk-thru magnetic anchoring system Windshield walk-thru w/molded-in steps Windshield wiper: starboard Windshield/bimini connector, Sunbrella® Windshield: tempered & curved safety glass